Flamingo Business Awards return to Blackpool for day of entrepreneurial excellence and glamour
The third annual event will bring together business leaders, speakers and entrepreneurs at Viva Blackpool, with proceeds supporting a charity close to founder Elizabeth McQuillan’s heart
The Flamingo Business Awards will return to Blackpool next month, celebrating entrepreneurial excellence with a full day of business expertise followed by a glamorous awards evening at Viva Blackpool.
Taking place on Thursday, November 26, 2026, the third annual event will bring together entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders from Britain and beyond, with a programme featuring speakers, networking, masterclasses, live entertainment and the presentation of 12 awards.
The event will also welcome The Aplastic Anaemia Trust, a charity with a deeply personal connection to Flamingo Business founder Elizabeth McQuillan, who was diagnosed with the life-threatening blood disorder at the age of 11. The day will begin with Awards LIVE, running from 9am to 4pm, offering business insight, networking, entertainment, lunch and refreshments.
The confirmed line-up includes global business strategist Lisa Johnson as event partner, with Elizabeth McQuillan hosting and Moo Munden acting as compère. Global personal brand strategist Nicki James will deliver the keynote address.
Other speakers include marketing expert Amy Atkinson, trauma-informed women’s health coach Nikki Antonaccio, money mentor and business strategist Dee Airey, Expert Empires founder Nick James and New Earth Business founder Kelly Vikings.
The masterclass series will feature Alice Dartnell, known as The ADHD Chaos Co-ordinator; VJ Hamilton, The Autoimmunity Nutritionist; wealth-building expert Sophie Foote; and international mindset coach Jenni Winter-Leach.
The expert panel will include home staging expert Nikki Jeffery, online business launch strategist Matt Hall, women’s health and menopause educator Adele Johnston, and spiritual mentor and coach Buckso Dhillon-Woolley.
Founder’s personal journey
Behind the awards is McQuillan’s personal story of overcoming significant challenges and building a successful business career. After being diagnosed with aplastic anaemia aged 11, she underwent a bone marrow transplant with her sister as donor.
She later spent 14 years teaching, helping young people develop confidence and realise their potential, while navigating motherhood and a period raising her eldest daughter as a single parent. After leaving teaching during the Covid period, McQuillan and her husband established a successful car finance brokerage, facilitating millions of pounds in vehicle finance.
Her experience in business development, negotiation and bringing people together, combined with her passion for performing arts and live experiences, led to the creation of Flamingo Business.
Now describing herself as a Commercial Events Architect, she has developed her Four Pillars of Event-Led Revenue — Positioning, Experience, Ascension and Legacy Revenue — to encourage businesses to use events to build partnerships, strengthen their positioning, attract clients and achieve long-term growth.
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The Flamingo Business Awards reflect that approach, combining entertainment and glamour with recognition of commercial achievement. McQuillan’s vision is to help more women become visible, commercially confident and celebrated for their expertise without feeling they need to tone down their individuality.
“The pink might get your attention. The commercial intelligence is what keeps it,” says Elizabeth. “Sometimes a woman doesn’t need another business course. She needs somebody to hand her a microphone, shine a spotlight on her and remind her of what she’s capable of.
“I wanted to create an experience where people do not simply attend an awards ceremony, but leave feeling inspired, connected and genuinely excited about what comes next. Blackpool has such incredible energy and personality, and I cannot think of a better place to bring together ambitious people in business.”
Jaine Brent, of The Fabulous Me PR & Media Company, also praised the concept, highlighting the importance of celebrating people who pursue their ambitions.
“After more than 30 years in PR, media and entertainment, I know how important it is to celebrate the people brave enough to follow their dreams. Elizabeth has combined the excitement and glamour of a fabulous entertainment event with serious recognition of entrepreneurial excellence. And where better than Blackpool a town famous for its sparkle and ability to put on a show!”
Charity with a personal connection
The Aplastic Anaemia Trust will be welcomed at the awards evening, supporting a cause that has shaped McQuillan’s life. The charity is the only UK organisation focused on aplastic anaemia. It funds research into the rare, life-threatening condition and related bone marrow failures, while providing information and emotional and practical support to patients and their loved ones.
Its research programme aims to improve understanding of the conditions and develop better treatments, including through research involving children.
Reflecting on her connection to the charity, McQuillan said: “At 11, I faced aplastic anaemia and my sister gave me the gift of life through a bone marrow transplant. This cause will always be part of my story. The Aplastic Anaemia Trust’s work supporting patients and funding research means so much to me, and I am honoured to welcome them.”
Awards evening to recognise business achievement
Among those highlighting the significance of the awards is Claudine Hope, founder of Power of Women and Power of Men Magazines, who won the Change Maker Award in 2025. She said: “Winning the Change Maker Award means everything to me, but it isn't for me. It's for my magazines, Power of Women and Power of Men, and the mental health awareness they exist to raise.
“The Flamingo Business Awards are huge, and Elizabeth McQuillan is doing something amazing by recognising people for what they're doing in business. To be honoured with this award helps me raise the profile of mental health in a way I couldn't before. Now I have a Flamingo Award, I can make people listen.”
The Flamingo Business Awards will take place on Thursday, November 26, at Viva Blackpool, with daytime Awards LIVE running from 9am to 4pm and the awards evening from 7.15pm until midnight. Further information and tickets can be found at https://flamingobusiness.co.uk/.