Anna Angel from Anya Sushko Handbags England won the prestigious award at the 2026 Impact Awards
The founder of a London-based luxury handbag manufacturer, Anya Sushko Handbags England, has been recognised for her outstanding leadership skills at the Made in Britain 2026 Impact Awards.
Anna Angel was awarded the ‘Inspiring Leader of the Year’ award, which recognises leaders driving meaningful change within their organisation, as well as championing sustainable business practices and creating opportunities for others.
The accolade was awarded at the annual Made in Britain Impact Awards ceremony, on Wednesday 4th November at The Bank House Hotel & Golf Club in Bransford, Worcester, hosted by Made in Britain – the internationally recognised trademark for British-made goods.
Speaking of her award win, Anna said: “Winning this award is such an unexpected honour. I’m slightly better at making nice handbags than I am at public speaking!
“I came to England 25 years ago and learned the craft of leatherworking here, so to receive this recognition for something I’ve dedicated so much of my life to is incredibly special. I’m immensely proud of the skills I’ve developed in this country, and winning this award means a great deal to me.”
Anna has spent almost two decades building an independent British luxury handbag business, with a focus on quality, longevity and responsible manufacturing. As well as her commitment to British craftsmanship, judges praised her dedication to sharing knowledge, teaching students, mentoring emerging designers and helping aspiring craftspeople to develop the practical skills they need to succeed.
They commended Anna’s commitment to creating opportunities for others, adding that “what sets this individual apart is not simply their determination to succeed, but their desire to ensure others can follow in their footsteps.”
John Pearce, CEO of Made in Britain, said: “It’s a pleasure to name Anna Angel our Inspiring Leader of the Year. Since setting up her business, Anna has remained utterly steadfast in her commitment to British craftsmanship, resisting the temptation to move production overseas and instead building a business with quality and craftsmanship at its core.
“Not only this, but she is playing an important role in inspiring the next generation of specialist manufacturers, setting her sights on establishing a British leather goods factory alongside a training school. She really is an outstanding example of leadership.”
Also recognised in the Inspiring Leader of the Year category was Andy Knight, Owner of CHX Products, who came highly commended, and Peter Morris, Founder of Lockabox, who took home the runner-up prize.
Organised and hosted by the not-for-profit trade body, Made in Britain, the Impact Awards are open exclusively to its 2,250 members – manufacturers who proudly use the official Made in Britain trademark to promote their goods.
Other winners from the 2026 Impact Awards include Invica Industries (Heritage Manufacturer of the Year), Rotary Precision Instruments (Heroes of British Export), MAV Systems (Innovation of the Year), Apex Pumps (Excellence in Procurement), Orange Campers (Marketing Campaign of the Year), Trueform Engineering Ltd (Social Impact in Manufacturing), Aluminium Shapes Ltd (Sustainability Initiative of the Year) and Scarab Sweepers (Trademark Excellence).
For more information about Made in Britain and to discover verified UK manufacturers, visit www.madeinbritain.org.
