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MK BEST BAKER CHALLENGE 2026

Lolah — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 13:47:10 +0000

This Is Not a Bake Sale 🎂

(Well… it kind of is. But with more bite.)

Yes, there will be cake.
Yes, there will be coffee.

But this isn’t a folding-table, paper-plate situation.

This is a serious baker challenge competition.

A proper judge.
A proper trophy.
An award-winning, bragging-rights-only competition.

No soggy bottoms. No half-hearted Victoria sponges.

If you’re entering – you’re entering to win.

Think You’ve Got What It Takes? 👩‍🍳

Do you secretly fancy yourself the next winner of The Great British Bake Off?

We can’t promise you a handshake from Paul Hollywood…

But we can promise you:

If that sounds tempting – read on.

Who Should Enter? 🍰

• The office baker who “just threw this together” (but didn’t)
• The home baker with a six-generation fruitcake recipe
• The showstopper architect
• The light-as-air sponge perfectionist
• The cheesecake obsessive
• The scone traditionalist
• The bold flavour experimenter

Sponge.
Fruitcake.
Cheesecake.
Traybake.
Layer cake.
Scones.
Brioche twist.

If you bake it and it’s brilliant, it belongs here!

How to Enter 💷

Entry Fee: £5

✔ One bake per entry
✔ Clearly labelled with ingredients/allergens
✔ Presented ready for judging
✔ Bring the bakes with you, the event will start at 2pm

We provide:

• Display space
• Judging sheets
• Numbered entry card
• Public tasting moment
• The chance to be crowned MK’s Best Baker

The Categories

MK Best Baker 2026 – Overall Champion 🥇

This is the big one.

The judges will select the Top 3 across all categories.

From those three, the overall winner will be crowned.

Judging criteria:

• Taste (most important)
• Texture & bake quality
• Presentation
• Creativity
• Technical execution

Best Showstopper 🎂

This is your moment to be dramatic.

We’re looking for:

•Visual impact
• Precision finishing
• Confident design
• Something that makes people stop and stare

Multi-layered cakes.
Decorative flair.
Bold flavour combinations.

If it belongs in a final — this is the category.

Best Classic Bake 🍓

Perfection in simplicity.

Victoria sponge.
Lemon drizzle.
Fruitcake.
Scones.
Coffee & walnut.

This is about:

•Flavour balance
• Texture
• Execution
• Respecting tradition

No gimmicks. Just skill.

People’s Choice Award ❤️

The crowd decides.

Every guest receives one vote.

This is about:

• Mass appeal
• Crowd favourite factor
• That “I need another slice” feeling

You might not win the judges
but you could win the room.

Not Baking? Come Taste. ☕

Doors open at 2pm.

Come for:

• Cake tasting
• Coffee
• Raffle prizes
• Community connection
• Supporting the Franklins 50 Challenge

Slices from £3.
Cake & coffee bundles available.
Cash only.

Why PGS Group Is Doing This 💛

Because fundraising shouldn’t be flat.

Because business should show up for its community.

Because Milton Keynes deserves something that feels exciting, not beige.

And because someone, somewhere in MK, is about to be crowned
MK Best Baker 2026.

Will it be you?

The post MK BEST BAKER CHALLENGE 2026 appeared first on Plumber Milton Keynes | Plumbing & Gas Solutions Ltd.

Supporting MK Food Bank A Collective Effort Across Local Business

jules@thelasthurdle.co.uk — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 12:06:14 +0000

1,253 Items Collected for MK Food Bank 💛

What started as a simple idea has turned into something huge!

Thanks to the incredible support from our clients, business partners, suppliers and the wider Milton Keynes community, we’re proud to share that 1,253 items have been collected for MK Food Bank.

Every crate placed, every item donated, and every business that got involved has played a part in making this happen.

From offices and trade vans to community venues and local organisations, the level of support has been nothing short of brilliant.

This campaign has been a reminder of what can be achieved when businesses come together with a shared purpose and we couldn’t be more grateful to everyone who took part.

You didn’t just support a campaign…
You’ve helped support local families across Milton Keynes.

Thank you 💛

This April, we’re supporting MK Food Bank as part of their Battle of the Brands campaign and anyone who knows our team knows we love a good competition.

So, we’ve joined forces with our sister company Facilities Management Solutions under the wider PGS Group, with one clear goal:

To collect as many food donations as possible for local families.

About MK Food Bank

For those who may not be familiar, MK Food Bank provides short-term crisis support and care for individuals and families across Milton Keynes.

The scale of that need is growing.

In 2025, over 20,000 food parcels were distributed across Milton Keynes and the surrounding area
That represents a 21% increase compared to 2024
More than 4,500 households were supported in 2025 alone

Emergency food parcels typically contain long-life items designed to provide meals for three days, offering immediate support to those facing unexpected financial difficulty.

MK Food Bank operates across 13 serving centres in Milton Keynes, helping ensure support is accessible to those who need it.

How We’re Making It Easy to Get Involved

We know that most businesses want to support initiatives like this, but time and logistics can often get in the way.

So, we’ve structured this in a way that removes as much friction as possible.

Throughout April, we’re placing donation crates in workplaces across the area. Each business hosts a crate for one week, usually in a staff kitchen or communal space, and invites their team to bring in an item.

We provide the poster, donation guidance, and handle all collections and delivery to MK Food Bank.

