NSBRC reflects on 2025 TBE Award win
The Sustainable Business category is always hotly contested at the annual TBE Awards, and in 2025 the worthy winner was also our host venue – the National Self Build & Renovation Centre (NSBRC) in Swindon.
Sustainability has been a major focus for the NSBRC in recent years, with significant progress made across its operations and visitor offering. Over the past three years, the Centre has reduced its CO₂ emissions by 23% and cut waste sent to landfill by 17%. Investments have included the installation of LED lighting throughout its 67,000 sq ft facility, the addition of eight 22kW smart EV charging points and the introduction of a salary sacrifice electric vehicle scheme, helping EVs account for 54% of employee commute mileage.
The organisation has also strengthened its sustainable procurement policies, prioritising local and environmentally responsible suppliers.
Alongside operational improvements, the NSBRC has continued to expand its educational resources, launching two new workshops and investing a six-figure sum in its Retrofit Zone, designed to help homeowners build, renovate and improve properties more sustainably. These achievements were highlighted in the organisation’s first Annual Sustainability Report, published in 2025.
The last year also saw the NSBRC achieve Good Business Charter Accreditation and become a Certified B Corporation following a rigorous year-long assessment of its governance, environmental performance and community impact. With a B Impact Assessment score of 124.7, the organisation is among the first 3,000 Certified B Corps in the UK. Its Sustainable Business of the Year award reflects the collective efforts of its employee owners, partners and visitors in promoting more sustainable homebuilding and supporting better homes for the future.
We spoke to Harvey Fremlin, Managing Director at the NSBRC about TBE Awards.
How did it feel to be named Sustainable Business of the Year and a finalist in the Dream Team category?
It was a fantastic feeling, particularly because it brought together so much of the work we had been doing as a business over the previous year. Our B Corp Certification, first Annual Sustainability Report, Good Business Charter accreditation amongst other achievements all came together during 2024/25, so to have that recognised towards the end of the year by the TBE Awards was special.
Being a finalist in the Dream Team category was another great recognition of our people and the way we work together. Employee Ownership is also incredibly important to us, so being recognised in this way felt like a real reflection of how well we had pulled together as a team. Both awards recognised a collective effort rather than the work of just one individual or department.
What impact has the award had on the National Self Build & Renovation Centre?
This has given us some great recognition locally and added another layer of credibility to what we do. That’s particularly valuable when it comes to connecting with our exhibitors, visitors and the wider business community.
For us, sustainability is about much more than what we do within our own organisation – it’s also about helping people create better, more sustainable homes. Having that work recognised externally helps reinforce our approach and the role we play within the sector.
How did the recognition affect team morale?
It was a real celebration for the team. A number of us were there on the night to accept the award, and it was fantastic to be able to go up on stage together and celebrate the achievement as a team.
We were also absolutely thrilled to see ourselves on the cover of the TBE magazine afterwards – that was a real highlight and we still proudly have it on display in the office!
It was lovely to have that recognition followed by an opportunity to celebrate together again at our Christmas party towards the end of the year. It gave everyone a chance to reflect on what we had achieved together and enjoy the moment.
Have you made any new connections or developed any new relationships as a result of the awards?
Definitely. One of the great things about the TBE Awards is the opportunity to connect with other local businesses and hear about the work they’re doing.
Those connections and conversations have been really inspiring for us and have contributed to us bringing back our ‘Professionals Day’ /B2B events, with a particular focus on sustainability. We’ve also been able to bring in keynote speakers who are leading the way in sustainable business practices, which has created some great learning opportunities.
Looking back, was there anything that nearly stopped you entering?
Not really – as we were very keen to enter! We knew there was a high calibre of businesses entering the awards, though, so while we were proud of what we had achieved, we certainly didn’t go into it expecting to win. That’s part of what made the result so exciting. It was a real surprise and a fantastic recognition of the progress we’ve made.
What would you say to businesses considering entering the TBE Awards this year?
We’re all busy, and finding the time and energy to put an award entry together can sometimes feel like another thing on the to-do list. But we’d definitely say it’s worth the investment.
There’s real value in being recognised, even if you’re just nominated. It gives you credibility among local businesses and your peers, as well as creating great exposure for your organisation.
Perhaps most importantly, the process gives you an opportunity to stop and reflect on what you’ve achieved. As businesses, we’re often focused on the next goal or the next challenge, without taking enough time to celebrate the wins along the way.
Entering the TBE Awards gives you a reason to do exactly that – to look back at the progress you’ve made, recognise the people who have helped you get there, and celebrate what you’ve achieved together. And you never know, you might even come away with an award!
The Sustainable Business Award 2026 is sponsored by Invest in B&NES. Submit your entry here
