Celebrating a year of resilience and renewal at the Walpole British Luxury Awards 2025

Walpole CEO Helen Brocklebank reflects on what the winners at this year's Walpole British Luxury Awards say about the status of our sector. Read her thoughts here – and see all the photos of Monday's ceremony at the bottom of the page

Or take Hamilton & Inches, our Luxury in the Making winner, whose Edinburgh goldsmiths and silversmiths create wearable stories from rare Scottish gold and freshwater pearls in their historic workshop.

British luxury also thinks decades ahead, future-proofing the skills and rare crafts essential to its onward success. The Royal Ballet and Opera, winner of the WOLF Award for Future Legacy, demonstrates that luxury's essential skills only flourish when the wider ecosystem of art and culture is protected.

The Cultural and Social Contribution award for the Goodwood Art Foundation and the Creative Collaboration award for Highgrove by Sanderson both highlight British luxury's responsibility beyond itself. Goodwood, one of the UK's leading luxury experience brands, has created a space bringing the enjoyment and inspiration of art to the widest possible audience, particularly the schools and children who need it most. Meanwhile, Sanderson's collaboration with The King's Foundation supports the Foundation's charitable work through a donation from every piece sold.

UK luxury brands have long been innovators, bold enough to challenge global industry giants. Twenty years ago, the idea that English sparkling wine could stand shoulder to shoulder with the great houses of Champagne would have seemed far-fetched. Yet Gusbourne, voted Walpole British Luxury Brand of the Year by its industry peers, has done exactly that. Since its inception in 2004, it has invested in the land, the craft and the winemaking skills required to create a world-class category. With a combination of patience and bold ambition, it now exports to 38 markets, has twice been named among the World's 50 Best Vineyards, and is recognised on wine lists from New York to Tokyo. Its rise represents something deeper than business success: the pioneering, contrarian confidence that defines British luxury at its best.

When Walpole’s Chair, Fortnum & Mason CEO Tom Athron, and I looked around The Dorchester’s Ballroom on Monday night, and when we meet Walpole member brands and the wider luxury community, we see real cause for optimism.

Across Britain’s regions, centres of excellence are flourishing: from the distilleries of Scotland, the shoemakers of Northamptonshire, the carmakers of Motorsport Valley, the boatbuilders of our South coast - the UK’s luxury machine is whirring.

After a year in which global storms have been weathered, we can look outwardly with optimism. The UK–India Free Trade Agreement, now close to finalisation, will expand access for British craft, design, automotive, fine food and whisky to one of the world’s fastest-growing luxury markets. India’s luxury sector is forecast to reach £70bn by 2030, with the fastest-growing ultra-high-net-worth population globally. There is also scope to grow our £6.1bn exports to China’s resurgent luxury market, as its new five-year plan places new focus on cultural value, craftsmanship and quality consumption. Opportunities matched in rapidly expanding markets across the Gulf and Southeast Asia.

But to continue to deliver this level of economic and cultural value, we require policy that matches ambition. The sector has shown its value, its resilience, its global attraction, and its national importance. It is time for that to be reflected in the way Britain supports the industries that define its soft power, competitiveness and skilled employment base.

Levelling the playing field to ensure we can compete with our European neighbours. Investment in creative education and specialist craft training must be protected. Taxation systems that support heritage manufacturing, visitor destinations and cultural institutions and that account for the unique contributions these industries make. And international trade and mobility must support the exchange of skills, talent and cultural capital.

Luxury is not a ‘nice to have’, it’s not an indulgence: it’s an economic necessity. Luxury in the UK is an engine of prosperity: preserving heritage; driving innovation; supporting highly skilled, well-paid jobs nationwide; powering strong, sustainable economic growth.

Policy makers should also acknowledge that when our sector is allowed to play at the top of its game, when it’s able to compete on a level playing field with luxury businesses just across the channel, it not only succeeds commercially for itself but also lifts the reputation of the United Kingdom in boardrooms, ateliers, galleries, vineyards, workshops and cultural institutions across the world.

The brands and individuals we celebrated at our Awards have shown remarkable belief and commitment against a challenging backdrop. The task now is for policy to match that belief with support worthy of the contribution today and opportunities ahead.

Because British luxury is a national strength. And it is one of the UK’s greatest economic and cultural assets.

Photography by Philipp Ammon