Last night (14th March) fantastic businesses from across Milton Keynes came together to celebrate the city’s innovations and success, in an awards night themed around Skills and Education, attended by 700 guests.
With Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards’ (MKBAA) Headline Sponsor, The Open University, celebrating 50 years of revolutionary learning in 2019, the awards’ organisers praised the immense expertise The OU has developed in Milton Keynes and acknowledged their success with a special dedication award.
The big winners of Milton Keynes’ most prestigious awards were Integral Powertrain, who picked up Business of the Year, as well as a category award for Best Technology Business. David Lock, Founder of David Lock Associates, who was presented with the 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.
The awards, which celebrated the great work achieved by businesses across Milton Keynes over the past year, saw more entries and a bigger, better and more glamourous awards evening than ever before, in new venue, the Marshall Arena where guests were invited to view a number of business stallholders in the “Business City” before the dinner commenced and to enjoy taking part in the “Entertainment City” afterwards where dancing, casino and skills games were available to finish off a fabulous evening’s entertainment.
Main sponsors of the evening were the Open University, celebrating its 50th year, KPMG and MK Council.
Integral Powertrain is a leading independent engineering consultancy, with a key focus for advanced powertrain services and unique e-Drive technologies. As it approaches the future, the company continues to evolve and embrace new technology to meet tomorrow’s requirements. The judges were unanimous in awarding Integral Powertrain the title of Business of the Year 2019. MKBAA Business of the Year, sponsored by The Open University, was chosen by the judges from the winners of each of the twelve categories and is the highest accolade any business in Milton Keynes can achieve.
The MKBAA Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Barclays, was awarded to David Lock, Founder of David Lock Associates for his extraordinary contribution to town and country planning. As well as being Chair of his own company, David was Chief Planning Advisor to the Department of the Environment and has also Chaired the internationally renowned environmental education charity, the Town and Country Planning Association.
Category winners on the night included:
The Winners
Charity of the Year – sponsored by: Bletchley Park
MK Hospital Charity
Business Impact in the Community – sponsored by: Cranfield University
Red Thread Partnerships
Leisure & Entertainment – sponsored by: Jurys Inn
MK Biergarten
New Business – sponsored by: BSI
Naturally Tribal Skincare
Design & Creativity – sponsored by: Niftylift
Vantage Event Structures
Small Business – sponsored by: Transport Systems Catapult
SJD Electrical
Customer Service – sponsored by: ATL Ltd
Wed2B
Culture & Arts – sponsored by: MK Business Improvement District
The Stables
Technology Business – sponsored by: Hillier Hopkins
Integral Powertrain
Professional Services – sponsored by: dbfb
David Locke Associates
Best Training Scheme – sponsored by: Mazars
BSH Home Appliances
Entrepreneur of the Year – sponsored by: Keens Shay Keens
Matt Bowler
The awards were once again organised by Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership (MKBLP).
Chair of MKBLP, Dr Philip Smith MBE said: “This year’s awards represented a further celebration of the fantastic success of the business community we have in Milton Keynes, and the world leading skills, education opportunities and facilities, including the Open University, Cranfield University, the University of Buckingham and the MK College, all of whom are helping to pave the way for MKBAA winners of the future.
“Now in its sixth consecutive year, Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards continues to go from strength to strength, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors, as without their support this celebration of great business success would not be possible and to all our entrants around whom our evening is based."
