Entries open for 2023 Northern Leadership Awards
The Northern Leadership Awards is back in 2023 highlighting the very best of Northern leaders.
The annual event will take place in person in Manchester on 30th March at The Midland.
The Northern Leadership Awards are once again in partnership with CMS, and will be supported by Quarterdeck.
Category sponsor includes Virtual NonExecs.
Entries for the awards are now open, with the closing date being Friday, 9 December, 2022.
TheBusinessDesk.com established the Northern Leadership Awards to celebrate the people that are role models within their organisations and raise the bar for their competitors.
The winners will show the qualities of extraordinary leadership and be able to demonstrate the positive impact this has had. 
The Leadership Awards offer a great opportunity to recognise and showcase the achievements and success of businesses in the region.
Mark Haywood, partner at CMS, said: “Providing effective leadership is never easy, even in the best of times. As we emerge from Covid to enter the most challenging economic environment in decades, high quality leadership will be more important than ever before.
“Leaders – in both private and public sector organisations will need to be laser focused on their objectives, and ensuring their people understand them well.
“The Northern Leadership Awards in the past have shown that leadership talent is in plentiful supply in the North, so I’m confident the region can come through this difficult period stronger than ever before.
“CMS is proud to be able to play its part in recognising and rewarding exceptional leadership talent from the region.”
There are 13 Leadership Awards categories and they are:
Young Leader: This award recognises the best leader aged under 35 (01 April 2023) for their ability to make a real difference in their organisation by bringing about positive change and inspiring others around them.
Public and Third Sector Leader: The public and third sectors have been under pressure in recent years, requiring its leaders to be innovative and achieve more with less. This has required leaders who can overcome challenges, often under close scrutiny, and drive cultural change in their organisation.
Mentor: Mentors can play a hugely significant role in the development of talented junior individuals who may lack certain skills or experience. Their guidance at pivotal moments can accelerate careers and businesses. Mentoring can also be among the most altruistic of leadership actions, especially if the mentee works for a separate organisation. But the willingness to give something back is definitely worth recognition.
Emerging Entrepreneur Leader: Entrepreneurial leadership can take a particular form, requiring drive, vision and the ability to bring a team along with you that can collectively achieve great results. This award is for a leader who has led their company for up to three years, whether as founder or has been brought in to push forward a more established business.
Diversity and Inclusion Leader: Organisations are benefiting from having a diverse workforce at every level and in creating an environment where everyone has a voice. Those shortlisted will have championed diversity and inclusion, whether inside their organisation or as part of an outside group or initiative, and worked to improve the opportunities for any under-represented group.
Professional Services Leader: The professional services leader of the year will be the individual who is showing strong leadership and having an impact in their firm or further afield.
Transformational Leader: Delivering change requires a well-executed plan, but to deliver transformational change requires the added magic ingredient of exceptional leadership. This award will recognise the individual who has achieved that, delivering measurable success in their organisation.
Green Leader: Businesses have accelerated their response to climate change and environmental issues, with changes often driven by a leader committed to being a force for good. This award will recognise someone who has demonstrated leadership on the green agenda, whether in their own company or by encouraging change in their supply chain and industry.
Non-Executive Leader – sponsored by Virtual NonExecs: The role of a non-executive can be hidden from view but they play an important role in a business’s progress. This award will highlight the contribution made by the very best non-executives in our region.
Company Leader (up to 100 employees): Leading small companies presents its own challenges, often requiring flexibility and a personal touch. This award will go to the best leader in a Northern company which employs up to 100 people.
Company Leader (100+ employees): Leadership in a larger company requires effort to ensure the company direction and vision is managed and communicated, often across shifts, sites and even countries. This award will go to the best leader in an organisation which employs more than 100 people.
City Region Leaders – Liverpool, Greater Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield: These four awards will recognise the individuals who have made a difference in their city regions. This can be because of the impact of their business – whether that’s through its normal operations or because of how it responded to the crisis – or because of other roles which helped support others through the crisis.
Overall leader (no nominations): This person will be selected from the other award winners and will be the person or organisation that embodies outstanding leadership and is an exemplar for the North.
The deadline for entries is: Friday, 9 December, 2022. Please download your entry form here.
Please send forms to leadership@thebusinessdesk.com
For information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact sales@thebusinessdesk.com.
