At the heart of the Trades Awards is something we take incredibly seriously - fairness, transparency, and recognising the very best in our industry.

Each year, we bring together a panel of experienced professionals from across the North of Scotland’s construction sector and beyond. Their role is simple in principle, but challenging in reality: to review every application carefully, fairly, and independently, and to identify the individuals and businesses truly deserving of recognition.

With entries coming from businesses of all sizes, from sole traders to large organisations, it’s essential that our judging process is robust, balanced, and credible, and that’s exactly what our panel delivers.

Our 2026 Judging Panel

We’re proud to introduce this year’s panel of judges, who bring a wide range of expertise from across the industry:

• Kim Woolner – Head Judge
• Andrew Low – AtkinsRéalis
• Darren Ross – STV
• Darren Cocker – CHAP
• Elaine Donald – W M Donald
• Fiona Inkster – Search
• Gail Smith – Scotia Roofing Supplies
• Jim Booth – Tullos Training
• Joe Boyle – Joe Boyle Consulting
• Kevin Urquhart – Barratt Homes and David Wiilson Homes
• Michelle Forth-Burnett – Safety Scotland
• Neil Thomson – Consultant
• Sarah Stuart – Thorntons Law
• Scott Kelly – SJPP
• Stephen Hepburn – NFU Mutual
• Suzanne Cameron - urbanbubble

Each judge brings their own perspective, knowledge, and experience, ensuring that every category is assessed with the right level of understanding and insight.

How the Judging Process Works

We know that entering awards can feel like a big step, so it’s important that everyone understands how the process works behind the scenes.

Independent Review

Once applications close, entries are shared with the judging panel. Each judge reviews submissions independently, scoring them based on clear criteria specific to each category. This ensures every application is assessed on its own merit.

Panel Discussion

Judges then come together in smaller groups to discuss their scores and insights. These discussions help to ensure consistency across categories and allow different perspectives to be considered. From this stage, finalists are selected in each category, depending on the quality and number of entries.

Finalist Interviews

All finalists are invited to take part in in-person interviews, held at Mearns & Gill. This is a key part of the process. It gives finalists the chance to:

• Bring their application to life
• Share more detail about their work
• Answer questions directly from the judges

It also allows judges to gain a deeper understanding of each business, project or individual beyond the written submission.

Final Decisions

Following the interviews, judges reconvene to make their final decisions. Every decision is based on:

• Evidence provided in the application
• Evidence gathered during the interview
• Alignment with the category criteria

The goal is always to ensure that the most deserving winners are recognised.