Former Dragons’ Den star Piers Linney; Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig; Henri Murison, chief executive of The Northern Powerhouse Partnership; and entrepreneur Richard Harpin have all been recognised in the King’s New Year Honours list.
Several tech leaders have also been recognised, including Lorna Armitage and Dr Andrea Cullen, co-founders of cyber security training company Capslock, who have been awarded MBEs for services to cyber security.
One of the most eye-catching awards in an MBE to former Dragons’ Den star and tech entrepreneur Piers Linney, from Bacup, in Lancashire.
He’s the co-founder and executive chair of Implement AI and the award is for services to small business, to entrepreneurs, to investors, to banking and to diversity and social mobility.
Linney said: “The next phase of my work will focus on supporting organisations to embrace and implement AI to boost productivity and competitiveness.
“I’m also determined to play my part with the Implement AI team to ensure that the UK, a country that gave my parents and me opportunities that would have been unavailable elsewhere, helps shape, and benefits from, the fourth industrial revolution.”
In September 2025, Implement AI raised £1.3m in an oversubscribed seed funding round led by prominent angel investor Nigel Wray. The startup’s co-founder is Dr Aalok Shukla.
Highly-rated leader of Manchester City Council, Cllr Bev Craig, has been awarded an OBE for services to local government.
Cllr Craig, who has been the leader since 2021, said: “To receive on OBE is a huge privilege, and to get awarded it for what I’ve been able to give back to our city is all the more special.
Cllr Bev Craig, leader, Manchester City Council, has been awarded an OBE for services to local government
“Manchester is an incredible city, made special by its people and a place I’m proud to call home. Leading our city is a privilege I don’t take for granted so to get awarded an OBE for what we’ve been doing to make Manchester an even better place to live and improve the lives of Manchester people, while creating a city that is fairer and more inclusive for generations to come, is the real honour.”
Cllr Craig was one of a number of people from BusinessCloud’s 2025 Northern Leaders list to be included in the New Year Honours list.
Henri Murison, chief executive of The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, was awarded an MBE for services to the economy.
Kathy Cowell OBE DL, Chair of Manchester University NHS FT (MFT), has been honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the NHS.
A former banker, she worked for Cheshire Building Society for 24 years until taking early retirement in 2006. Cowell has held several senior roles in the health sector. She was awarded an OBE in 2014.
She said: “It is a great privilege to serve our diverse communities in Manchester, Trafford and beyond. I have been blessed to work with incredible people throughout my time in the NHS, all committed to improving patient care.
“This honour is testament to everything we have achieved together over the years, including the work of our amazing volunteers.”
Fellow Northern Leader Julia Heap, principal and CEO of Hopwood Hall College, in Rochdale, has been awarded the OBE for services to further education.
Julia Heap, principal and CEO of Hopwood Hall College, has been awarded a OBE for services to further education
Julia Fawcett, CEO of The Lowry, was awarded the OBE for services to art and the creative industry.
The Lowry’s chairman Nazir Afzal OBE, who is also the Chancellor of the University of Manchester and a Northern Leader, said: “Her contribution to the arts is second to none and I’m very proud to be working with her.”
Mo Isap, chief executive of MediaCity-based professional technology skills provider IN4 Group, has been awarded an OBE for services to education.
Another recipient of an OBE is Dr Jonathan Hague, an executive of Unilever and chair of Liverpool City Region Innovation Board for services to research, innovation and economic development.
Dr Andrea Cullen spoke of her delight after she and her Capslock co-founder Lorna Armitage were awarded MBEs for services to cyber security.
She said: “We are not the most conventional so it is a huge surprise to us how proud and humbled we are feeling.
Capstock co-founders Dr Andrea Cullen and Lorna Armitage have been awarded MBEs for services to cyber security.
“We’ve spent our whole careers making sure that the job opportunities our digital world presents are open to everyone no matter who they are or where they’re from.
“When you are really passionate about something, you are most focused on what you haven’t achieved yet rather than what you have.
“So receiving an accolade like this has definitely forced us to take a moment to reflect and reluctantly pat ourselves on the back. Thank you to all the brilliant people and businesses who have supported us and, most importantly, all the learners we’ve worked with whose pure grit and determination to succeed in cyber is what makes us tick.
“Being seen does matter. It matters to us especially, as women in tech from working class roots and as a married couple. We are definitely starting 2026 with even more fire in our bellies as a result.”
Award-winning engineer Alex Knight, founder and CEO of STEMAZING was awarded an MBE for services to diversity and inclusion in engineering.
She said: “This is such a huge honour and I am super grateful to everyone who contributed to this recommendation and everyone who is part of the work we do in STEMAZING and the wider wonderful ecosystem of organisations, communities, charities, institutions and individuals that all work so hard to keep driving positive progress in the world of diversity, inclusion, equality in STEM.
“I am very proud of the impact I am able to be a part of because of the collective movement of so many amazing people around me – so thank you. What a way to start 2026.”
Entrepreneur Richard Harpin is the founder of HomeServe and has been knighted for services to politics.
He said: “I’m enormously proud of the UK’s entrepreneurial talent and remain passionate about continuing to support founders and businesses to scale. This honour reflects the efforts of many brilliant people I’ve had the privilege to work with over the last 35 years and I’m deeply grateful to colleagues, friends, and family for their unwavering support.”
Other people from the world of technology and business to receive honours include:
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Dr John Martin Bagshaw. For services to Quantum Science in the Aerospace and Defence Sectors. (Chelmsford, Essex)
- Matthew John Brittin. For services to Technology and to Enhancing Digital Skills. (London, Greater London)
- Professor Jennifer Kateman Rubin. Chief Scientific Adviser and Director General, Home Office. For services to Science and Analysis. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
- Matthew Agar. Strategy Director, Building Digital UK. For services to Digital Infrastructure and Broadband. (London, Greater London)
- Shah Ruhul Amin. Co-Founder and Chief Architect, Onfido. For services to Fintech and Artificial Intelligence. (London, Greater London)
- Samantha De Souza (Samantha Dowling). Programme Director, Economic Crime and Cyber Crime Research and Analysis, Home Office. For Public Service. (London, Greater London)
- Dr Anna Lisa Mary Jenkins. For services to Life Sciences. (London, Greater London)
- Pamela Maynard. Chief AI Transformation Officer, Microsoft. For services to Business and Technology. (London, Greater London)
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Matthew Peter John Baker. For services to Technology and to Wireless Communications. (Cambridge, Cambridgeshire)
- Karen Louise Blake. Lately Chief Executive Officer, Tech Talent Charter. For services to Technology and to Diversity. (Tunbridge Wells, Kent)
- Andrew Fishburn. Managing Director, Virgin StartUp. For services to Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship. (Durham, County Durham)
- Michael Charles French. Head of Games, Film London and Festival Director, London Games Festival. For services to the Games Industry, to Inclusion and to Charity. (Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire)
- John Pickford. Lately News Editor In Chief, Bauer Media. For services to Broadcasting and Local News. (Manchester, Greater Manchester)
- Ellen Melissa Roome. Campaigner. For services to Children’s Online Safety. (Cheltenham, Gloucestershire)