Join us at The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces for the 2025 Emerging Talent Awards to acknowledge the top five individuals who have made a positive contribution to the industry.
Meet the shortlist!
Recognising the industry’s Emerging Talents
The Awards are about recognising and rewarding the achievements of those at the beginning of their career in the sector – as well as shining the spotlight on the organisations that are helping develop and foster the future of the industry.
Whether in training or apprenticeship, sustainability or innovation, design or manufacturing, each nominated Emerging Talent will have demonstrated the ambition and success required to progress their career.
The chosen winners will be presented with their award, along with a voucher to the value of £250, at The Stone Show & Hard Surfaces, May 7-9 at ExCeL, London.
Tom Bradbury
Operations Director | Stone Industry Group Ltd
Nominated by: Ash Butler, Manager
Tom Bradbury came into the Stone Industry almost by accident in late 2020 Just as SIG was deep into testing its original prototype Clearly™ water recycling system. Brand new to engineering, he rolled up his sleeves and proved from the beginning that he was not only technically able, but tenacious and hard working too. As the product line launched to large orders, Tom took on more than the technical side for that, learning also our existing Turrini Claudio line intimately and growing his relationships with our suppliers, customers and major industry partners Growing through 2021 as Production manager, he swiftly developed his own internal production team and moved on to become operations director for SIG. Working with all of our industry partners, trade organisations and groups, Tom has fast become one of the primary faces of SIG and is well liked and respected by all who he deals with. As our industry moves to new phases, he is one of the prominent faces in the machinery sector of our industry and works with all of the top manufacturers at the highest level.
Barney Murray
Dry Stone Waller | Barney Murray
Nominated by: Jamie Gwilliam, Trustee
Barney Murray of Cyffylliog, Ruthin achieved the Master Craftsman certification in September 2024. In a relative short period of time Barney has worked hard at his craft and attained the highest standard as recognised by the Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA). Andrew Loudon, DSWA Head Assessor and Trustee, has been involved in Barneys walling career since his bursary placement “Six years ago I interviewed Barney for a place on the DSWA’s training bursary scheme. At the time he was 19 years of age, now at only 25 this exceptional young man has attained his DSWA Master Craftsman certificate. I am certain Barney will be a huge asset to not only the DSWA but to the craft of dry stone walling as a whole”. Barney has won several dry stone walling competition prizes with a recent pairs class being won at the Ellwood Branch’s competition during the summer of 2024. These accolades should be taken into consideration with Barney’s wider approach to the craft. Barney has acted as a great ambassador for ‘walling’ heritage and has taken a keen and active role in helping others to develop their skills through undertaking an instructor course. An example of his dedication was to give up his free time to arrange a gathering of North Wales wallers with a view to promote the craft. He is well respected amongst his junior and senior peers and is a good role model for his generation. It is for these reasons I commend him for the prize.
Lisa Nunn
Senior Geologist | FMDC
Nominated by: David Richardson, Director
Lisa is a dynamic and emerging talent within the world of natural stone consultancy. She has served an apprenticeship dealing with stone testing and assessment at Sandberg but over the past 4 years has now blossomed into a key member of the FMDC stone team. Lisa has experience running large contracts on site and has been a part of stone selection visits all over the World including Italy, Portugal and Brazil. Lisa has been and continues to be involved with some high-profile projects involving natural stone. She has recently completed several projects involving the re-use of natural stone where her specialist stone knowledge has proven to be invaluable, projects include 81 Newgate Street, High Holborn and 180 Piccadilly. Lisa has demonstrated herself to be an accomplished presenter and regularly shares her technical knowledge as a speaker at Stone Federation events. In late 2024 Lisa gave an important presentation on the sustainability of natural stone to a large audience at the internationally recognised Zak Conference on Facades.
Indiana Hoare
Business Development Manager | Stonegate Tooling
Nominated by: Daniel Clark, Head of Marketing
Indiana joined us fresh from school in January 2024 and made an impact with her energy, positivity and immediate bond with our customers. From day one, she made a concerted effort to understand the tooling, the machines and the working practices in stone workshops. Her product knowledge is already far ahead of what we expect from someone in year 1, and she is able to deliver confident and detailed technical support to customers. Indiana has been at the forefront of Stonegate’s expansion into the US market, and has established herself as a friendly and helpful point of contact for US fabricators and our American sales team. While American stone fabricators use many of the same practices and tools as their UK counterpart, there are some marked differences, as well as the time difference. Indiana embarked on a bespoke training programme wholeheartedly, to bridge those differences. As such, she has effortlessly acclimated to American terminology (finger bit instead of router) measurements (imperial instead of metric) and attitude (big and brash). Indiana also happily volunteered to work different hours, to account for time zones and provide impeccable customer support throughout the US working day. Indiana is not happy standing still. She is constantly looking to progress and learn, and stands as a shining example to all of our new starters. She has spent many hours and long days on the road, travelling with our technical team and sales reps to visit customers, see their factories and understand their problems face to face.
