Published: December 30, 2025 at 11:30 am
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.
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 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 while 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.