Winners of North West Business Masters 2022 revealed

AJ Bell founder Andy Bell was named North West Business Ambassador of the Year at the 2022 North West Business Masters Awards.

Using innovation very early on in his career, Bell revolutionised the investment sector when he started the business with a friend in Salford Quays nearly 25 years ago using only £10,000 of personal loans.

Today, AJ Bell, which joined the stock exchange in 2018, has grown into one of the largest investment platforms in the UK with over £ 64bn of assets under management and more than 425,000 clients.

Bell has recently stepped down as CEO of the business, but will support its growth as a consultant.

He said a “fear of failure” kept him motivated through his 27 years leading his business. Bell also spoke of the importance of creating a culture within the workplace, adding “when you start losing that, you start losing the essence of the company.”

Guest speaker was Vikas Shah,  MBE, DL, CEO of Swiscot Group and author of Thought Economics.

More than 400 guests attended the awards ceremony at The Midland, Manchester on Thursday evening.

TheBusinessDesk.com’s North West editor, Shelina Begum, said: “A huge congratulations to all our winners and finalists.

“I know the judges faced tough choices not only to pick this evening’s winners, but even to pick the shortlist.

“They were really impressed by the quality of entries and in particular the commitment by businesses across the region to lead through a changing economic and political landscape, showing resilience, but also championing sustainability, diversity and inclusion and putting staff wellbeing at the heart of everything they do.

“It was a great night of celebration and wonderful to see so many successful and inspirational companies.”

The Business Masters awards are run by TheBusinessDesk.com and are sponsored by Beyond Law Group, AirIT and Oxygen.

2022 North West Business Masters winners are:

Start-up

• Winner – Hive Projects
• Cortus Advisory Group
• Fuel Hub
• PropCall
• Pubity Group

Disruptor

• Winner – My Fabulosa
• Fulfilmentcrowd
• Love Energy Savings
• Wheelie Good Travel Company

Sustainability

• Winner – Zen Internet
• Fleetsolve
• One+All
• The Vita Group – Vita Cellular Foam
• WN VTech

International Trade

• Winner – VetPlus
• Envair Technology
• Fanattik
• The Vita Group – Vita Cellular Foam
• The Women’s Organisation

Investment

• Winner – Praetura Group
• PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Scarborough Group International

Community Impact

• Winner – Cardinal Global Logistics
• Aqueous Digital
• NOMA
• Scarborough Group International
• The Women’s Organisation

Professional Services – Law Firm

• Winner – Squire Patton Boggs
• gunnercooke
• Hall Brown Family Law
• Napthens
• TLT

Professional Services – Accountancy Firm

• Winner – EY
• AMS Accountants Group
• BWP Inspire
• Claritas Tax
• PricewaterhouseCoopers

Professional Services – Finance

• Winner – WeDo: Business Services
• Bridging Finance Solutions
• OakNorth Bank
• Praetura Group

Property Business

• Winner – MEPC
• Buttress
• RECOM Solutions
• Scarborough Group International
• U+I

Family Business

• Winner – RVA Surveyors
• Aqueous Digital
• McGoff Construction
• My Fabulosa Limited
• Seddon

Small Business (up to 50 employees)

• Winner – Claritas Tax
• Four Recruitment
• Hall Brown Family Law
• Lavatech (inCase)
• Realm Recruit

Medium Business (51-250 employees)

• Winner – Fulfilmentcrowd
• AMS Accountants Group
• Applied Nutrition
• Inicio Group
• VetPlus

Large Business (251+ employees)

• Winner – Love Energy Savings
• Gunnercooke
• Mowgli Street Food
• TalkTalk
• The Vita Group – Vita Cellular Foam

Fast Growth Business

• Winner – Cardinal Global Logistics
• Applied Nutrition
• Lavatech (inCase)
• Legacy Pets Cremation Services
• Relish

Employer of the Year