Tech champions and Northern Leaders were among the 1,200+ people included in the King’s Birthday Honours list for 2025.
Tom Bloxham
Tom Bloxham MBE, chairman of award-winning regeneration company Urban Splash and founding chair of Factory International, has been awarded a CBE in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours.
The CBE for services to culture and Manchester International Festival / Factory International follows his MBE for services to architecture and regeneration in 1999.
It recognises his longstanding commitment to culture in the UK, particularly his two-decade tenure as founding chair of Factory International and the Manchester International Festival (MIF).
During his leadership, Bloxham – who was included in BusinessCloud’s 2024 Northern Leaders list – led the organisation into a new era with the opening of Aviva Studios, the UK’s newest cultural landmark and the new permanent home of Factory International.
He said: “I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a long and diverse career, one that has opened doors to extraordinary opportunities and allowed me to pursue my passion for arts and culture. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most brilliantly talented figures in the cultural sector, and I’m truly delighted that those collective efforts have been recognised today.”
Philip Colligan
Philip Colligan, CEO of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, has been awarded a CEO for services to engineering and technology for societal impact.
Philip Colligan, CEO of the Raspberry Pi Foundation
He said: “I am deeply honoured to have been awarded a CBE. Since joining the Raspberry Pi Foundation, I’ve had the privilege of working with the most amazing people: trustees, colleagues, partners, mentors, teachers, and students.
This honour recognises what we’ve accomplished together, and it’s also an encouragement to keep going – there’s still so much to do to ensure that all young people can thrive in a world being transformed by technology.”
Roisin Currie
Roisin Currie, CEO of Greggs and a BusinessCloud Northern Leader, has been awarded a CBE in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the hospitality industry.
Currie recently joined Dragons’ Den star Sara Currie and Moja founder Sophie Milliken at our Northern Leaders event in Newcastle.
Roisin Currie, CEO, Greggs
He said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive this recognition. Thank you to all of the amazing teams I have had the pleasure of working with throughout my career.
“In particular, this award is testament to all of my incredible colleagues across Greggs who work together in our shops, supply sites and Greggs House to serve our customers so brilliantly, day in and day out, and truly champion the hospitality sector.”
Nick Massey
Nick Massey, CEO of Forever Manchester, has been awarded a CBE for his outstanding dedication and service to the community over the past 27 years at Forever Manchester.
He said: “I feel extremely privileged and even more surprised to receive a CBE. I’d assumed it was a clerical error. This recognition really belongs to the incredible team at Forever Manchester, the board of trustees, our volunteers, our supporters, the communities we work with every day and my wife Debbie who has supported whatever I’ve chosen to do for 40 years.
“I’ve been very lucky to have been able to be a cheerleader for local community groups and the amazing work they do. It’s an honour to be part of something that genuinely makes a difference in Greater Manchester. I’ll have to try my best to live up to the fancy letters after my name.”
Tanuja Randery
Tanuja Randery, managing director and vice president of Amazon Web Services in Europe, Middle East, and Africa, was awarded the CBE for services to business and the technology sector.
She said: “If someone had told me upon moving to the UK over 20 years ago that I’d find myself here, it would have been beyond anything I could have imagined.
“This honour is mine to share, as a reflection of the collective efforts, commitment and talent of the people I’ve been fortunate enough to work with over the years, and to those who have supported me and opened new doors. You have made it possible to leverage technology for good and create opportunities for the next generation.”
Dana Strong
Dana Strong, group CEO of Sky, was awarded the CBE for services to business and media
Jospeh Adams
Joseph Adams, 22, was awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his work with Altrincham FC and charitable fundraising
His Dad is Phil Adams, president of Houlihan Lokey Europe and a BusinessCloud Northern leader.
Last year he helped raise over £425,000 for Altrincham FC Community Sports to fund disability sports and employability programmes.
The 22-year-old, completed his ‘No Limits’ challenge, an incredible ten 10K runs in ten countries over six days, between August 27-September 1, 2024.
Phil Adams said: “Since he was born, Joseph has inspired us with his positive mindset, determination and pure lust for life.
“Last year’s challenge was completed in, at times, brutal heat and took real resilience – we were blown away by the support we received and the team at Altrincham have made massive progress in building a programme which will make a huge difference to young people with Special Needs which is what the challenge was all about.”
Ram Gupta
Ram Gupta, of Blackburn-based IT provider Nybble, will receive the British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to communities in Lancashire and Greater Manchester.
He started his IT business Nybble on Darwen Street in Blackburn in 1998 and is still based in Blackburn
Harry Catherall
Tameside Council’s chief executive Harry Catherall has spoken of his pride at being awarded with an MBE for outstanding contribution to public service.
Jane Kenyon
Jane Kenyon, founder of Girls Out Loud, has been awarded an MBE for services to gender equality for women and girls. She’s spent years championing teenage girls, smashing stereotypes and shouting loud about the power of self-belief.
Brett Mendell
Brett Mendell is the managing director of Thomas Kneale & Co Limited and was awarded the MBE for services to sustainability and to leadership.