Swindon plumber Sally King wins South West title at first Plumber Awards

Sally King, who runs the Swindon plumbing business Sally's Pipe Dream, was named South West winner at the 2026 Plumber Awards, Swindon24 reported on 8 April 2026. The win put her into the national final against the other regional winners.

The Plumber Awards were new in 2026. They were launched by the team behind the Heating Installer Awards to recognise tradespeople across the UK for workmanship and customer care.

What did she win it for?

Her entry centred on two difficult jobs: fixing a misconnected shower valve and replacing a faulty unvented hot water cylinder. Both needed detailed fault-finding and left the customers with safer systems that met the regulations.

Ms King said "these two projects stood out because they demanded technical problem-solving", and added: "I was able to restore proper water flow and ensure the systems were fully compliant."

She said that "to be recognised in the first Plumber Awards is a fantastic achievement", and that she had "always said that 'the best man for the job is a woman'."

Judges, who included industry specialists and professional bodies, assessed entries over a full day and reported a high standard in the competition's first year.

What was due to happen next?

The national result was to be decided by a public vote, the judges' scores and a technical challenge. Voting was due to close on 30 April, with the overall winner to be announced on 24 June at InstallerSHOW at the NEC in Birmingham.

Source: Swindon24.