Shortlist revealed for North West Leadership Awards
The hotly-anticipated shortlist for our North West Leadership Awards 2025 can now be revealed.
This year’s event, set to be held at the Midland Hotel in Manchester on March 27, will see winners crowned in 21 categories in front of the cream of the North West business community. Click here to book your tickets.
The judging panel for this year’s awards were Elise Wilson, Janine Smith, Oli Randell, Catherine Brown, Elizabeth Cameron and the session was hosted by Alliance Manchester Business School.
The awards are supported by First Event, Freeths and Northstone.
TheBusinessDesk.com’s North West editor Michael Taylor, 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 North West.
“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.”
Janine Smith, a judge in the process said: “What a privilege it has been to judge the TheBusinessDesk.com North West Leadership Awards. The calibre of applications has been immense and it’s really heart warming to see the talent, drive, passion and inclusivity we have across the region. These leaders are making a significant impact on their businesses, their teams and their communities/society alike.
“I’m looking forward to the awards in March where the winners will be announced.”
THE SHORTLIST
Young Leader
Nile Henry, The Blair Project
Lawrence Perret-Hall, CYFOR Group
Sara Auty, Saz Media
Ollie Plastow, Consensus Workplace
Scot Rothwell, DASCO construction
Kate Winstanley, Morson Group
Public and Third Sector Leader
John Herring, NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care
Jo Henney, Nugent
Amer Gaffar, Manchester Metropolitan University
Yvonne Sampson, GM Business Growth Hub – Enterprise & Growth
Revd David Ireland, Francis House Children’s Hospice
Mentor
Victoria Price, Alvarez and Marsal
Renata Bochenek-Gasiorkiewicz, SGI Consulting Engineers
Nick Leech, Chase de Vere
Karen Turton, Purple Story
Brian Moran, Jigsaw Homes Group
Louise Stephenson, Drax]
Emerging Entrepreneur
Nile Henry, The Blair Project
Scott McNicol, Harper
Mitchell Walsh, Integras
Sid Sethi, Specscart
Mark Kearsley and Laura Leslie, DSG Accountants
Nick Owens, Magnify PR
Diversity and Inclusion Leader
Nile Henry, The Blair Project
Claire Ebrey, The Level Consultancy
Sam Days, THG
Kate Winstanley, Morson Group
Louise Stephenson, Drax
Kate Cowan, Hope Capital
Professional Services Leader
Karen Garrattley, Complete Office Support Bookkeeping
Victoria Price, Alvarez and Marsal
David Kendrick, Cooper Parry
Caroline Grant, Slalom
John McCaffery, Alexander & Co
Josh Chinn, Wealth Recovery Solicitors
Transformational Leader
Ebrahim Sidat, AMS
Nigel Oddy, American Golf
Phil Wedgwood, Engage
Rachel Fletcher, Slater Heelis
Greg Johnson, Warwick North West
Josh Chinn, Wealth Recovery Solicitors
Green Leader
Dr William Beer, Tunley Environmental
Amer Gaffar, Manchester Metropolitan University
Suzy Jones, Urban Splash
Asif Ghafoor, Be.EV
Celia Gaze, The Wellbeing Farm
Tom Bloor, evec
HR Leader
Marc O’Hagan, p3od
Sam Wilkinson, AMS Group
Nicola Ryan, One+All
Elaine Wrigley, American Golf
Katie Winstanley, Morson Group
Claire McLean, Realise HR
Natasha Clarke, Aptus Utilities
Hospitality Leader
Viki Tahmasebi, THG
Celia Gaze, The Wellbeing Farm
James Bates & Thomas White, QVO Hospitality
William Lees-Jones, JW Lees Brewery
David Fox, Tampopo
Marcello Distefano, San Carlo Restaurant Group
Manufacturing Leader
Steve Mulcahy, Contact Originators Group
Greg Johnson, Warwick North West
Donna Edwards, Made Smarter North West
Education Leader
Mark Parello, Daintree Wealth Management & Daintree Wealth Tomorrow
Amer Gaffar, Manchester Metropolitan University
Chris Hill, Northcoders Group
Sales Leader
Scott McNicol, Harper
Ian Bold, Aqueous Digital
Marketing Leader
Constance Smith, Evolve B G
Marie-France van Heel, Be.EV
Scott Taylor, American Golf
Nick Owens, Magnify PR
Kristen Drummond, Slater Heelis
Anna Heyes, Active Profile / Tech Climbers
Technology Leader
Lawrence Perret-Hall, CYFOR Group
Antony Seddon, Evolve
Nikolaos Charalampous, CredAbility
Jon Dunning, Nomical
Phil Wedgwood, Engage
Anna Heyes, Active Profile / Tech Climbers
Finance Leader
Tanzeel Rehman, TR Forensic Accountants
Mark Lyons, Puma Growth Partners
Craig Cornick. I Quote
Scott Marshall, Roma Finance
Nick Leech, Chase de Vere
Lucy Williams, JS
Property Leader
Stephanie Cox, E3P
Ollie Plastow, Consensus Workspace
Lynn Haime, Baltic Creative CIC
Mitchell Walsh, Integritas Property Group
Sean Keyes, Sutcliffe
Company Leader (up to 50 employees)
Ben Craven, Safeseal Roofing
Dr William Beer, Tunley Environmental
Ollie Plastow, Consensus Workspace
Karen Turton, Purple Story
Sid Sethi, Specscart
Michelle Laithwaite, FuelHub
Company Leader (51-100 employees)
Chris Bliss and Chris Renshaw, The Momentum Group
Jonathan Murphy, Assura
Andrew Wood, ESP Play
Lucy Williams, JS
Steve Mulcahy, Contact Originators
Stephen Johnson, For Everyone
Company Leader (101+ employees)
Ryan Stephenson-Brown, Evolve B G
Nick Cooper, Adept Corporate Service
Jo Henney, Nugent
Matthew Moulding, THG
Scott Rothwell, DASCO Construction
Rachel Fletcher, Slater Heelis
Leader of the Year
To be announced on the night
