Business MK Incorporating Business2Business
June 2022
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In print and online, Business MK is published in Milton Keynes and North Bucks for the area’s business community www.businessmk.co.uk
AW AR DS
Give us the right conditions to grow, MP is told. P5
PE OP LE
Awards night is coming... Meet the finalists. P12-13
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Vice-presidents, promotions and senior hires. P14-15
BED FOR DSH IRE
Electric flight dream passes major milestone. P17
Manufacturer opens factory in Europe . P19
For the latest business news from Milton Keynes, North Bucks and Bedfordshire, visit www.businessmk.co.uk
Nicholas Mann, chair of Milton Keynes Business Partnership, urges companies across Milton Keynes and Buckiknghamshre to consider applying for a Queen’s Award for Enterprise - the most prestigious award a business can receive. He was speaking at the launch of a county-wide campaign led by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire Countess Howe. Full story: Page 3. Mr Mann also gives MKBLP’s view on the benefits to Milton Keynes of receiving city status. Read his thoughts on page 7.
It looks like a city. It feels like a city. Now it is a city Business celebrates as Her Majesty confers status in Jubilee year
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usiness leaders across the city have been cheering the award of city status to Milton Keynes. The city was one of eight towns to have the status conferred upon them, with Milton Keynes recognised for its unique history, cultural infrastructure and innovation. The bid, led by Milton Keynes Council and with the backing of business and community groups across the borough, highlighted Milton Keynes involvement in the national post-war planning movement as well as special initiatives established in Milton
Keynes, such as the Open University, The Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the nation’s largest network of electric vehicle charging points. Hundreds of photos of Milton Keynes’ green open spaces, heritage sites and iconic buildings, shot by local residents, were also sent in support of the bid. Council leader Cllr Pete Marland said the award confirms the importance of Milton Keynes to the regional and national economy. “People have always said that Milton Keynes looks like a city, feels like a city and now we can say it is a city.
City status will make people even prouder to call Milton Keynes their home and gives us the platform to make our great city even greater.” Nicholas Mann, chair of Milton Keynes Business Leaders Partnership, added: “I acknowledge that I believed this honour would be bestowed upon a Northern town as part of the government’s levellingup agenda. I could not be more delighted that this prediction did not come to fruition. “Achieving city status will of course bring international recognition and benefit our thriving economy but it also recognises the
very essence of what makes Milton Keynes great - from our celebrated green spaces and heritage sites to our diversity and commitment to our people and our environment.” Milton Keynes was joined by Colchester and Doncaster in England, Dunfermline in Scotland, Wrexham in Wales and Bangor in Northern Ireland in receiving city status. For the first time, British Overseas Territories and crown dependencies were invited to apply, with city status awarded to Stanley in the Falklands and Douglas in the Isle of Man. To page 7 >>
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