UK NEWS: Emplas and new entrants share honours at 21st G25 glazing awards

The UK glass and glazing sector put on a show of resilience and innovation at the G25 Awards in London, as established brands and first-time winners shared the honours in one of the industry’s most closely watched annual events.

Now in its twenty-first year, the ceremony at the London Hilton on Park Lane recognised performance across the fenestration supply chain from component makers and fabricators to installers and systems houses. Event organiser Tony said the strength of entries underlined the sector’s ability to keep investing despite weaker trading conditions, describing the evening as “incredible” and praising the “exceptional creativity and execution” on display.

Fourteen categories were contested this year, reflecting themes from skills and marketing to sustainability and technology. UAP’s FDM programme took the Training and Development Initiative award, while Safeware Hardware was recognised for Promotional Campaign of the Year. Saint-Gobain Glass collected the Sustainability Initiative award and Pilkington UK was named winner in Machinery Innovation, signalling continued appetite for capital investment.

On the commercial side, Wembley Park for Reynaers Aluminium was named Commercial Project of the Year and AluK GB’s S67 sliding door secured New Product of the Year. Customer-facing excellence was highlighted with The Window Hub named Installer of the Year and The Window Company (Contracts) recognised for its customer care initiative.

The most keenly anticipated award Fabricator of the Year went to Emplas, which secured the title for the third time in a decade after previous wins in 2015 and 2021. Managing director Ryan Johnson said the award was “testimony to the hard work of the whole Emplas team” and to long-term partnerships with customers and suppliers.

Johnson added that trading in 2025 had been “tougher than everyone expected” but said continued investment meant the business and its customers were well placed to benefit from any upturn in market conditions expected from 2026 onwards. Ecoglass was named Glass Company of the Year and Thermoseal Group took Component Supplier of the Year, reinforcing the focus on supply chain reliability in a market where lead times, energy costs and regulatory change continue to shape investment and pricing decisions.

Why This Matters: It’s been a bruising year for the UK fenestration market. But amid the challenges, it’s vital to step back and celebrate the positive achievements of 2025. These successes prove that many firms are facing the market head-on. They are investing heavily in products and streamlined internal procedures—a direct attempt to master the current headwinds. There is little doubt: these are the companies that will emerge stronger, more resilient, and more profitable in the years ahead.