European technology investment bank GP Bullhound has called on the North’s leading digital businesses to enter the Northern Tech Awards 2017 as it aims to uncover the latest Northern unicorns.
This year’s judging panel has also been announced, including: Richard Flint, Chief Executive of Sky Betting and Gaming; David Rowan, editor of WIRED UK; Jacqueline de Rojas, President of techUK and managing director of Sage UK; Angela Spindler, CEO of N Brown; Carol Kane, Joint CEO of Boohoo; and Richard Law, CEO of GB Group.
The North’s premier technology awards ceremony will take place on March 30th in Newcastle.
“The Northern Tech Awards are critical to showcasing the unique strengths the region has to offer tech businesses,” said Richard Flint, CEO of Sky Betting and Gaming.
“With the sector growing rapidly across the North, campaigns like this are a great way to help attract the talent and investment required to sustain such growth.”
This year’s awards will also launch the first Northern Tech 100 League Table to showcase, champion and celebrate the region’s fastest growing technology companies.
The League Table is supported by Tech North, the government-backed initiative tasked with the acceleration of the Northern technology sector.
Solly Solomou, co-founder and CEO of TheLADbible Group, said: “We’re committed to building the heart of our business in the North.
“The incredible talent pool in the region has helped fuel our success, so it’s vital to highlight the potential for growth and innovation through campaigns like the Northern Tech Awards.
“It feels like the area is buzzing with creative ideas and we’re taking on the world’s biggest global media empires from Manchester and winning. We are just the tip of the iceberg.”
In 2016 Skyscanner, the online travel platform, was awarded the prestigious Overall Judges’ Award, demonstrating outstanding levels of innovation, leadership and international reach.
Skyscanner was sold last month to Chinese travel company Ctrip for £1.4bn.
Hugh Campbell, Managing Partner of GP Bullhound, added: “The North has created an outstanding technology ecosystem in recent years.
“We must champion this exceptional tech talent throughout the region and showcase their success stories through events like the Northern Tech Awards.
“These success stories should help to inspire entrepreneurs to build companies of genuine scale in the region.”
The awards at the Boiler Shop, Newcastle, celebrate tech firms that have had at least three years of revenue growth, with a minimum level of revenue of £500,000 in 2014.
The Northern Tech Awards 2017 are presented by GP Bullhound as a not-for-profit event with the support and sponsorship of Tech North, Barclays, OBI Property, Performance Horizon, Squire Patton Boggs, Teesside University, Tees Valley Combined Authority, Berenberg, Frazer John Recruitment, Inflexion, London Stock Exchange, Mercia Technologies and Seven Hills.