Whetstone's Lawsons director John Lawson wins national lifetime award
94-year-old business leader recognised for over 70 years of service and a significant shareholding gift.
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John Lawson, director of the Whetstone-based builders' merchant Lawsons, has been honoured with the 2026 National Lifetime Achievement Award by Family Business United. The award acknowledges Mr Lawson's more than 70 years of dedication to the company, which he began leading in the early 1950s at the age of 20.
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Mr Lawson, who is 94 years old, received the national accolade at the Family Business United annual Family Business Dinner in London, having also been presented with a Regional Lifetime Achievement Award. A significant factor influencing the judges' decision was Mr Lawson's action in April 2026, when he gifted his majority shareholding in Lawsons to an independent non-family employee benefit trust. This move was intended to safeguard the company's independence and secure its future operations.
Speaking about the award, Mr Lawson expressed his honour and emphasised the collective effort behind Lawsons' success. "Everything we have achieved over the years has been possible because of the people who have worked alongside us and their families who have supported them," he stated. "The mutual responsibility and interaction between the family and the business fosters relationships and lifelong friendships. Protecting that for the future and our people is very important to me, and I hope Lawsons will continue to provide opportunities and serve its customers and communities for many generations to come."
Paul Andrews, managing director of Family Business United, described Mr Lawson as an inspirational figure and a deserving recipient of the award. Lawsons was originally founded in 1921 as a timber merchant in Whetstone. The company has since expanded to become a major independent supplier of timber, building materials, fencing, and landscaping products across London and the South East, now employing over 700 individuals across approximately 35 branches.
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Questions this report answers
+What award did John Lawson receive?
John Lawson received the 2026 National Lifetime Achievement Award from Family Business United. He was also presented with a Regional Lifetime Achievement Award at the same event.
+Why was John Lawson recognised with this award?
He was honoured for his more than 70 years of dedication to Lawsons, the Whetstone-founded company he has led since the 1950s. A key factor was his decision to gift his majority shareholding to an employee benefit trust in April 2026.
+What is Lawsons and where is it based?
Lawsons is a builders' merchant founded in Whetstone in 1921. It has grown to become the largest independent timber, building materials, fencing, and landscaping merchant in London and the South East, employing over 700 people across about 35 branches.
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