The finalists for the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards 2023 have been announced, ready for the prestigious awards ceremony on March 23 at Stadium MK.
It was the last piece of the gigantic puzzle that is MKBAA, the largest business awards in the Milton Keynes region. This year saw the highest ever number of entries, making the judging panel’s task even more difficult.
The theme for this year’s awards is Celebrating Diversity and many of the businesses and organisations who entered focused their submissions around this subject.
The event welcomes back headline sponsors Milton Keynes Council and The Open University, and also the new sponsor for 2023, Brioche Pasquier UK.
After the finalists were announced, the Finalists’ Party was held at Holiday Inn Central Milton Keynes to congratulate all the businesses, organisations and individuals on their achievements, and to allow them to acknowledge and savour the moment with their peers.
This year’s guest speaker has also been announced. Monder Ram is a social scientist specialising in research and impact on small and ethnic minority businesses. Monder has worked with partners from the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CRÈME) and the Centre for Migration and Forced Displacement to publish an independent review titled ‘Time to change: A blueprint for advancing the UK’s ethnic minority businesses’ – the first of its kind.
At the awards, Monder will outline this research and the recommendations made in the report and talk about how Milton Keynes businesses can use it to harness increased economic opportunities, greater diversity in entrepreneurship and a more diverse, vibrant and dynamic business community.
The hosts for the evening have also been announced. Trevor Marshall and Amelle Berrabah from MKFM will be taking guests through the evening. Trevor has been broadcasting in Milton Keynes since the early 90s, starting with the Horizon Radio Breakfast Show. He is no stranger to award ceremonies but is usually picking them up as the winner of many radio industry awards. Since 2022 Trevor has been back on the radio in Milton Keynes and has recently returned to breakfast radio on MKFM.
Amelle Berrabah is another award winner as a solo singer and former member of the Sugababes. In addition to singing, Amelle made her stage debut during 2019 in the Jukebox musical and has recently starred in Beauty and the Beast at Tyne Theatre & Opera House. When not on stage Amelle can be heard regularly on MKFM.
Chair of organisers, Nicholas Mann from Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership, said:
“After a record year for entries, the calibre of our finalists is top drawer. Our awards ceremony on March 23 promises to be our biggest and best yet; we can’t wait to celebrate the diversity across our thriving business community in Milton Keynes.”
MKBAA 2023 FINALISTS
Business Impact in the Community – sponsored by MyMiltonKeynes
Diversity Marketplace
MK College Group
Safety Centre (Hazard Alley)
Love Local Hub CIC
Celebrating Diversity – sponsored by Mazars
Diversity Marketplace
Milton Keynes Discovery Centre
Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture
Natwest
Charity of the Year – sponsored by Ringway
YMCA Milton Keynes
Camphill MK Communities
DREAMSAI Milton Keynes
Safety Centre (Hazard Alley)
Ride High
Culture & Arts – sponsored by MK Gateway
The Parks Trust
Camphill MK Communities
Milton Keynes Islamic Arts and Culture
MÓTUS Dance
Customer Service – sponsored by Holiday Inn CMK
George Davies Turf
BSI
Red Giraffe Marketing
Aztech IT Solutions
Jane Smith Financial Planning
Design & Creativity – sponsored by Aero Tec
Laboratories Ltd
Red Giraffe Marketing
Yellowyoyo
Visual Identity
Swanbourne House
Champagne Fire Truck
Leisure & Entertainment
StadiumMK
Ride High Equestrian Centre
Popworld Milton Keynes
For full details of the event visit: www.mkbaa.co.uk
