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Global Infusion Group’s CEO Bonnie May has been crowned Business Leader of the Year at the Buckinghamshire Business Awards 2026. Held at Aylesbury’s Waterside Theatre on Wednesday 4th November, the awards recognise the exceptional businesses, organisations and individuals that are driving economic growth, innovation and positive change across Buckinghamshire.
The award recognises Bonnie’s leadership of the Buckinghamshire-based Global Infusion Group, home to Eat to the Beat, e2b, GIG and Bonnie May Food & Events.
Under Bonnie’s leadership, Global Infusion Group has remained firmly focused on strengthening the business for the future. In the last 12 months, it has achieved B Corp certification, introduced new company values, held regular strategy days, strengthened governance and risk management and continued to invest in its people, infrastructure and IT.
The focus now is on building on those foundations: improving margins, strengthening the cost base and securing more multi-year contracted work to support its ambitions for sustainable growth.
Buckinghamshire Business Awards’ judges said: “The judges were impressed by a leader who truly puts people at the heart of everything she does. From championing a values-led culture and empowering her team to leading by example every single day, she has created a business where people feel valued, supported and inspired. Starting her journey out on tour and rising to CEO, she is respected, approachable and deeply committed to both her people and her business.”
Commenting on her award win, Bonnie May, CEO of Global Infusion Group said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to have won this prestigious award. Buckinghamshire is Global Infusion Group’s home and Buckinghamshire Business First has been such an important part of the local business community for many years, so to be recognised by them really does mean a lot.
“Although it’s my name on the award, you don’t lead a business on your own. I’m surrounded by some brilliant people and this is very much about what we’ve achieved together. I’ve always believed that business is about relationships. You need empathy, you need to listen and you need to care about the people you work with – whether that’s your team, crew, suppliers or clients. But you also have to balance that with commercial reality.
“These are challenging times. Everything costs more and, however much we might like to avoid talking about margins and costs, we have a responsibility to make sure the business is strong, sustainable and here for the long term.”
GIG has spent the past year taking a closer look at what it needs to support the next stage of its development, from the introduction of new company values and regular strategy days to more robust governance and investment in systems and infrastructure.
Achieving B Corp certification has been another important milestone, recognising work already taking place across the Group while also providing a framework to challenge the business to keep improving.
Bonnie May adds: “We’re ambitious. We want to grow, but growth for the sake of growth isn’t what it’s about. We need to make sure we have the right foundations, the right people and the right tools in place to do it properly.
“One thing I’ve learnt over the years is that you don’t have to know everything yourself. You need to understand what you’re good at, surround yourself with great people and know when it’s time to bring in specialist expertise. I’m incredibly proud of where we are today, but I’m probably even more excited about where we can take it next.”
