Winners revealed at East Midlands Leadership Awards 2025
Christina Yardley, partner and CEO at law firm Rothera Bray, was the double winner at Wednesday evening’s East Midlands Leadersihip Awards, being named Leader of the year and Company Leader of the Year (101+ employees).
In total, 19 trophies were handed out to the very best leaders in the East Midlands.
The judging panel for this year’s awards were former winners Melanie Noble of Bentley Project Management, Maria Beggs from Vispera, 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: “Congratulations to all our winners – and those shortlisted. 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.”
The winners
Young Leader
Winner: Charley Clarke, Your IT Department
Shortlisted:
James Cross, Crossover Property
Sheleendra Fernando, 24Three
Harry Laveric, Pall-Ex Group
Olivia Priestley, DSP (Interiors)
Sam Sharp, Browne Jacobson
Mentor of the Year
Winner: Peter Edwards, Edwards Performance
Shortlisted:
Matt Bull, ActionCOACH Loughborough
Sukhi Ghuman, Octavian Group
Simon Pryce, Skylight Media
Emerging Entrepreneur
Winner: Sheleendra Fernando, 24Three
Shortlisted:
James Cross, Crossover Property
James Ferraby and Mark Underwood, Digital Planning
Libby James, Merchant Advice Service
Kevin Kapezi, Growthack
Diversity and Inclusion Leader
Winner: Anna Upton, Embark Federation
Shortlisted:
Kiran Ghuman, Octavian Group
Alan White, Fresh Logistics
Professional Services Leader
Winner: Laura Wilson, Connections Legal Management
Shortlisted:
Patrick Adie, Freeths
Pete Buller, Althaus Digital
Adam Gilbert, AG Corporate Law
Sarah Parkinson, Browne Jacobson
Green Leader
Winner: Ann Barrasso, Roythornes Solicitors
Shortlisted:
Peter Evans, Orderly
Lance Hill, Eight Group
Richard Smith, Linwood Raker
Alan White, Fresh Logistics
HR Leader
Winner: Stephanie Durrant, Pall-Ex UK
Shortlist:
Sarah Loates, Loates HR Consultancy
Katherine Rubin, Luxfer Gas Cylinders
Penny Strutton, Penny Strutton Ltd
Manufacturing Leader
Winner: Richard Smith, Linwood Raker
Shortlisted: James Arnold, Sleaford Quality Foods
Education Leader
Winner: Penny Strutton, Penny Strutton Ltd
Shortlisted:
Pete Buller, Althaus Digital
Iwona Lebiedowicz, PAB Languages Centre
Sanjay Patel, Octavian Group
Sales Leader
Winner: Beth Denham-Berry, Roxy Leisure
Shortlist:
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
Winner: Trevor Palethorpe, John Pye & Sons
Shortlisted:
Emma Brown, Sort Group
Fiona Frudd, SF Recruitment
Louise Jones, Cosy Garden Rooms
Jennie Sanders, Dains Accountants
Rob White, Fortitude Nicsa Global
Technology Leader
Winner: Sukhi Ghuman, Octavian Group
Peter Evans, Orderly
James Ferraby and Mark Underwood, Digital Planning
Benedict Heaver, Streets Heaver Healthcare Computing
Jignesh Patel, BatFast
Finance Leader
Winner: Mohammad Alimahomed, Syon Tax
Shortlisted:
Rebecca Aldridge, Balance: Wealth Planning
Stefan Radymski, Evolve Business Finance
Joe Rice, HSG UK
Property Leader
Winner: Paul Morris, St James Securities
Shortlisted:
Patrick Adie, Freeths
James Cross, Crossover Property
Company Leader (up to 50 employees)
Winner: Katy Upton, Fortitude Nicsa Global
Shortlisted:
Martin Birch, Belmayne Independent Chartered Financial Planners
Holly Daulby, Honest Communications
George Oliver, 1284 Communications
Chloe Sproston, Blueprint Interiors
Amad Tababa, Autify Digital
Company Leader (51-100 employees)
Winner: Alan White, Fresh Logistics
Shortlisted:
Marie Cooper, CBE+
Benedict Heaver, Streets Heaver Healthcare Computing
Company Leader (101+ employees)
Winner: Christina Yardley, Rothera Bray
Shortlisted:
Kiran Ghuman, Octavian Group
Richard Medd, Browne Jacobson
Nicolas Pitrat, BRUSH Group
Pete Taylor, Gi Group
Stewart Vandermark, Nelsons
Tanzeel Younas, National Care Consortium
Transformational Leader
Winner: Kev Brown, BFY Group
Shortlisted:
Rebecca Aldridge, Balance: Wealth Planning
James Ferraby and Mark Underwood, Digital Planning
Tom Oldershaw, Eight Group
Pete Taylor, Gi Group
Christina Yardley, Rothera Bray
Leader of the Year
Christina Yardley, Rothera Bray
