YTKO has been named UK Business of the Year at the International Brilliance Awards™ 2026 – a major national accolade recognising the organisation’s performance, impact, resilience and contribution to the UK economy.
The overall title was one of three awards received by YTKO at the ceremony in London earlier this year. YTKO also received the Gold Award – runner-up – for Agency/Consultancy of the Year, while CEO Lee Hughes was recognised with a Silver Award for CEO of the Year.
These awards are an important milestone for YTKO – and powerful independent recognition of the work being delivered by our teams, the strength of our partnerships and the difference our programmes make to businesses, individuals and communities across the UK.
UK Business of the Year
The UK Business of the Year Award recognises organisations demonstrating exceptional performance, innovation, resilience and contribution to the wider economy.
For YTKO, winning the overall title reflects both our long-term track record and our ability to continue evolving in response to changing economic, business and skills challenges.
For more than 40 years, YTKO has worked with entrepreneurs, SMEs, individuals, local authorities and communities to create sustainable economic and social impact.
During that time, we have supported more than 75,000 individuals and 35,000 businesses, contributed to the creation of more than 18,000 jobs and helped businesses secure over £100 million in finance.
But our impact is not only about the numbers.
At the heart of YTKO is a commitment to creating opportunities – helping people develop skills, supporting businesses to start and grow, enabling individuals to progress in their careers and working with partners to strengthen local economies.
That purpose remains as important today as it has throughout our history.
Recognising the Strength of Our Work
YTKO’s Gold Award – runner-up – for Agency/Consultancy of the Year provided further recognition of the expertise and quality that sit behind our delivery.
Our work spans business support, entrepreneurship, skills development, digital inclusion, workforce development and economic growth.
Across our programmes, we work closely with commissioners and partners to translate strategic priorities into practical interventions that deliver measurable results.
Our teams bring together programme design and management with extensive experience of working directly with businesses, learners and communities. That combination gives us an important understanding of what works in practice and enables us to continually adapt and improve our approach.
In 2026, that can be seen across a diverse portfolio of programmes.
YTKO continues to deliver Skills Bootcamps, helping people and businesses develop skills that respond directly to workforce and economic needs. Our business support work is helping SMEs develop their capabilities, access expertise and pursue opportunities for sustainable growth. We are also working with partners on programmes focused on digital skills and inclusion, helping ensure people with very different starting points have the confidence and capability to participate in an increasingly digital world.
While the programmes and audiences may differ, the principle behind them is consistent: support should lead to meaningful, measurable change.
Leadership Through Transformation
The third accolade was the Silver Award for CEO of the Year, presented to YTKO CEO Lee Hughes.
The award recognised Lee’s leadership during a significant period of organisational change and development.
One of the most important milestones has been YTKO’s transition to Employee Ownership, creating a structure in which the people who contribute to the organisation’s success have a greater stake in its future.
Lee Hughes said:
“Being named UK Business of the Year was an incredibly proud moment for everyone at YTKO. To also receive recognition for our consultancy work and for me personally as CEO made this particularly special.
“Several months on, what stands out most is what those awards represent. They recognise the expertise, commitment and determination of our people and the impact they create every day.
“We work with fantastic partners, businesses, learners and communities across the country, and our focus now is firmly on building on that success and continuing to demonstrate the difference that high-quality, innovative support can make.”
Building on Our Success
As an employee-owned business, we are continuing to develop our organisation, invest in our people and strengthen the way we work with commissioners, partners and the communities we serve.
We are also continuing to innovate – responding to changing skills requirements, new technologies, evolving business needs and the increasing importance of digital capability.
Winning UK Business of the Year is something everyone at YTKO can be immensely proud of. The Gold Award for Agency/Consultancy of the Year and Lee’s Silver Award for CEO of the Year make that recognition even more significant.
They celebrate what YTKO has achieved – but they also reinforce our ambition for what comes next.
Our focus is now on building on that success, strengthening our impact and continuing to create opportunities for businesses, individuals and communities across the UK.