Angelica Zambelis
Technical Support Manager | D Zambelis
Nominated by: Jasper Zambelis, Sales & Marketing Executive
Angelica has always had a passionate approach to her work and this industry. She has a drive for knowledge and never stops pushing the capabilities of herself and the companies she represents. Angelica singlehandedly developed and managed robust technical support that covers all aspects of running different levels of machinery. An example of this was when a company’s director was taken ill and had to be rushed to hospital, where his wife called Angelica to say that a shower tray needed finishing for an urgent job. Angelica, without hesitation, logged into the machine from her desk in Essex and worked tirelessly with the operator to programme and execute the job in hours. Angelica has taken on extensive training in CAD/CAM softwares, making her a key representative for these software houses in the UK and allowing D Zambelis to take on collaborative partnerships. She inspired the company to create a training academy, giving her a platform to help and train others. Parallel to this, her extensive experience in operating and training on machinery has allowed her to complete the installation and setup of 5, 6, and 7 Axis CNCs, all while handling the challenges and pressures of being a woman in a male-dominated industry and role. Angelica’s drive to never shy away from a challenge and to work all hours available has allowed her to pave her path in this competitive industry, all while remaining humble and still carrying the responsibility that comes with managing both a tooling and machinery company.
James Digger
Stonemason | St. Pauls Cathedral
Nominated by: Ian Digger, Product Manager
There is a little bias here as I am James’ father, however; at age 11 James attended World Skills in London with me and after trying his hand at a stone masonry demonstration he said that being a stonemason was what he wanted to do. He left school and home at 16 and enrolled at Moulton College on a masonry course, at 18 he gained an apprenticeship at York Minster, where he also earned a fellowship degree. He also entered World Skills UK where he won a gold medal and if not for Covid he was on course to compete for GB at World Skills. James is now 26 and he is now an integral part of the team at St. Pauls Cathedral where he continues to excel and push himself to new levels. We couldn’t be more proud of him and be totally in awe of his drive for excellence in his craft.
Lewis Elder
Apprentice Stonemason | Cubby Construction
Nominated by: Ross Cowie, Craft Skills Training Officer
Winner of the 2024 HES (Historic Environment Scotland) Stirling stonemasonry regional heats and Skillbuild national final 2024 Lewis Elder is an apprentice who at every stage of his development has shown potential, natural talent and hard work. When Edinburgh college closed its doors to apprentice stonemasons, Lewis faced uncertainty, in not only being able to keep his job but being able to finish his college qualification. After gaining a place at the HES skills training centre in Stirling he continued his qualification, finishing all of his 2nd year work in about 4 weeks which is an incredible achievement in itself, in this time Lewis proved how hard working and talented he was which led to his name being put forward for the Skillbuild heats and eventually the national final which he came in 1st place. It is a great testament to Lewis’s attitude throughout that he has managed to overcome so much uncertainty so early on in his career and yet sail through some of the hardest challenges he has faced, an incredibly talented mason that we could have lost due to an economic downturn. It is all of our pleasure here at the Stirling skills training centre to nominate Lewis Elder for the emerging talent award this year.
Ben Sainsbury
Stone Workshop Manager | FDC (UK) Ltd
Nominated by: Charlie Waddington, Works Manager
Ben joined our team in September 2020 after his first shift his natural talent for working with stone was immediately clear. "I can't do that" is simply not in his vocabulary—no matter the task, he gives it 100%. Ben started with us hand-finishing hearths and slips for fireplaces. He picked it up in a matter of hours and used his hands-on experience to refine our processes further. By recognizing the different properties of stone and determining which diamond abrasives work best, he has helped reduce costs and lead times in our workshop. When we brought in an additional team member, Ben stepped up to train and mentor them while ensuring the quality of their work. This was particularly impressive, as Ben was only 20 at the time, mentoring someone eight years his senior. He thrived in this role. When it came time for me to step away from running our CNC bridge saw—the foundation of our workshop process—I knew Ben was ready. He had been trained on its use for years, handling jobs and programming them in. Now, I needed him to think ahead, optimizing material usage and workshop efficiency. Once again, he picked it up quickly. Fast forward four years, and Ben now manages our entire workshop, overseeing production from start to finish. For someone his age, this is an incredible achievement, and I’m excited to see what he accomplishes in the future.
