Quality of leadership is the difference between region’s ‘excellence and mediocrity’

Leadership that encompasses the north as a whole is needed to enable the region to “compete and prosper in the global marketplace”, a leading lawyer has said.

Mark Haywood, who heads CMS’s northern offices in Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool, wants leaders in the disparate parts of the north of England to work together to promote a more unified and coherent message to the world.

“Leadership is the ability to see above the trivia of the day to day, and focus on the long-term vision,” he said. “Our companies in the north have that in abundance; now we need to distill that across the region to create a vision of One North, developing the entire region to its fullest potential so it can compete and prosper in the global marketplace.

“Where is that leadership coming from? At the moment, it’s a little hard to see.”

CMS is the headline sponsor of the first Northern Leadership Awards, which take place this November.

The awards, created by TheBusinessDesk.com, have been designed to shine a light on the region’s outstanding business leaders and to celebrate modern leadership.

Haywood said: “CMS is fully committed to the north and wants to see its excellent potential fully realised. We believe
leadership is an integral part of that.

“A truly northern initiative like this – particularly one where companies from all parts of the region come together to celebrate the region as a whole – is important to us.”

Haywood is a real estate partner and is currently leading CMS’s team on the two significant regeneration projects in the north – Mayfield and Northern Gateway – both of which will transform currently derelict areas of Manchester.

He recognises how the region’s economy has been transformed over the last generation.

“One of the north’s key strengths – compared to two or three decades ago – is the diversity of our economic base,” he said.

“Manufacturing still thrives, but it is no longer the only player in town. The north attracts all kinds of business; from oil and gas and energy off our eastern coast, to high tech
and digital in various northern ‘silicon valleys’ across the region.

“We have a financial hub in Leeds, and with the BBC relocating to Manchester and Channel 4 to Leeds, we are seeing the north repositioned as a media and creative services hotspot. We should also mention retail – many of the major retail companies originated or are located in the north, both traditional giants like Asda, Morrison and Wilko, but also online giants like boohoo.com.

“It is our diversity that makes the northern economy’s potential so strong.”

He believes the key factor that will determine the success of individual businesses and the region as a whole is its leadership

He added: “Leadership sets a vision, creates agendas and sees opportunities others might not see. Leadership in companies and organisations makes the difference between excellence and mediocrity or failure.”

Entries are now open for the 2019 Northern Leadership Awards

There are 15 award categories:

• Young leader (under 35)
• Public and third sector leader
• Emerging entrepreneur leader
• Empowering potential leader
• Diversity and inclusion leader
• Professional services leader
• Transformational leader
• Company leader (up to 100 employees)
• Company leader (100+ employees)
• Best leadership programme
• Top 50 City Region leaders: Greater Manchester; Leeds; Liverpool; Sheffield
• Overall leader – chosen from the award winners

The Top 50 city region leader awards will be sought from the fastest-growing businesses in each sub-region, which TheBusinessDesk.com will reveal shortly.

We are seeking nominations for 10 awards – nine individuals as well as the best leadership programme category.

The deadline for entries is Friday 19 July, 2019

Click the link to download entry form and to see full list of the awards criteria.

The Northern Leadership Awards will showcase those individuals whose leadership is having a significant impact and delivering fantastic outcomes.

It promises to be a great event, bringing together some of the leading individuals and organisations from across the North and we would love to be part of the event, to network, to share and to be inspired.

To book your tickets, click here: