The great and the good of the North were celebrated at the inaugural BusinessCloud Northern Leaders Awards.
KPMG’s Manchester offices hosted the exclusive, invite-only event on Thursday night.
Northern Leaders recognises the people who have – and continue to make – the biggest positive difference to the North.
There were a total of 15 categories up for grabs with 19 winners from across the North revealed.
The winner of the final award – the Northern Leaders Overall Award – was presented to former England and Manchester City captain Steph Houghton MBE.
The presentation was made by Jonathan Bernstein, son of former Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein, who died last year and inspired Northern Leaders.
The judges said: “The Overall Award is given to the person who best embodies the North. We wanted someone who was passionate about the North; a role model; a genuine leader; and someone who has given back to the North. Steph Houghton has all those qualities.”
Jonathan Bernstein with the winner of the Northern Leaders Overall Award Steph Houghton
Houghton has played a key role in the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation. Her husband Stephen Darby was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2018, a few months after they married.
A collection was held on the night for the Darby Rimmer MND Foundation. The donations have yet to be counted but the total was swelled by a pledge of £1,000 from Will Lewis of OBI.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham looked stunned as he was presented with the first award of the night – Northern Leaders Politician of the Year – as he prepared to give the welcoming remarks.
The judges said: “The award is for the politician who has done the most to improve the North and raise the region’s profile nationally and internationally. It was a unanimous decision.
“Andy Burnham has been described as the ‘King of the North’ and has played pivotal role in expanded devolution.”
Andy Burnham, Northern Leaders Politician of the Year
The headline sponsors were OBI. They were joined by Co-op Live, CG, GM Business Growth Hub and Rochdale Development Agency.
The other winners of the night were:
Outstanding Achievement Award: Mark Crabtree OBE, founder and managing director of AMS Neve
The judges said: “Mark has won two Oscars, an Emmy and a Grammy and has worked with the likes of Snoop Dogg, Bee Gees and Whitney Houston in his illustrious career. He’s been making music for nearly 50 years – and now he’s a Northern Leaders winner.”
Alison Salas of Rochdale Development Agency with Mark Crabtree OBE, founder and managing director of AMS Neve
North West Growth Champion Award: Clare Roberts OBE, co-founder and CEO of Kids Planet
The Growth Champion Award is a regional award given to the leaders who have demonstrated consistent business growth. The judges said: “Clare founded Kids Planet in 2008 with her father with two locations in Warrington and Widnes. She now has 220+ nurseries – making Kids Planet the 3rd largest nursery group in the UK.”
Stacey Turner of CG with Clare Roberts OBE, co-founder and CEO of Kids Planet
North East Growth Champion Award: Dan Kitchen, CEO, Razorblue Group
The judges said: “Dan Kitchen has led IT company razorblue to 363 per cent growth over the past five years, transforming it from its beginnings as a modest IT support provider to a critical business infrastructure partner.”
North West True Grit Award: Christy Foster, managing director, The Nursery Store
The True Grit Award is given to the leader who has overcome a challenge or adversity to achieve personal success. The judges said: “Christy is the managing director of The Nursery Store (previously Online4Baby), which she co-founded in 1987 with her sister Cheryl and has grown it into a multi-million business. She has spoken openly about her neurodiversity.”
Jen Axford of Co-op Live with Christy Foster, managing director of The Nursery Store
True Grit Award for Yorkshire and Humberside: Martin Port, founder, BigChange
The judges said: “Martin is a serial entrepreneur who reinvented himself after suffering a heart attack – losing six stone in weight. Professionally he’s sold a majority stake in BigChange and embarked on a new adventure with his latest company Build Concierge.”
Jen Axford of Co-op Live with Martin Port
Voice for Good Award: Nazir Afzal OBE, Chancellor, University of Manchester
Nazir Afzal is best known as the former chief crown prosecutor and prosecuted some of the highest-profile cases in the country. He’s campaigned on a range of issues including violence against women and girls and child sexual abuse. At one point he was forced out of his home by far right thugs – but he refused to be bowed. Writing on LinkedIn he said: “Leadership comes at a cost but it’s nothing compared to those who have suffered harm and then not been believed. Our legacy is what we do for strangers, not just for our families and friends.”
Nazir Afzal OBE, Chancellor, University of Manchester with Nicky Leonard of KPMG
Community Award: Prof Erinma Bell MBE
The judges said: “Prof Erinma Bell MBE is a peace activist recognised for her work tackling gun crime in Moss Side and Longsight. She’s the first women to have her sculpture in Manchester Town Hall – which is made out of 55 recycled guns.”
Paul Ormerod, chairman of the Rochdale Development Agency, with Erinma Bell MBE
Property Award: Daren Whitaker, Renaker Group
The judges said: “Daren Whitaker founded Renaker Group in 2006 with a vision to transform Manchester’s landscape – and he’s certainly done that. The developments have delivered 8,000 homes to the city.”
Sustainability Champion: Beth Houghton, head of Palatine Private Equity’s Impact Investing Fund
Given to the person who is passionate about climate change and tackling environmental challenges. The judges said: “Beth is passionate about sustainable growth with a genuine commitment to the environment and society.”
Janine Smith of GM Business Growth Hub with Beth Houghton, head of Palatine Private Equity’s Impact Investing Fund
Investor Award: Northern Gritstone. Collected by Marion Bernard, chief investment officer
Given to the person or organisation who can demonstrate significant investment across the North. The judges said: “Northern Gritstone is a Northern-based investment company, founded by the universities of Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield to support academic spinouts.”
Marion Bernard, chief investment officer at Northern Gritstone, with Vikas Shah MBE
People Award: Steve Byrne, CEO of Travel Counsellors
Given to the person who provides the leadership that allows a business to genuinely be people-first. The award was presented by Lou Cordwell OBE, CEO, Unit M & Professor of Innovation @ University of Manchester. The judges said: “Steve is planning to double sales at Travel Counsellors to £2bn inside five years. Under his leadership Travel Counsellors has been named a business to inspire Britain by the London Stock Exchange.”
Steve Byrne, CEO of Travel Counsellors, with Lou Cordwell OBE, CEO, Unit M & Professor of Innovation @ University of Manchester
Business Champion Award North West: Emma Degg MBE, chief executive of North West Business Leadership Team
The judges said: “Emma has a proven track record of bringing together business leaders and policy makers to make a tangible difference, both locally in the North West and nationally. She’s a big champion of future female leaders.”
Chris Stott of KPMG with Emma Degg MBE, chief executive of North West Business Leadership Team
Business Champion Award Yorkshire & Humberside: Jordan Brompton, co-founder of myenergi
The judges said: “Jordan Brompton is the public face of Grimsby-based myenergi, which manufactures smart home energy technology. Brompton is the author of ‘Sparki and the journey to Earth’, which aims to educate children about the importance of working towards a greener future.”
Business Champion Award North East: Sophie Milliken MBE, founder of Moja
The judges said: “Sophie works with entrepreneurs and senior executives to amplify their personal profiles. She also chairs Smart Works Newcastle, which has supported thousands of unemployed women across the North East and is a published author.”
Chris Stott of KPMG with Sophie Milliken MBE, founder, Moja
International Award: Castore
Castore was founded in Liverpool in 2016 by brothers Tom and Philip Beahon and has become a global sportswear brand with a £1bn+ valuation. Early in their career their parents remortgaged their home to get the business off the ground.
Education Champion Award: Professor John Woodward, Northumbria University
The judges said: “Professor John Woodward has helped transform Northumbria University into a research-intensive, business-focused institution that saw it named UK University of the Year.”
Professor John Woodward, of Northumbria University with Andy Dunn, client relationship director of CG
Tech Award: Alison Ross MBE, chief people and operations officer, AutoTrader
The judges said: “Alison has worked at AutoTrader for more than 20 years and has served as the chair of Manchester Digital for five years. She was awarded an MBE for services to the digital and technology industry. AutoTrader recently announced they would be relocating their Manchester head office to Bruntwood’s Circle Square.”
Alison Ross MBE, chief people and operations officer at AutoTrader, with Will Lewis of OBI
A total of 540 names were submitted to Northern Leaders, which was eventually reduced to a 200-strong list.
The list included a mixture of household names and unsung community leaders, many of whom attended Thursday’s dinner and awards evening.
The event was hosted by Chris Maguire, executive editor of BusinessCloud.