What an incredible night for MMC Research at the Sunderland Business Excellence Awards 2024!
If you caught our recent blog post about bagging three spots on the shortlist for the Sunderland Business Excellence Awards, you’ll know we were up for 3 prestigious awards at the event: Best Business Transformation, Business in the Community and Entrepreneur of the Year.
We are delighted to share that our founder and CEO, Natasha McDonough, won the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year award, and we were Highly Commended for Best Business Transformation. These accolades highlight the resilience, innovation, and dedication that define MMC Research and our journey as a Sunderland-founded business.
The event was a glitzy affair, expertly organised by the team at National World Events and hosted by local businesswoman and ex-Apprentice star, Katie Bulmer-Cooke.
We were joined by our friends at Archer&, OculusHR, House of Hype & Co and Sarah McKenna HR, and enjoyed taking time out from the busy week to celebrate success together.
Natasha McDonough: Entrepreneur of the Year
Winning Entrepreneur of the Year is a well-deserved recognition of Natasha’s outstanding leadership and vision. Since founding MMC Research in 2015, Natasha has grown the company into a thriving market research agency with a national reach, serving sectors like Finance (PE & VC), SaaS, Professional Services, local authorities, and social housing.
Her ability to navigate challenges – most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic – has been remarkable. When MMC lost 80% of its planned work overnight, Natasha led a bold pivot from marketing to market research, safeguarding the business and setting it on a path of sustained growth.
Natasha’s impact also goes beyond the business. As Vice President of the North East Chamber of Commerce, she advocates for regional growth and supports emerging entrepreneurs. She also mentors female leaders and champions workplace inclusivity and mental health awareness.
Natasha’s win firmly cements what we at MMC knew about her already: that she’s a visionary leader with strategic foresight, heaps of personality, deep and authentic care for those around her, and resilience.
Highly Commended for Best Business Transformation
We were also thrilled to be Highly Commended for Best Business Transformation, a category that recognises organisations that have successfully adapted to significant challenges and evolved their business models. This commendation is a testament to the entire MMC team’s hard work and adaptability during a period of rapid change.
Our transformation story unfolded during the pandemic, when we shifted our focus entirely to market research. By integrating innovative AI tools and building strong relationships in both the public and private sectors, we not only survived but thrived. Today, MMC is a leader in behavioural insights and market research, delivering impactful projects for clients like iamproperty, Bernicia Housing, and Sunderland BID.
Huge congratulations to the team at Vantec for their win in this category, who happen to be MMC clients, too!
You can see more about the awards and winners on the Sunderland Business Excellence website, and do keep an eye out for a special feature with Natasha in the Sunderland Echo over the coming days!
Thanks again for the support, and to the judges, organisers and fellow nominees for making this such a brilliant event in the Sunderland business calendar.