On Wednesday 29th April, the PGS Group hosted its very first bake-off competition – MK’s Best Baker – and it’s safe to say it was a huge success. Bringing together great people, incredible bakes, and for an even greater cause, the event supported the Spinal Injuries Association as part of the Franklins £50 Challenge.
From the moment it began, there was a real buzz in the room – people sampling bakes, chatting, and taking in the impressive displays. Thanks to everyone who entered, donated, and came along to support, we were proud to raise an amazing £400. With a £5 entry fee and donations encouraged for tasting, the day was full of energy, generosity, and of course, plenty of cake.
A Fantastic Variety of Bakes
We welcomed a talented group of bakers from across Milton Keynes, including Sweet Sarah, Spatula N Whisk, Bakes by K, The Sweet Escape, and many more.
The range of bakes on display was incredible, from sweet treats to savoury favourites, all presented to an exceptionally high standard.
The scores show just how competitive the day was, with many entries achieving strong results and only a small margin separating the top bakes.
Expert Judging with Brioche Pasquier
A real highlight of the day was welcoming the expert team from Brioche Pasquier as our official judges. We were joined by four fantastic judges, each bringing their own experience, personality, and passion for baking, which added a real sense of occasion to the competition.
Each bake was scored out of 100, broken down into four categories: Taste, Texture, Appearance, and Creativity (each marked out of 25). This gave every entry a fair and well-rounded assessment, rewarding not just flavour but also technique, originality, and presentation.
With their highly trained palates, the judges were able to pick up on the finer details – from subtle flavour balances to achieving the perfect texture. Their background in crafting high-quality brioche and baked goods meant they truly understood the skill behind every bake. Their feedback, enthusiasm, and attention to detail helped create a professional yet exciting judging experience that everyone could enjoy.
And the results were... 🥁
| Bake | Score out of a possible 100 |
|---|---|
| Peacock Cake | 85.75 |
| Rose & Lychee Cake | 83.25 |
| Ciao Bella Cake | 81.5 |
| Mango and Berry Cake | 78.5 |
| Saphie's Pistachio and Lemon Cake | 78.0 |
| Carl's Ciabatta | 78.0 |
| Spinach, Ricotta, Bacon & Goats Cheese Pie | 77.0 |
| Dan's Famous Sausage Rolls | 76.25 |
| Biscoff Cheesecake | 74.0 |
| M&M Cake | 73.25 |
| Cinamon Buns | 73.25 |
| Lorraine's Rolo Cheesecake | 72.75 |
| Saphie's Tiramisu | 72.5 |
| Amelie's Brownies | 72.5 |
| Ashley's Carrot Cake | 72.25 |
| Hayley's Sweetie Cake | 71.75 |
| Chris' Rhubarb and Honey Cake | 70.25 |
| Bakes by K Brownies | 69.5 |
| Olivia's Caramel Shortbread | 69.25 |
| Carl's Sourdough | 69.0 |
| Chelsee's Biscoff Cheesecake | 68.5 |
| Ayden's White Choclate Cookies | 61.25 |
| Lolah's Lemon & Poppyseed Cupcakes | 59.75 |
| Chris' Beetroot and Dark Chocolate Cake | 59.5 |
| Bradley's FMS Branded Cake | 54.25 |
And the Winners Are…
After all the tasting and careful scoring, it was time to reveal the results – and it was incredibly close, with less than 3 points separating the top three.
🥉 Third Place – ‘Ciao Bella’ cake by Sweet Sarah (81.5)
🥈 Second Place – Rose & Lychee cake by The Sweetest Escape (83.25)
🥇 First Place – Peacock cake by Spatula N Whisk (85.75)
The Peacock cake truly stole the show, combining incredible detail with equally impressive flavour.
First Place 🏆
Second Place 🥈
Third Place 🥉
Take a look at all of the yummy entries... 🍰
Peacock Cake
Rose and Lychee Cake
'Ciao Bella' Cake
Mango and Berry Cake
Ciabatta
Pistachio and Lemon Cake
Spinach, Ricotta, Bacon and Goats Cheese Pie
Dan's Sausage Rolls
Lotus Biscoff Cheesecake #1
Cinnamon Buns
M&M Cake
Rolo Cheesecake
Tiramisu
Brownies
Carrot Cake
Sweetie Heaven Cake
Rhubarb and Honey Cake
Brownie Heaven
Caramel Shortbread
Sourdough
Lotus Biscoff Cheesecake #2
White Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lemon and Poppyseed Cupcakes
Beetroot Chocolate Cake
The Special FMS Cake
PGS Team Takes on the Challenge 💪
The PGS Group team also got involved, bringing a great mix of bakes and strong scores. Highlights included Carl’s ciabatta and Saphie’s pistachio and lemon bake (both 78), alongside Dan’s popular sausage rolls (76.25). Other entries included Lorraine’s Rolo cheesecake (72.75), Saphie’s tiramisu (72.5), Ashley’s carrot cake (72.25), Hayley’s KitKat cake (71.75), Carl’s sourdough (69), Ayden’s white chocolate chip cookies (61.25), Lolah’s lemon poppyseed cupcakes (59.75), and Brad’s FMS cake (54.25). It was fantastic to see so many of the team getting involved.
The Cake Didn’t Win… But the Branding Did 🔥
A special shoutout goes to Brad for his FMS cake (54.25). While it may have placed lower on the scoreboard, the creativity and effort behind designing a cake around the Facilities Management Solutions branding really stood out and brought something unique to the competition.
A Friendly Rivalry 🍞🥐
One of the most entertaining moments came from the friendly rivalry between our Managing Director, Carl, and Operations Director, Dan, at Facilities Management Solutions.
Carl entered his sourdough (69) and ciabatta (78), while Dan went all in with his famous sausage rolls (76.25). On paper, Carl takes the win with the highest score… however, we did hear a rumour that part of Carl’s entry may have been a shop-bought, part-bake situation… which technically could mean disqualification – but we’ll let you decide!
More Than Just a Competition 🙌
While we are incredibly proud of our winners, the real highlight of the day was the energy in the room. From people sampling bakes and comparing favourites to the excitement around judging and results, it was clear just how much everyone enjoyed being part of it.
Most importantly, we came together to support the Spinal Injuries Association, raising both funds and awareness for an important cause.
Watch the event highlights here! 📹
What’s Next? 👀
After such an incredible turnout and overwhelmingly positive response, one thing is clear – this is just the beginning.
MK’s Best Baker will be back next year, and it’s going to be bigger, better, and even more competitive. Keep an eye out… you won’t want to miss it.