London, 15 October 2025 – The National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) has announced the winners of the 2025 Stunell Awards at a special Parliamentary Reception in Westminster. Marking NHIC’s 50th anniversary year, the award presentation took place amid celebrations of five decades of championing excellence in home improvement. The reception, held at the Houses of Parliament, brought together industry leaders, NHIC members, and parliamentarians to honour the winners and reflect on the future of the UK’s Repair, Maintenance and Improvement (RMI) sector in a collaborative forum.
Established in 2024, the Stunell Award is named in honour of The Rt Hon. Lord Andrew Stunell OBE, a long-standing advocate for sustainable homes and safer communities. The award recognises individuals and organisations who go above and beyond to create positive, lasting change in the home improvement sector – whether through innovation, leadership, or a deep commitment to people and purpose. Presented annually, it underscores NHIC’s mission to inspire high standards in building practices and to “join the dots” between policy, delivery and lived experience in the RMI industry.
For 2025, the Stunell Award honoured two outstanding contributors: one individual and one organisation. Faisal Hussain, Chief Executive of HIES, HICS & DGCOS, was the individual winner, recognised for championing mental health and well-being in the home improvement sector. Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) received the organisational award for its transformative work on apprenticeships and skills development. Each winner exemplifies the leadership and forward-thinking values that the Stunell Award was created to celebrate.
Hussain’s leadership has brought mental health and well-being to the forefront of the home improvement industry. Under his guidance, practical support programmes have been introduced to help installers and staff manage the pressures of the job, and he has challenged stigma by promoting open conversations and embedding well-being into everyday business practices. Through NHIC forums and wider policy work, he ensured that installer well-being is recognised as a core part of workforce resilience, making a lasting difference – not just in words but through meaningful support for those who need it most. This focus on mental health within the sector has not only improved individual lives but is helping to build a more resilient and sustainable workforce for the future.
The Builders Merchants Federation has similarly driven change on a national scale. BMF has transformed the perception and delivery of apprenticeships across the home improvement supply chain, making skills development a top industry priority. Through its ambitious Apprenticeship Pledge – with over 15,000 training commitments signed and more than 1,200 apprentices now in post – the Federation has delivered measurable, scalable impact at pace. BMF has actively campaigned for apprenticeship levy flexibility, opening the door for SMEs to engage in apprenticeship schemes and making workforce development more accessible across the sector. Its research and policy insights (including the influential “Confidence to Employ and Invest” report) have strengthened NHIC’s national voice on skills and investment, helping to shape policy in support of training and recruitment. The result is not just a successful campaign but a cultural shift – apprenticeships are now part of the everyday language of business growth, setting a new standard for long-term leadership and transformation in the industry.
Jon Vanstone, Chair of the NHIC, praised the impact of this year’s winners, commenting: “In our 50th year, we are proud to honour these extraordinary leaders. Faisal Hussain has tirelessly championed mental well-being in our sector, breaking down stigma and ensuring those on the front lines have the support they need. Meanwhile, the Builders Merchants Federation’s commitment to apprenticeships and skills has opened doors for the next generation, transforming how our industry nurtures talent. Both winners truly embody the innovation, collaboration and dedication that the Stunell Award stands for. Their leadership is inspiring a brighter, more resilient future for home improvement.”
As the NHIC celebrates half a century of progress, the 2025 Stunell Award highlights the organisation’s collaborative mission. For 50 years, the Council has worked to unite government policy, industry delivery, and the lived experience of residents to improve the nation’s homes. This year’s winners personify that mission by turning policy ideals into practical action – fostering a safer, more skilled and healthier home improvement sector for the future. The NHIC will continue to champion such efforts as it advances its vision of safe, sustainable, high-quality homes for all.
2025 Stunell Award Winners – Website Announcement
In its 50th anniversary year, the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC) is delighted to announce the winners of the 2025 Stunell Award, revealed at the NHIC’s Parliamentary Reception on 15 October 2025. The Stunell Award – named after Lord Andrew Stunell OBE, a lifelong advocate for better and safer homes – recognises those who drive positive, lasting change in the UK home improvement sector. This year’s honours went to one individual and one organisation, each exemplifying NHIC’s ethos of innovation, leadership and commitment to the industry’s people and purpose:
- Individual Winner: Faisal Hussain, Chief Executive of HIES, HICS & DGCOS – for championing mental health and well-being in the home improvement sector.
- Organisational Winner: Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) – for their transformative work on apprenticeships and skills development.
Faisal Hussain has brought mental health and well-being to the forefront of the home improvement industry. Under his leadership, new support programmes have helped installers and staff manage work-related stress, and he has fostered a culture of open conversation around mental health. Through his advocacy – within NHIC forums and beyond – Hussain ensured that caring for installer well-being is now recognised as essential to a resilient workforce. His efforts have made a tangible difference, providing vital support to workers and setting an example for how the sector can prioritize mental well-being alongside quality and safety.
The Builders Merchants Federation has been equally visionary in the arena of skills and training. By launching its Apprenticeship Pledge, with over 15,000 employer commitments and more than 1,200 apprentices placed in roles, the BMF has energised apprenticeship uptake across the home improvement supply chain. The Federation campaigned successfully for greater apprenticeship levy flexibility, enabling more small and medium-sized businesses to train apprentices and grow their talent pipelines. Backed by research such as the “Confidence to Employ and Invest” report, BMF’s work has bolstered the industry’s voice on skills policy. This has led to a culture change – making apprenticeships a mainstream path to business growth and setting a benchmark for long-term leadership in workforce development.
Jon Vanstone, NHIC Chair, commended the winners’ contributions: “Faisal and the BMF have each shown remarkable leadership in areas crucial to our industry’s future. By prioritising mental well-being and skills development, they are not only improving lives and businesses today, but also laying foundations for a stronger, more sustainable tomorrow. Their example embodies the NHIC’s mission to bridge policy and practice, and to put people at the heart of home improvement.”
Anna Scothern, Chief Executive of the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC), said:
“The Stunell Award celebrates the spirit of collaboration and commitment that defines our sector. In our 50th year, it’s inspiring to see leaders like Faisal Hussain and the Builders Merchants Federation setting such powerful examples of purpose in action. Their work shows how much can be achieved when we care for people as much as we innovate for progress. Together, we are building a culture of wellbeing, skills, and sustainability that will strengthen our homes and communities for generations to come.”
This announcement comes as NHIC celebrates 50 years of joining up policy, delivery and lived experience in the RMI sector. For five decades, the Council has worked alongside its members and government to ensure homes across the UK are safer, greener and built on solid standards. The achievements of the 2025 Stunell Award winners reflect that collaborative mission – turning vision into action and inspiring all stakeholders in the home improvement community to strive for excellence.