BusinessCloud is today launching its search for names for our Northern Leaders 2025 list.
The list celebrates the leaders who make the North a better place and can include people from the worlds of business, sport, politics, charity, education, philanthropy, property and many more.
We’re looking for nominations from across the region, including the North West, North East and Yorkshire & Humberside.
Last year 540 people made up a long list, which a panel of judges eventually narrowed down to a final list of 200 names that made up the 2024 Northern Leaders.
A separate list of 75 people, aged 45 or less, formed the 2024 Northern Leaders Futures list.
You can nominate or self-nominate by completing the simple online form below.
Alongside a panel of respected judges, BusinessCloud will then produce the definitive 2025 Northern Leaders list, which will published ahead of an invite-only dinner and awards evening at KPMG, in Manchester, on November 20th, 2025.
BusinessCloud’s Executive Editor Chris Maguire said: “We had a phenomenal response to the 2024 Northern Leaders and we think 2025 will be even better.
“The list shines a light on the great and the good of the North, many of whom will attend our exclusive dinner and awards evening at KPMG in November.”
The inaugural 2024 BusinessCloud Northern Leaders Awards saw former England and Manchester City captain Steph Houghton MBE named the overall winner.
Maguire added: “Northern Leaders is committed to shining a spotlight on the whole of the North and not just the powerhouse that is Manchester and the North West.
“The awards evening in Manchester was followed by exclusive events in Newcastle and Leeds, where the speakers included Dragons’ Den star Sara Davies and some of the North’s brightest business brains.”
Northern Leaders was inspired by the former chief executive of Manchester City Council, Sir Howard Bernstein, who died in 2024 and is widely recognised as being the catalyst for the regeneration of Manchester.
The headline sponsor for Northern Leaders 2025 has been confirmed as OBI. They’ll be joined by CG, GM Business Growth Hub and Rochdale Development Agency with more sponsors to be named nearer the time.
You can submit a nomination for the 2025 Northern Leaders list via the form below.