Today BusinessCloud and GM Business Growth Hub reveal the inaugural ‘GM 125 Rising Stars of Business’ list.
We originally joined forces to create a 100-strong list but we received so many nominations we expanded it to 125 and created a separate Ones to Watch list of 30 up-and-coming firms.
The selected companies come from four key sectors: GreenTech; digital, creative and tech; advanced manufacturing and materials; and life sciences.
These are the four sectors that Greater Manchester has identified as having the most growth and productivity potential for the region.
The lists showcase companies from the 10 local authority areas of Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
Companies on both lists needed to be headquartered or have a significant presence in Greater Manchester; must work in one of the four sectors; and could be early stage or startup. Judges were also looking for ambition and evidence of growth.
The judges were Janine Smith, director of the GM Business Growth Hub; Leah Watson, project management executive at GM Business Growth Hub; Jonathan Symcox, editor of BusinessCloud and TechBlast; and Chris Maguire, executive editor of BusinessCloud and TechBlast.
Maguire said: “It was an impossible task to restrict the Rising Stars of Business list to just 100 names so the judging panel quickly expanded it to 125 – and still had 30 names for a separate Ones to Watch list!
“I think it highlights the sheer quality and quantity of companies in Great Manchester.
“We’ve got a real mix of businesses, ranging from startups all the way up to a unicorn with Matillion. They’re two really exciting lists and congratulations to everyone that was included.”
A launch event for the lists will take place in the Manchester offices of KPMG on 17th May when several of the names on the Rising Stars and Ones to Watch lists will be speaking.
This will be followed by a series of sector-specific roundtables. Details to follow.
Janine Smith, director of the GM Business Growth Hub, said: “GM Business Growth Hub is thrilled to partner with BusinessCloud to identify the Rising Stars of business across Greater Manchester.
“The city region is home to an amazing range of businesses with many choosing the area to set up or relocate to. We are proud to work with so many business owners and founders to help them understand the support, assets and infrastructure available to them to guide their journey when scaling.
“We have a team of specialist advisors who can provide help on everything from raising investment; innovation; reaching international markets; building teams; ESG and a lot more besides.”