No disruption. No ongoing commitment. Just a simple way to contribute.

A Collective Effort

What makes this initiative powerful isn’t any single collection point, it’s the number of businesses taking part.

Each crate may only collect a small number of items on its own, but together, the impact builds quickly.

It’s a reminder that small, consistent actions across a community can lead to something far more meaningful.

First Crates Now Out Across Local Businesses

Our MK Food Bank collection is now underway, with the first donation crates being placed across local businesses.

A big thank you to MKM Building Supplies and Grant & Stone for getting involved and hosting two of our first collections.

With crates now in place, teams are collecting food donations on site to help support local families through MK Food Bank.

This is just the start, and we’re looking forward to rolling out more crates across the area over the coming weeks.

If you’d like to take part and host a crate for a week, we’ll take care of everything — from delivery to collection.

👉 Get in touch and we’ll get you set up.

Local Businesses Getting Behind the Campaign

It’s great to see more local businesses getting involved as our MK Food Bank collection continues.

A big thank you to M D Govier Electrical Engineering Ltd for supporting the campaign and hosting one of our donation crates.

With the crate now in place, their team are collecting food donations on site to help support local families through MK Food Bank.

Every new business that takes part helps build momentum, and it’s great to see the number of collection points growing across Milton Keynes.

If you’d like to get involved and host a crate for a week, we’ll take care of everything, from delivery to collection.

👉 Get in touch and we’ll get you set up.

Continuing to Build Momentum

It’s great to see the campaign continuing to grow, with more local businesses getting involved across Milton Keynes, including Sikla.

A big thank you to the team for the warm welcome and support, it’s always encouraging to see businesses not just take part, but genuinely get behind the cause.

With the crate now in place, more donations will be collected on site to help support local families through MK Food Bank.

Each new location helps build momentum, and it’s great to see the number of collection points continuing to increase.

If you’d like to take part and host a crate for a week, we’ll take care of everything, from delivery to collection.

Get in touch and we’ll get you set up.

The Campaign Continues to Grow

It’s great to see the campaign continuing to grow, with more local organisations getting involved across Milton Keynes, including Badminton England.

A big thank you to the team for supporting the campaign and hosting one of our MK Food Bank donation crates.

With the crate now in place, their team and visitors can contribute food donations on site, helping to support local families through MK Food Bank.

Each new location helps build momentum, and it’s encouraging to see the number of collection points continuing to grow across the area.

If you’d like to take part and host a crate for a week, we’ll take care of everything, from delivery to collection.

👉 Get in touch and we’ll get you set up.

Community Supporting Community

It’s also fantastic to see local charities getting behind the campaign, including Harry’s Rainbow.

A big thank you to the team for supporting the MK Food Bank initiative and hosting one of our donation crates.

Even better, their crate has already been filled with donations, a wonderful reflection of the generosity and support within our community.

It’s a great example of community supporting community, organisations coming together to make a wider impact across Milton Keynes.

Each contribution helps build momentum, and it’s encouraging to see donations already coming through from across different parts of the local community.

If you’d like to take part and host a crate for a week, we’ll take care of everything, from delivery to collection.

👉 Get in touch and we’ll get you set up.

Supporting the Campaign Across Multiple Locations

It’s great to see businesses extending their support across multiple sites, including Elavation, who hosted donation crates at both their Wolverton and Silverstone offices.

With both crates already filling with donations, their teams have made a fantastic contribution to the campaign, helping to increase the volume of food collected and the overall impact for MK Food Bank.

A big thank you to everyone at Elavation for getting involved and for their generous donations. Supporting the campaign across two locations is a brilliant example of how businesses can go further and make an even bigger difference.

As collections continue to come in, it’s encouraging to see the momentum building across multiple sites and the role local businesses are playing in supporting families across the area.

Local Trades Supporting the Campaign

It’s great to see more local trades getting behind the campaign, including Central Plastering & Services.

A big thank you to the team for getting involved and supporting the initiative. With a donation crate now in place, they’re helping collect food donations directly through their day-to-day work.

It’s a great example of how businesses out on the road and working across local sites can still play a part, making it easier for donations to be gathered from across the community.

As more crates are rolled out, it’s encouraging to see the campaign reaching different types of businesses and continuing to build momentum across Milton Keynes.

When One Crate Isn’t Enough

Some collections quickly outgrow the crate… and this is a great example.

A big thank you to Crown Business Finance for their incredibly generous support of the MK Food Bank campaign. What started as a single crate has turned into an impressive collection of donations, showing just how much impact one business can have.

It’s a brilliant reflection of the team effort behind the scenes and a reminder that when people get behind something, the results can go far beyond expectations.

We may have delivered the crate, but Crown Business Finance filled it… and then some.

This is exactly what makes this campaign so powerful, businesses coming together, going above and beyond, and making a real difference to local families across Milton Keynes.

Still Time to Get Involved

The campaign will run throughout April, and there’s still time for businesses to take part.

If you’d like to host a crate for a week, we’ll take care of everything, from delivery to collection.

Get in touch and we’ll get you set up 01908 569031emailinfo@pgsolutions.co.uk

Thank You

A big thank you to all the businesses and teams already involved.

We’re looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together.

The post Supporting MK Food Bank A Collective Effort Across Local Business appeared first on Plumber Milton Keynes | Plumbing & Gas Solutions Ltd.