Martin Sneddon – of Martin and Son Builders – was crowned Outstanding Builder of the Year at the Federation of Master Builders’ 2025 Master Builder Awards.
Run across the UK by the largest trade body for small and medium sized enterprise construction, the honour is regarded as one of the highest accolades in the industry.
He was presented with the TradePoint sponsored prize at a glittering ceremony hosted by Nick Knowles in Manchester.
The recognition places Martin – who is deaf – among the very best builders in the nation.
He commented: “I feel excited, daunted but delighted – it’s a special achievement for the family and I just want to say thank you.
“The business has always been client-orientated and we’ve had some fantastic clients over the years. We get a lot of repeat custom and I think that’s the biggest achievement for us.”
Martin stood out from the competition for his craftsmanship, client care and “people first” ethos.
He is always happy to go the extra mile for client’s and even completed outdoor works on a flexible repayment plan – after budgets tightened near the project’s finish – so a young family’s daughter had a safe space to play
Beyond the building site, he has raised over £11,000 for the cochlear implant suite at Crosshouse Hospital, organised a clay pigeon shoot that raised £5,550 for the Beatson Cancer Centre, and regularly visits schools to spark interest in construction.
Martin added: “What I enjoy most is still being able to get up in the morning and go to work.
“We also go into schools to stress the importance of learning maths and English – because in this trade the measuring tape will never be out of your hand – and the importance of staying in school.”
Gordon Nelson, Scotland director of the Federation of Master Builders, hailed the Kilwinning builder as an “inspiration”.
He said: “Martin Sneddon’s achievement is not only truly inspiring, it is thoroughly deserved.
“He is a builder with a passion for delivering exceptional quality work and who genuinely cares for his clients and the wider community in Ayrshire.
“Losing his hearing will have been a formidable blow, but he has strived and continues to succeed.”