Ritesh Musale
Assistant Surveyor | Meister Masonry
Nominated by: Chris O'Dell, Managing Director
Ritesh Musale is an exceptional talent whose dedication, intelligence, and passion for his work make him a standout member of the Meister team. Originally from Mumbai, Ritesh brings an impressive academic background with three degrees in Civil Engineering, Construction and Project Management, and Building Information Modelling and Management. His knowledge, combined with his analytical mindset and attention to detail, has made an immediate impact on our business. Since joining us, Ritesh has fully immersed himself in learning the industry, demonstrating a willingness to go above and beyond to develop his skills. He has travelled to various sites, actively engaging with different aspects of the business to expand his knowledge and gain a comprehensive understanding of stonemasonry and construction. His commitment to professional growth is truly inspiring, and he continuously seeks opportunities to refine his expertise and contribute to the success of our projects. Beyond his technical abilities, Ritesh is an invaluable team player who is well-liked and respected by his colleagues. His positive attitude, strong work ethic, and ability to problem-solve make him a key asset to our team. Whether it's applying his mathematical strengths to intricate projects or offering innovative solutions, Ritesh consistently demonstrates his value. We are incredibly proud to have Ritesh as part of our team, and his dedication to both personal and professional development makes him a deserving candidate for the Emerging Talent Award. His future in the industry is undoubtedly bright, and we look forward to seeing all he will accomplish.
Adam Lithauer
Director | Vetro Tooling Ltd
Nominated by: Hannah Lithauer, Director
I am honoured to nominate Adam Lithauer from Vetro Tooling Ltd for the Emerging Talent Award. Adam is an exceptional professional whose dedication, technical expertise, and innovative approach have made a significant impact in the stone and glass tooling industries. Since joining Vetro Tooling from school, Adam has demonstrated a deep understanding of the sector, quickly establishing himself as a key player within the company. His ability to combine technical knowledge with a customer-centric mindset has led to increased efficiency and enhanced client satisfaction. Adam consistently seeks out new technologies and best practices to drive innovation, ensuring that Vetro Tooling remains at the forefront of the industry. Beyond his technical skills, Adam is a natural leader and mentor. He actively supports colleagues, sharing his knowledge and fostering a collaborative environment. His commitment to professional growth is evident in his continuous efforts to learn and adapt, ensuring he not only meets but exceeds industry standards. Adam’s passion for the industry, coupled with his drive to push boundaries and deliver excellence, makes him a truly deserving candidate for the Emerging Talent Award. His contributions have already had a lasting impact, and he is undoubtedly a rising star in the field.
Sophie Heather-Warner
Management Trainee | Meister Masonry
Nominated by: Chris O'Dell, Managing Director
Sophie Heather-Warner has transitioned from teaching into the stonemasonry industry, stepping into her role as a management trainee with enthusiasm and drive. She has taken the initiative to develop a business development plan, initially focusing on outreach to secondary schools and engaging with young people about stonemasonry apprenticeships. By attending careers events across Gloucestershire, she has helped raise awareness of the trade and inspire future generations. From these events, she has also been able to gather useful data and information by conducting questionnaires to find out where the interests of young people lie in the stonemasonry industry. Beyond education outreach, Sophie has been instrumental in generating innovative ideas for business growth, building connections with local businesses, and increasing Meister’s visibility. Her strategic thinking and proactive approach have brought fresh energy to the company’s expansion efforts. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, Sophie is passionate about increasing inclusivity. She actively engages with the Women in Natural Stone network and is attending industry events, including one for International Women’s Day, to advocate for diversity in the field. Her background in teaching brings strong organisational skills, enthusiasm, and a passion for development; both personal and professional. Always looking for ways to grow the business and support others, Sophie is a dedicated, forward-thinking individual who is already making a significant impact. She is a highly deserving candidate for the Emerging Talent Award.
Meet the 2023 winners!
We were delighted by the overwhelming response to the inaugural Awards in 2023, and received nominations from across the industry, with submissions reflecting the contribution of a wide range of entrants.
