Family Business United Crowns 10 Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
Updated: Sep 18
Family Business United has announced the ten winners of this year's Lifetime Achievement Awards, celebrating decades of dedication, integrity and community spirit across the UK's family business community, with John Lawson of the Lawsons Group named the overall Supreme Champion for 2026.
Ten Winners, One Shared Thread
This year's winners span industries from manufacturing and construction to theme parks, funeral care, distance learning and roofing, but each was recognised for the same underlying qualities: building something that lasts, treating people properly, and giving back to the communities around them.
The 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award winners are:
Presnted
Presented in absentia - Mark Rutter, Wes Arbuckle and Terry Peck. Pictured from left to right: John Smith Senior, Elizabeth Rose, Philip Miller MBE, John Lawson, Gerald Bloom, Nigel Gardener, Matthew Pudney, Paul Andrews.
Gerald Bloom, who built two major British manufacturing businesses, Midland Industrial Plastics and Big Bear Plastic Products, over more than 60 years.
Philip Miller MBE, who has led Adventure Island in Southend-on-Sea for 50 years since his family's original four thousand pound investment.
John Lawson, who has spent seven decades building the Lawsons Group into the largest independent builders' merchant in the South and East of England.
Nigel Gardener, who joined RSP UK Suction Excavators at 63 to help found the business alongside his family, and retires this year after a 47 year career.
John J Smith Senior, recognised for 30 years of round the clock funeral care for families in and around Colchester.
Elizabeth Rose, who has spent 25 years shaping the marketing and community presence of Rose Calendars.
Matthew Pudney, who has risen from an entry level administrative role in 1988 to Chief Executive of Princebuild.
Terry Peck, Managing Director of Capital Roofing, recognised for decades building the business and supporting the Bexley community.
Mark Rutter, Co-Founder and Chairman of Open Study College, recognised for turning a 2007 start-up into a national online education provider.
Wes Arbuckle, of Linian, recognised for his own lasting contribution to the family business he has helped build.
John Lawson Named Overall Supreme Champion
Of this exceptional field, the judges named John Lawson as the overall Supreme Champion for 2026. The decision followed his decision earlier this year to transfer his majority 51% shareholding in the Lawsons Group into an independent trust, a gift rather than a sale, ensuring the values he has built over more than 70 years are now protected permanently within the company's structure.
Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United, said the calibre of this year's nominees made the judges' task a genuinely difficult one.
"Every single year I think we can't possibly top the stories we've heard before, and every single year the family business community proves me wrong."
"What struck the judges this year wasn't just the scale of what these individuals have built, it was how consistently they've done it while putting their people, their customers and their communities first."
On the winners as a group, he added: "These ten people represent everything that makes the family business sector special."
"They are exceptional and inspirational individuals. They've built businesses that provide livelihoods for thousands of families, and they've done it with a set of values that simply doesn't show up on a balance sheet, but it's the reason these businesses have lasted."
"As for the overall winner, John's decision to place his own shareholding into trust for the future of the business, at 93 years old and asking for nothing in return, is about as clear a statement of what a family business owner can stand for as I've ever come across. The judges were unanimous that his story captured exactly what this award exists to celebrate."
"Ten winners, ten very different businesses, and one shared story: family businesses built to last, by people who never stopped putting others first."
Find out more about the Annual Family Business Lifetime Achievement Awards and consider entering a deserving individual here
Check out the photo gallery from the 2026 Famly Business Lifetime Achievement Awards and National Family Business Dinner here:
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