As a Noun, respect is to honour ... and that is what the MDHUB instinctively felt was the very best description to acknowledge the incredible response that our members had to the pandemic.
The MDHUB were delighted to be able to finally hold their long overdue Leaders Awards in the glorious setting of Ridgeview Wine Estate on Ditchling Common in July.
Under huge safari canvas tents in the wine garden, beneath long overdue sunny skies and with a field kitchen set up for the occasion with English lavender table decorations accompanying the
ice buckets of Ridgeview Cavendish, Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia, it really was the most perfect setting.
The RESPECT 2020/21 Awards provided MDHUB members a very welcome opportunity to gather not just as fellow business leaders but as friends. To reflect upon and respect the unprecedented events of the past 15 months and to acknowledge the contributions and achievements that our members have made to their businesses, and the support that they have given to their fellow peers. The warmth of the atmosphere and the non-stop smiling showed how much our members have missed seeing each other. The commitment to each other could not be clearer, whether their company had the best year ever or barely traded in Covid times they willingly set aside 2,400 hours to support each other, which is a huge and very important commitment from a business owner, not just to their own business but to support others as well.
We proudly say that “we help leaders develop and we support them as they lead” and, like many of the entrepreneurs that we work with, as an organisation we were put to the test to deliver on our promise to our members.
Our belief in the depth, emotional engagement, understanding and carefully handled challenge provided by our facilitated peer learning and business support has proved its worth through-
out this turbulent period as the running of over 300 workgroups demonstrates.
It has also been the most transformational time for our members, as both entrepreneurs and leaders, as they have done what they all so brilliantly do – innovating around the most challenging of situations, energising and collaborating in order to survive and in quite a few cases experienced stunning growth.
Fiona Shafer, Managing Director of MDHUB commented at the event, “As members you have all demonstrated leadership at its very best and at a time when, let’s be very honest, leadership has been woefully lacking not a million miles from us at a higher level ... or was it that that higher level of leadership is right here, right now?”
We would like to thank all of the amazing people who helped create this event together: the Hospitality Team at Ridgeview, Simon of Simon W Desmond Catering and Poppy of Poppy Berry Photography. Our generous and fantastic Award sponsors, TEK Express and PVL (UK) Ltd for the Ridgeview and EllieEllie for the Award engraving – without whom this event would not have happened.
The MDHUB Awards are designed by the MDHUB Team to reflect the current business landscape and the recipients of the awards are chosen by the MDHUB Team* based on their confidential observations in their peer sessions normally throughout a 12 month period but in this case, the 15 months since we went into Lockdown. * With one exception this year.
The MDHUB RESPECT 2020/21 Leaders awards have been specifically named to represent the extraordinary achievements of our members over this period.
The Lumos Award 2020/21
For casting light in the darkness throughout 2020/21
Winners: Catherine Parsons and Liz Kimberley of 360 HR in Brighton
Sponsored by The French Bedroom Company
The Resilience Award 2020/21
For the Leader who demonstrated the most extraordinary resilience during 2020/21
Winners: Lloyd Kane – MD of Rickshaw Travel in Brighton
Sponsored by The Kitchen Store
The Alchemist Award 2020/21
For the leader who has transformed their business for the better in 2020/21
Winners: Ryan Page – MD of Espresso Solutions in Crawley
Sponsored by DMH Stallard
The Future Proof Award 2020/21
For the leader best committed to their future business sustainability in 2020/21
Winners: Tamara Roberts – CEO of Ridgeview Wine Estate on Ditchling Common
Sponsored by Extech Cloud
The Driest Sense of Humour Outside of the Atacama Desert Award 2020/21
Winner: Simon Brookes – MD of BOXHARRY in Brighton
Sponsored by Alistair Fleming Design
PA of The Year Award 2020/21
Winner: Sarah Dennis – Group Executive PA of Temple Group in Haywards Heath
Sponsored by E & S Heating and Ventilation
MD of The Year Award 2020/21
Paul Mason – MD of Nordell in Littlehampton
Sponsored by Cheesmur Building Contractors
The Best Supporting Act Award 2020/21
For being the exceptional colleague behind the scenes who kept it all together thus allowing their MD to lead effectively during the pandemic.
*Nominated by the MDs themselves
Our 4 Finalists were :
Emily Darnell of PVL ( UK ) Ltd
Matt Gayler of Ridgeview Wine Estate
Chris Pegrum of LMS Group
Holly Yates of The French Bedroom Company
And our Winner is :
Chris Pegrum of LMS Group in Chichester
If you are interested in finding out more about the MDHUB, please visit www.mdhub.co.uk
Email MDHUB Directors:
Fiona Shafer: fiona@mdhub.co.uk or
Phil Green: phil.green@mdhub.co.uk
