Homes for Scotland Annual Lunch & Awards 2026

The Homes for Scotland Annual Lunch & Awards remains one of the key events in the Scottish property calendar.

Held in May and attended by around 900 people, this year’s event saw Burness Paull once again proud to sponsor the lunch, with real estate partners Mike Guthrie sitting on the judging panel and Richard Goodfellow presenting the award for home builder of the year. 

Jane Wood, Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland, opened proceedings by reflecting on the challenging property and construction market, the housing emergency in Scotland, the opportunities for engagement with government following the Scottish elections, and the important role Homes for Scotland continues to play as a voice for the housebuilding sector.

The Homes for Scotland Awards celebrated best practice across the industry, with the judging panel assessing criteria including approach to people, quality, health and safety, and sustainability. These themes were clearly evident in the winning entries. It was particularly pleasing to see clients among the winners and nominees, alongside a number of familiar developments being showcased.

The Home Builder of the Year awards were won by:

• Miller Homes – Large
• Campion Homes – Medium
• GS Brown Construction – Small
• Wheatley Group – Affordable Housing Provider

The Awards also recognised individual achievement. Dean Murdoch, a bricklayer from Springfield Properties, was named the ‘One to Watch’ winner, for his passion and determination shown at an early stage in his career, while Pauline Mills, Technical Director at Taylor Wimpey East Scotland, received a Judges’ Special Recognition Award for her strategic vision and leadership.

Without detracting from the awards themselves, for many the highlight of the day was Sir Chris Hoy’s “In Conversation” session with Stephen Jardine. Sir Chris spoke eloquently about his response to his stage 4 cancer diagnosis, the unwavering support of his family, and the importance of being present and pausing to appreciate achievements before moving on to the next goal. His resilience and positivity in the face of such circumstances were deeply inspiring. He also highlighted the excellent work of his charity, Tour de 4, including its upcoming cycling event, while encouraging everyone to get checked and to get out on their bikes.

Hosting and entertainment were provided by impressionist and comedian Rory Bremner, whose state-of-the-nation take on UK politics proved a lively addition to the day.

Sector discussion returned to several familiar themes: frustration with the planning system, concern over the rising and unpredictable cost of construction materials linked to conflict in the Middle East, and the resulting pressure on already tight margins. There was also broad support for Jane Wood’s call for a shared vision for housebuilding and strong leadership across the sector.

Key takeaways

• Despite the challenges, there is optimism in the sector.
• Pauline Mills’ award was widely praised.
• Wheatley Group’s success as Affordable Housing Provider, with a predominantly female team on stage, was a notable moment.
• Sir Chris Hoy’s perspective on resilience, presence and perspective left a lasting impression.

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