Shortlist revealed for East Midlands Leadership Awards 2025
The hotly-anticipated shortlist for our East Midlands Leadership Awards 2025 can now be revealed.
This year’s event, set to be held at the Crowne Plaza in Nottingham on March 12, will see winners crowned in 19 categories in front of the cream of the East Midlands business community.
The judging panel for this year’s awards were former winners Melanie Noble of Bentley Project Management, James McArthur of NG Chartered Surveyors, Chris Pryke-Hendy, Nottingham Community Housing Association and Matthew Bonser of Purpose Media.
TheBusinessDesk.com’s East Midlands editor Sam Metcalf, who chaired the panel, said: “We had a record number of entries to the Leadership Awards this year, and the standard of this year’s nominations was higher than ever, displaying the depth and breadth of the leadership talent in the East Midlands.
“I’d like to thank our judging panel for their time and expertise and wish all the shortlisted individuals all the best for our awards evening in March.”
2025 East Midlands Leadership Awards shortlist:
Young Leader
Charley Clarke, Your IT Department
James Cross, Crossover Property
Sheleendra Fernando, 24Three
Harry Laveric, Pall-Ex Group
Olivia Priestley, DSP (Interiors)
Sam Sharp, Browne Jacobson
Mentor of the Year
Matt Bull, ActionCOACH Loughborough
Peter Edwards, Edwards Performance
Sukhi Ghuman, Octavian Group
Simon Pryce, Skylight Media
Emerging Entrepreneur
James Cross, Crossover Property
Sheleendra Fernando, 24Three
James Ferraby and Mark Underwood, Digital Planning
Libby James, Merchant Advice Service
Kevin Kapezi, Growthack
Diversity and Inclusion Leader
Kiran Ghuman, Octavian Group
Anna Upton, Embark Federation
Alan White, Fresh Logistics
Professional Services Leader
Patrick Adie, Freeths
Pete Buller, Althaus Digital
Adam Gilbert, AG Corporate Law
Sarah Parkinson, Browne Jacobson
Laura Wilson, Connections Legal Management
Green Leader
Ann Barrasso, Roythornes Solicitors
Peter Evans, Orderly
Lance Hill, Eight Group
Richard Smith, Linwood Raker
Alan White, Fresh Logistics
HR Leader
Stephanie Durrant, Pall-Ex UK
Sarah Loates, Loates HR Consultancy
Katherine Rubin, Luxfer Gas Cylinders
Penny Strutton, Penny Strutton Ltd
Manufacturing Leader
James Arnold, Sleaford Quality Foods
Richard Smith, Linwood Raker
Education Leader
Pete Buller, Althaus Digital
Iwona Lebiedowicz, PAB Languages Centre
Sanjay Patel, Octavian Group
Penny Strutton, Penny Strutton Ltd
Sales Leader
Beth Denham-Berry, Roxy Leisure
Catherine Mitchell, True Talent
Michelle Naylor, Pall-Ex UK
Ellie Smith, SF Recruitment
Rob Twells, The Digital Maze
Greg Upton, Fortitude Nicsa Global
Marketing Leader
Emma Brown, Sort Group
Fiona Frudd, SF Recruitment
Louise Jones, Cosy Garden Rooms
Trevor Palethorpe, John Pye & Sons
Jennie Sanders, Dains Accountants
Rob White, Fortitude Nicsa Global
Technology Leader
Peter Evans, Orderly
James Ferraby and Mark Underwood, Digital Planning
Sukhi Ghuman, Octavian Group
Benedict Heaver, Streets Heaver Healthcare Computing
Jignesh Patel, BatFast
Finance Leader
Bilal Ahmed, Octavian Group
Rebecca Aldridge, Balance: Wealth Planning
Mohammad Alimahomed, Syon Tax
Stefan Radymski, Evolve Business Finance
Joe Rice, HSG UK
Property Leader
Patrick Adie, Freeths
James Cross, Crossover Property
Paul Morris, St James Securities
Company Leader (up to 50 employees)
Martin Birch, Belmayne Independent Chartered Financial Planners
Holly Daulby, Honest Communications
George Oliver, 1284 Communications
Chloe Sproston, Blueprint Interiors
Amad Tababa, Autify Digital
Katy Upton, Fortitude Nicsa Global
Company Leader (51-100 employees)
Marie Cooper, CBE+
Benedict Heaver, Streets Heaver Healthcare Computing
Alan White, Fresh Logistics
Company Leader (101+ employees)
Kiran Ghuman, Octavian Group
Richard Medd, Browne Jacobson
Nicolas Pitrat, BRUSH Group
Pete Taylor, Gi Group
Stewart Vandermark, Nelsons
Christina Yardley, Rothera Bray
Tanzeel Younas, National Care Consortium
Transformational Leader
Rebecca Aldridge, Balance: Wealth Planning
Kev Brown, BFY Group
James Ferraby and Mark Underwood, Digital Planning
Tom Oldershaw, Eight Group
Pete Taylor, Gi Group
Christina Yardley, Rothera Bray
Leader of the Year
To be announced on the night
