Michael Smith Switchgear joins King’s Award panel at Love Business Expo 2026

MSSL Operations and Finance Director Emily Smith joined regional business leaders on stage at Love Business Expo 2026.

At the event, Emily sat alongside fellow East Midlands King’s Award for Enterprise winners in a panel chaired by Richard Blackmore, Director of Policy & Insight at East Midlands Chamber.

The session explored how King’s Award winners turn long‑term commitment into national recognition and resilient growth, with a focus on the application process and using data, evidence and storytelling to demonstrate long‑term impact.

Love Business is a one‑day expo that brings together companies from across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, showcasing local success stories and encouraging collaboration.

This was the first time MSSL had supported the event - providing a platform to share its journey from a small Leicester operation founded in 1985 to a multi‑award‑winning LV switchboard manufacturer supplying critical UK sites.

The King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development marked a milestone in that story, recognising more than 10 years of work to cut emissions, invest in people and raise industry standards.

Emily explained that the King’s Award application demands robust data and clear evidence, but also a strong narrative about why the work matters, drawing on third‑party support to help shape MSSL’s story.

She also spoke about bringing the wider team into the process, encouraging colleagues to suggest sustainability improvements and overcoming initial resistance to change.

She said: “Sharing our King’s Award story at an event created by and for East Midlands businesses felt like the right place to show that you can cut carbon, raise standards and still grow.

“Our progress comes from the team backing the changes, challenging us and bringing forward new ideas.”

On stage, she pointed to practical steps such as:

• Transforming the site with 284 solar PV panels -  providing around 35% of its electricity.
• Reducing waste with a focus on recycling and diverting material from landfill.
• Working closely with suppliers through sustainability audits.
• Cutting copper use within switchboards by more than 25 percent.​

Emily reflected on the recent King’s Award presentation at MSSL’s carbon neutral site, and what national recognition means for a manufacturer that has been part of the East Midlands landscape for more than 40 years.

She emphasised that small changes add up over time, and that focusing on practical, manageable actions helps build momentum and lasting impact.

By bringing regional King’s Award winners together on one stage, the session showed how East Midlands businesses are turning long‑term commitment into sustainable success.