Ann Budge has been nominated for a prestigious British Business Award.
Heart of Midlothian’s Honorary President has been shortlisted in the Business Leader of the Year category, sponsored by The Watson Foundation.
As a nominee, Ann will also be included in the inaugural British Business Leaders List, a new designation recognising the organisations and leaders setting the benchmark for modern enterprise and shaping the UK’s economic future.
This year’s shortlist features some of the most recognisable and influential names in British and global business, including AstraZeneca, Moderna, Iceland, Warburtons, Nando’s Dishoom, and Holland & Barrett, alongside a dynamic mix of high-growth scale-ups, family-owned firms, and innovative SMEs from every corner of the UK.
A record number of more than 400 companies entered the awards this year, with those selected for the shortlist independently evaluated across five core pillars: business performance, innovation, workforce and culture, customer impact, and contribution to society and the wider economy.
Those achieving the highest combined performance across these metrics have secured their place on the shortlist, with the strongest performers now going forward to the independent judging panel, comprising 18 key figures from British industry, chaired by the former CEO of Unilever Alan Jope CBE and Emma Crystal, CEO of Coutts Bank.
The awards will be held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on April 30th, and are set to be bigger than ever with the announcement of a special guest appearance and conversation with award-winning actor and humanitarian, George Clooney, plus the return of keynote speaker Sir Bob Geldof and co-hosts Rob Brydon and Elaine C Smith.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website, Calum Paterson, Chairman of Heart of Midlothian, said: “All of us at Hearts congratulate our Honorary President, Ann Budge, on being shortlisted for the award of Business Leader of the Year. She has made an incredible contribution to the club over many years, and we are delighted to see that recognised in this way.”
