SME Leaders Title for Jacqueline O'Donovan

Jacqueline O'Donovan, managing director of O'Donovan Waste Disposal, was named in the Growing Business Top 20 UK SME Leaders. Already known as a trailblazer within business and having previously been named as a ‘mover and shaker’ in her sector, Jacqueline heads up O'Donovan Waste, an award-winning business employing 185 staff and specialising in recycling construction and demolition waste. She was selected for her innovative leadership and resilience shown over the course of the pandemic, encouraging and inspiring both sector and business peers whilst collaborating on strategy and decision-making within her industry and beyond.

Growing Business Intelligence announced the winners of their inaugural SME Leaders 20, which is an elite leader board of excellence run in association with Azets, the UK’s largest regional SME accounting and business advisory firm. The SME Leaders 20 was created to identify and celebrate the achievements of individual and business leadership teams before, during and as they come out of these difficult times. Amber Ward, Director of Growing Business Intelligence said: “Many congratulations to everyone who made it into our SME Leaders 20. The judging panel were hugely impressed with all the entries, which showed clear evidence of strength, innovation, flexibility and resilience across a wide range of sectors and markets.”

Jacqueline said: “I am astounded at being named as one of the Top 20 SME Leaders when you consider the number of SMEs in the UK alone. To be recognised in this way is very humbling as I know that all business leaders and teams across the country have worked so hard during the pandemic to be supportive, resilient and resourceful in the face of such unprecedented challenges .”

Fraser Campbell, UK Head of Accounts and Business Advisory Services at Azets said: “Congratulations to our SME Leaders 20. SMEs are the backbone of the economy and they have faced some of the most challenging circumstances over the last 15 months with real courage and perseverance.”

The judging panel consisted of Fraser Campbell, UK Head of Accounts and Business Advisory Services at Azets; Dan Nixon, Head of Transaction Services at Azets; Matt Baker, founder and CEO of MPB, an online platform for photo and video equipment; Amber Ward, Director of Growing Business Intelligence, and Rachel Bridge, Editor of Growing Business Intelligence.