Jackie moved to Sherington and established a Catering Company, Cuisine Jaqueline at a time when Milton Keynes was just taking shape. It was an exciting time and with few restaurants established, Cuisine Jaqueline catered for many Opening Ceremonies and Toppings Out of all the new buildings.

Jackie took a break from catering & read English at Cambridge, gaining a Degree. She then worked at Cranfield University and this is where Jackie became involved with the story of Destination MK and its founding. 

By around 2006/7 Milton Keynes Council had closed down the Tourist Information Centre which had been situated by the theatre.

Stewart Elsmore was Chairman of the Association of Milton Keynes Hoteliers (AMKH -formed in 1991, Stewart was Chairman 1993- 2018 he is now Vice-Chairman).  At that time, Karen Bradbury (who passed away in January 2020) was the General Manager of Moore Place Hotel.  Karen and Stewart decided that what was needed, was outward facing tourism continuing in Milton Keynes to benefit the City and its hoteliers. This was discussed with hoteliers and invited attractions, ‘B&B’s and others at a meeting at the Hockey Stadium, where they discussed getting together and contributing a membership fee, with the primary aims of re-opening a Visitor Information Centre, setting up a conference desk and producing a collective brochure showcasing MK’s attractions and venues. A steering group was set up which evolved into the Board.

Originally the Board included:

  • Andrew Coy from the Woburn Hotel
  • Tony Palgrave (Chairman)
  • Carolyn Jardine
  • Linda Mansfield
  • Melanie Beck 
  • Lynsey Geddes – Emberton Dale 
  • Stewart Elsmore
  • Sally Reynolds – BDM at Woburn Estate

Jackie Inskipp had already worked at Cranfield for about ten years with Stewart, in a conference co-ordinating and then a Business Development role.  Jackie was very interested in helping to develop the tourism function in MK and it was agreed she would spend some of her time to do this.

Stewart and Jackie met with John Cove at Milton Keynes Council also Grant Seeley and Colin Fox (Inward Investment), annual funding was organised to market MK and then match funded by membership contributions from the private sector.

Jackie became inundated with the Destination Milton Keynes (DMK) workload, membership liaisons, meetings with culture, history, heritage, Inward Investment, tourist boards, etc., and so she went part time at Cranfield and part time for DMK.  This was agreed by both parties and Jackie became General Manager of DMK, and later took on the role on a full-time basis, leaving Cranfield altogether. Jackie later became Chief Executive, her great strength was her ability to keep people together, she kept the membership engaged and worked prolifically to weave Culture, Heritage and Tourism together, great allies in this being Bill Griffiths and Shane Downer, and many others representing the attractions and various complementary aspects of MK.

Stewart says “it has been a very interesting and worthwhile journey and my two colleagues and friends Jackie Inskipp and Karen Bradbury, who helped to first inspire and drive DMK, are sadly no longer with us “.

Jackie was also a key member of MK’s FIFA 2018/2022 Football World Cup bid Board, chaired by Dr Ann Limb CBE DL who later went on in 2010 to become Chair of Destination Milton Keynes.