MyMiltonKeynes Shortlisted for Two National Awards for City Centre Safety and Partnership Work

MyMiltonKeynes Business Improvement District (BID) has been shortlisted for two prestigious Town & City Management Industry Awards 2026, recognising its work to improve safety in Milton Keynes city centre and its leadership in building innovative partnerships around emergency preparedness.

Jill Farnsworth, CEO of MyMiltonKeynes, said: “We’re really very pleased to be shortlisted. Both of these nominations come back to one thing, and that’s partnership. The impact we’ve made has come from people working together, sharing expertise and being willing to tackle challenges collectively.”

MyMiltonKeynes Community Safety Patrol Officers

The BID has been named as a finalist in the Best Safety, Security and Resilience Scheme category for its work in transforming how safety is delivered in the city centre. By moving beyond traditional approaches, the BID has introduced an integrated model combining security patrols, intelligence-led working and close collaboration with police, the council and key stakeholders. The scheme has successfully reduced antisocial behaviour in key hotspots, resolved long-standing issues and improved confidence among businesses and visitors.

Alongside this, the BID has been recognised in the Outstanding Partnership category for the role it played in developing Milton Keynes Ready to Respond, a partnership-led initiative focused on improving the city’s preparedness in the event of a major incident. The programme brings together businesses, emergency services, counter terrorism specialists and national trauma experts to equip people with the skills and confidence to respond in the critical moments before emergency services arrive.

MK Ready to Respond. From L-R: Jill Farnsworth, Major General Tim Hodgetts, Professor Sir Keith Porter, Joe McMahon, Sam Bradley

Milton Keynes Ready to Respond was developed by Joe McMahon, Pink Punters Paramedic and Ambassador to CitizenAid. Joe said, “Milton Keynes Ready to Respond started as a personal mission to give people the skills and confidence to help save lives in those first crucial minutes. What the BID has done is take that idea and give it real momentum, connecting the right people, opening doors and getting businesses on board. It’s been incredible to see how partners have come together behind it.”

MyMiltonKeynes won the Best Marketing and Branding Scheme at the Town & City Management Industry Awards 2025 for its My--MK City Centre consumer brand and website, mymk.cc. These achievements highlight the BID’s role not only in managing the city centre, but in shaping how Milton Keynes is experienced and perceived.

Jill added, “We are so proud of our city and the work we do. These awards are a great opportunity to once again show Milton Keynes in a positive light and reflect the hard work and commitment of the team and our partners, and everything we’re collectively doing to make the city centre a place people feel proud of.”

Winners of this year’s Town & City Industry Awards will be announced at the Association of Town & City Management Conference on 10^th June 2026.