Chief executive Elizabeth Adlington went to the stage twice: first to receive the Customer Service Award and then to collect the overall Business Excellence Award as the most outstanding finalist in the competition.
Lawyer turned entrepreneur Dean Dunham (pictured), whose ventures include Milton Keynes-based Dunham Solicitors, a restaurant/bar co-owned with celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, children’s day nursery organisation Q Day Nurseries and Lot37, the UK’s first on-line property auction, was named Entrepreneur of the Year.
There were also two awards for Beardow & Adams (Adhesives), who received an international trade award and were named Business of the Year for those with annual turnover exceeding £5 million
BBC business broadcaster Declan Curry compered the evening and the speaker was Jo Salter, Britain’s first female fighter pilot and now an associate lecturer at the Open University Business School.
Chamber chief executive Rita Spada told more than 600 business people at the dinner, held at Stadium:MK: “It is a significant achievement to have survived this year and a testament to those who have delivered exceptional performance in the face of such extraordinary challenges. It is in the midst of such adversity that excellence finds its place.”
The 2009 Business Excellence Award winners are:
Business Excellence Award Milton Keynes Theatre
Entrepreneur of the Year Dean Dunham
Business of the Year (turnover £5m+) Beardow & Adams (Adhesives) Ltd
Business of the Year (turnover £1m-£5m) Kinetic Solutions
Business of the Year (turnover less than £1m) Abbot Fire Group
International Trade – Consistent Performance Beardow & Adams (Adhesives)
Business Innovation Evidence Talks
Training Excellence Jurys Inn Milton Keynes
Business Supporting the Local Community The Re-use Centre
Energy & Environment thecentre:mk
Customer Service Milton Keynes Theatre
Apprentice of the Year Natasha Piper, the Extra Care Charitable Trust
