The prestigious Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards returned on 24 March at Stadium MK to celebrate the city’s remarkable business achievements over the past two years, since the last MKBAA event in 2020.
Over 600 guests packed out the ballroom to hear the 13 category winners announced on stage. For the first time in the awards history, the overall Business of the Year was won by not one, but two businesses, linked by their incredible mutual founder. Emerging Markets Quality Trials and Naturally Tribal were both founded by the Entrepreneur of the Year winner, Shalom Lloyd. The judges commented that both businesses clearly demonstrated what can be achieved under the helm of an inspirational leader, with the vision, tenacity and a drive to support others.
The celebrated Lifetime Achievement Award went to David Foster, who recently retired as CEO at The Parks Trust after 19 years at the helm. During that time, David has expertly steered the independent charity, which cares for more than 6,000 acres of parkland and green space in MK. He has championed sustainability and expanded the reach of green space to the people of Milton Keynes, helping them to connect and engage with river valleys, woodlands, parks and landscaped areas, which represent 25% of our city.
The theme for this year’s awards was ‘MK – Leading the UK’s Green Recovery – Survive, Revive & Thrive’ and many of the night’s winners had shown their ability to adapt their businesses to be more aware of their environmental responsibilities both now and into the future.
Chair of MKBAA organisers Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership, Nicholas Mann, said, “It was fantastic to host so many Milton Keynes businesses and to celebrate some tremendous successes again at MKBAA 2022.
“It was humbling to see how many businesses had taken on board the environmental theme of this year’s awards, giving us all a positive outlook for the future. On behalf of the entire MKBAA team, I’d like to congratulate all of our winners, and to thank all entrants, judges, sponsors, speakers and guests, without whom the awards simply wouldn’t be possible.”
Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards 2022 – winners in full:
Business Impact in the Community
WINNER: Future Wolverton Ltd
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Diversity Marketplace
Charity of the Year
WINNER: MK Foodbank
Culture & Arts
WINNER: The Stables
Customer Service
WINNER: Climb Quest Milton Keynes
Design & Creativity
WINNER: South Central IOT/Milton Keynes College Group
Leisure & Entertainment
WINNER: Vertigo VR Ltd
Entrepreneur of the Year
WINNER: Shalom Lloyd, Naturally Tribal Skincare Ltd
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Sanj Chandi, Treat Street
Environmental Sustainability
WINNER: Bridgman & Bridgman LLP
Innovation
WINNER: (more:trees)
Technology
WINNER: PragmatiQ Solutions
New Business
WINNER: Emerging Markets Quality Trials
Professional Services
WINNER: Whitecap Consulting
Small and Medium Business
WINNER: Clearview Intelligence Group Ltd
Business of the Year
WINNER: Emerging Markets Quality Trials/Naturally Tribal
Lifetime Achievement Award
WINNER: David Foster
The Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards will return on 23rd March 2023.
The headline sponsors for MKBAA 2022 are Milton Keynes Council, MK Gateway, The Open University and Shoosmiths.
