Embark bags hat-trick of accolades at chamber awards

Embark Federation is celebrating a hat-trick of accolades at East Midlands Chamber’s Derbyshire Business Awards – including the coveted Business of the Year title.

At a ceremony held at Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium last week, in addition to carrying off the top award, Embark, which is a family of schools, also won the Collaboration of the Year Award and the Education and Business Partnership of the Year Award.

Embark Federation is a family of 25 schools across Derbyshire which believes that by working together as a team, it can create schools that ‘stand out’ at the heart of their communities.

Matt Crawford, trust leader at Embark Federation, said: “I’m very proud of everyone in our organisation and it’s an honour to have been part of the business awards.

“We serve 25 schools currently and about 10,000 children across Derbyshire.

“Many of those are in the most disadvantaged areas in the whole country.

“We’re trying to give them the best of everything, from two- to 18-year-olds across the trust, supporting them, giving them opportunities that they perhaps wouldn’t normally have. Our work with businesses really helps us do that.

“It’s lovely to have been recognised on behalf of everyone in our organisation.”

Other Marketing Derby Bondholders who tasted success included Upbeat Clean, which won the CSR Leadership Award.

Michael Gladwell, managing director at Upbeat, said: “Corporate social responsibility is our business model; it’s everything about how we employ people, how we serve our staff as well as our partners.”

Meanwhile, the Excellence in International Growth Award went to Cosy.

Chris Ratcliffe, sales and marketing director at Cosy, said: “Every single person at Cosy works so hard, both within the UK and internationally.

“We think we’re doing well ourselves but for people outside Cosy to give us that validation is just tremendous.”

Elsewhere, Bloc Digital won the Commitment to People Development Award, while Broadhurst Digital carried off the Micro Business of the Year Award.

Scott Knowles, chief executive at East Midlands Chamber, said: “Mention Derbyshire anywhere in the world and people instantly think excellence in making and innovating – a reputation built from a heritage stretching back to the industrial revolution and still evolving and adapting to change.

“Whether the building of some of the world’s best cars or trains, its advanced manufacturing industry, digital or AI development, the county continually moves forward.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the partners and sponsors that made the Derbyshire Business Awards a superb event and I congratulate all the finalists and award recipients.”