MKBAA 2015
Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton hotel at Stadiummk
Date: 12 Mar 2015
The Bletchley Park Trust and MK Dons’ Chairman Pete Winkelman have been honoured at the Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards 2015.
The home of the wartime code breakers was named Business of the Year and Pete received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the sell-out event on Thursday 12 March..
MK BAA Business of the Year sponsored by The Open University, is chosen by the judges from the winners of each category. Judging panel chairman Sir John Southby said The Bletchley Park Trust, which also won the Leisure & Entertainment Award and which has gone from being threatened with demolition to become an international heritage site, was ‘exciting, dynamic and innovative’.
“We were most impressed with their strategy, development and constant improvement. Their tenacity to move forward has meant their great success is a triumph, recognised within the Milton Keynes area and beyond,” he said.
The MK BAA Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Barclays, is given to an individual or organisation that makes an outstanding contribution to the business community, raising the profile of their own sector, organisation and that of Milton Keynes in a positive way.
There was a standing ovation as Pete’s name was read out by compere Kate Adie and he made his way to the stage. A short video was shown, encapsulating his dream of bringing top flight football to the city and the jobs and economic growth it has generated.
He told guests he was stunned to have been chosen and said building a football team, the stadium and the developments they brought was the result of Milton Keynes people working in partnership with each other. “That is what makes us special,” he said.
He said he felt ‘a bit of a fraud’ as last year’s choice, Christian Horner and the Red Bull team had won F1 world championships – “and we can’t get out of the ‘Third Division’!”, he joked.
Earlier at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel at Stadiummk, almost 600 guests, well up on last year’s inaugural MK BAA event, heard Kate Adie announce the winners of the MK BAA award categories, who were:
g2 Energy - Environmental, sponsored by PJ Care
The Parks Trust - Community Impact, sponsored by Destination MK
Worldwide Logistics & Distribution - Logistics & Distribution, sponsored by Howes Percival
Shoosmiths LLP - Professional Practice, sponsored by Keens Shay Keens
Formula Fast Indoor Karting - New Business, sponsored by MK Council
Giovanni’s Downtown Gelato - Independent Retailer, sponsored by thecentre:mk
Bletchley Park Trust - Leisure & Entertainment, sponsored by MK Dons/Arena MK
Bistro Live - Hospitality, sponsored by MK College
FSG Property Services - Private Business, sponsored by PwC
White Leopard - Design & Creativity, sponsored by Freeths
DR Studios - Innovation & Technology, sponsored by Nifty Lift
Dr Philip Smith, chairman of Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership which presents MK BAA in association with full service marketing agency Interdirect and event management specialist Evolution Live, told the audience: “By being innovative, dynamic, and open to new ways of doing things, businesses in Milton Keynes achieve great things every single day, and tonight we recognise them for what they are - truly inspiring!”