Bridlington businesswoman Mel wins major national award

Mel scooped won Silver in the Best New Business category at the Best Businesswomen Awards 2026 during the national final at the Daventry Court Hotel.

The accolade recognises Mel’s work bringing practical, independent facilities management expertise to organisations that need it without taking on a full-time hire.

FMAW Associates is an associate-led facilities management (FM) consultancy working with organisations in corporate, healthcare, education, defence, the civil service and justice.

Its work covers all aspects of FM, from business continuity and resilience exercises to cleaning productivity reviews, tender support, fractional FM leadership and absence cover.

Since launching in 2026, the business has completed a cleaning productivity review across 40 buildings for a UK university, amongst others, and the tender submissions it works on consistently score highly with evaluators.

Mel set up FMAW after years working in facilities management. She moved into contract work first, saw how many organisations were stuck between needing expert FM input and not being able to justify a permanent post, and built the business around that gap. Winning national recognition before the company has finished its first year makes the award particularly meaningful.

Mel said: “I’m still a bit stunned. FMAW isn’t even a year old, so being recognised nationally this early means a lot. FM is one of those jobs nobody notices until something goes wrong, which makes it lovely to see the work get some attention.

“Thank you to the clients and associates who trusted a brand-new business, and to everyone who’s cheered me on.”

Debbie Gilbert, founder and organiser of the Best Businesswomen Awards, said: “Behind every winning business is a woman on a mission who has taken risks, solved problems and worked hard to make her vision a reality. These awards recognise what those women have achieved and the difference their work makes to customers, communities and the people they employ.”