Dorset Pilates business recognised with three national awards

Vagabond Pilates is celebrating national recognition after receiving an SME award alongside individual honours at the Great British Business & Community Awards 2026.

Vagabond Pilates, with studios located in Lytchett Matravers and Blandford, was awarded Bronze in the SME of the Year category.

Millie Gough, who is a co-founder, was awarded Silver in the Female Entrepreneur of the Year category, and her husband and co-founder Tim Gough received Bronze in the Male Entrepreneur of the Year category.

The three founders, Millie, Molly and Tim, were present at the ceremony, Millie and Molly receiving the business award for the Vagabond team.

Molly, whose background includes performing arts, teaching and sales, trained in Pilates with Millie before leaving her sales career. As one of Vagabond’s three founders, she has helped shape both the business and its welcoming approach to teaching.

Millie's journey towards recognition has been a transformative one, taking her from a career in the military to the operation of a Pilates business. Having served with the RAF for 21 years, she was found to have a rare form of cancer in 2020, after which she underwent several operations and had to learn how to walk once more before she was finally discharged from service in 2023.

Millie said: “After everything that happened with my health and leaving the RAF, building Vagabond gave me a new sense of purpose. Being recognised for that work means a huge amount.

“Vagabond, however, is something that all three of us have developed together; Molly, Tim and I have each contributed our own experiences and strengths. Although I'm proud of the award that was awarded to me personally, it is a moment of pride for all three of us, for our team and for everyone who has supported us.”

Tim brought his own military background to the business, having served for 30 years across the Royal Marines and UK Special Forces.

Together, the founders have built a business around expert teaching and a welcoming approach, encouraging people of all ages and levels of experience to try Pilates.

Molly said: “People sometimes think they need to be fit or flexible before they can come to Pilates. We want them to know they can walk through the door exactly as they are.

“We take what we teach seriously, but we have a lot of fun doing it. Collecting the business award together was a lovely moment, and we’re so grateful to everyone who has supported us.”

 www.vagabondpilates.co.uk