Nominations have started to pour in for BusinessCloud’s Northern Leaders 2026 list.
We’re looking for inspirational names from across the North, including the North West, North East and Yorkshire & Humberside.
The deadline is October 9th, so there’s no time to delay.
The headline sponsor for Northern Leaders 2026 is OBI. They’ll be joined by CG, GM Business Growth Hub and Rochdale Development Agency.
Now in its third year, Northern Leaders was inspired by the late, great Manchester City Council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein and celebrates 200 people who make the North a better place.
Names can come from the worlds of business, sport, politics, charity, education, philanthropy, property and many more.
Alongside a panel of respected judges, BusinessCloud will select the final 2026 Northern Leaders list, which will be published in October.
Those on the list will then be invited to an exclusive dinner and awards evening at KPMG in Manchester on November 19th, 2026.
You can nominate someone – or self-nominate – by completing the simple online form below.
BusinessCloud’s Executive Editor Chris Maguire said: “Judging by the first few days, it looks like the 2026 Northern Leaders list will be full of new names.
“Northern Leaders is a real celebration of the North and we want to celebrate the leaders who make the North a better place simply by their actions.”
Last year, Lindsey Burrow, wife of rugby league legend Rob Burrow, received the Northern Leaders Overall Award for her fundraising and work raising awareness of motor neurone disease (MND).
Other winners included Michael Ingall, chairman/CEO, Allied London; Collette Roche, COO, Manchester United FC; Mads Howard MBE, senior manager, CEO Office Operations, Sage; Jane Dawson, Ella Dawson Foundation; Figen Murray, who inspired Martyn’s Law; and philanthropist Steve Morgan CBE, founder of the Steve Morgan Foundation.
Nominate below