R&M Williams wins Master Builder of the Year – and drives away in a new Isuzu D-Max

Neath-based contractor R&M Williams has been crowned Master Builder of the Year 2025, and celebrated with the keys to a brand-new Isuzu D-Max DL40.

The firm took the national title at the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) awards for its transformation of Swansea’s derelict Palace Theatre into a modern workspace and cultural venue. The £10m project restored the Grade II listed landmark after two decades of decline and forms part of the city’s wider regeneration plans.

Isuzu, headline sponsor of the bi-annual Master Builder Awards, supplied the prize: an Obsidian Grey D-Max DL40 fitted with site-friendly essentials including an over-rail liner, towbar and bespoke decals.

Now in its fourth consecutive year backing the awards, Isuzu says the partnership reflects the pickup’s strong following within the construction sector. “The Master Builder Awards recognise the very best in the business,” said George Wallis, head of marketing at Isuzu UK. “We’re thrilled to hand over a D-Max to R&M Williams for their outstanding work on Swansea’s Palace Theatre.”

Hosted this year in Manchester by Nick Knowles, the awards celebrate small- and medium-sized construction firms that deliver high-quality building work and community benefit. The judging panel described R&M Williams’ theatre restoration as “a spectacular achievement”.

Isuzu also used the occasion to highlight its newest commercial-focused model, the D-Max V-Cross Commercial — a two-seat variant aimed at builders and trades looking for secure load space and tax-friendly benefits.