High-profile Yorkshire names rewarded in the 2025 New Year’s Honours

The leaders of major Yorkshire organisations including Sheffield Forgemasters, Harrison Spinks, Caddick Group, the National Wealth Fund and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce are among the business figures recognised in the 2025 New Year’s Honours.

David Bond

Former England manager and North Yorkshire resident Gareth Southgate has received a knighthood for services to football, there are CBEs for nine-time Paralympic champion Hannah Cockroft and Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire, and an OBE for cyclist Tom Pidcock.

David Bond, who was chief executive of Sheffield Forgemasters for six years until earlier this year, told TheBusinessDesk.com he was “naturally delighted” when he learned he was being made a CBE.

“You don’t achieve great things on your own, you do it with a team who go with you and work hard,” he said.

“It’s an individual award but the reality is it reflects on Sheffield Forgemasters, because they deserve a lot of credit for grasping the opportunity when it presented itself, and they continue to do that. I left in March and they have continued to really drive that business forward in an impressive way.”

Cheryl Ward, Family Fund

There are also CBEs for John Flint, chief executive of Leeds-headquartered National Wealth Fund (formerly known as the UK Infrastructure Bank), the chair of council and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Leeds Alastair Da Costa, and Cheryl Ward, who is the group chief executive of the grant-making charity for families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, Family Fund.

Harrison Spinks chair Simon Spinks and Sheffield Chamber of Commerce chief executive Louisa Harrison-Walker receive OBEs, alongside sustainability and retail specialist and former Keelham Farm Shop co-owner Victoria Robertshaw, and the Department for Business and Trade’s head of investment for the North of England, Susan Waterson.

Commenting on his own OBE award, Spinks said: “To receive the award was a total surprise and an absolute honour.

“I have been very fortunate to have a career in an industry that I truly love and where I have been able to combine a number of passions including, luxury sustainable sleep and innovation in engineering.

“It could not have been possible without the support and contributions of my family, colleagues and peers past and present. I am thrilled and delighted.”

Simon Spinks

SimplyBiz founder and Huddersfield Giants chair Ken Davy has been awarded an OBE for services to community rugby league and Elevate Multi-Academy Trust chief executive Nigel Ashley has been recognised for services to education.

Zandra Moore, chief executive of Leeds-based data analytics firm Panintelligence was awarded an MBE for services to gender equality in business.

Louisa Harrison-Walker

Moore co-founded the firm in 2014 and has been a long-standing advocate for women in tech and inspiring the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

She is the chair of the Lifted Project, a new nationwide initiative supporting female entrepreneurs in high-growth sectors outside London. Moore previously founded Lean In Leeds, a community of over 1,300 entrepreneurial women, co-founded not-for-profit No Code Lab, and is a high-profile member of Women in Leeds Digital (WILD).

Zandra Moore

She said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition. This MBE is not just a reflection of my work, but also of the incredible support and inspiration I’ve had along the way.

“My mother has been a profound influence on my career; her determination, resilience, and belief in me have shaped who I am today.

“I hope this recognition inspires others to continue breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for the next generation of women in business and technology.”

Paul Caddick, the chairman of Leeds Rhinos and Caddick Group, has been awarded an MBE for services to sport. Caddick took over ownership of Leeds Rhinos and the Headingley stadium in 1996, at the end of the first summer season when the club was struggling financially and hadn’t won the championship in a generation.

They went onto win eight titles in 14 seasons between 2004-17, and won three World Club Challenges in that period. There has also been success for the club’s women and wheelchair teams, and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation has had a longstanding involvement in community work in the city.

Paul Caddick

Caddick said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank my team at both Caddick Group and Leeds Rhinos for the tremendous support they have given me over many years and, without this support, and the support of the Leeds Rhinos fans, then I would not be receiving this award.

“I would also take this opportunity to thank Gary Hetherington for his support and tireless work over many years and of course my wife Alex for her patience and love which has been the backbone of my involvement in both sport and business.

“When we arrived at the club back in 1996, we understood that we had become custodians of something that was much bigger than just a team or a stadium. We were looking after a venue that stretched back to the reign of Queen Victoria and where countless generations of fans have shared so many memories over the years. We have never lost sight of that and I am proud of the home we have created for Leeds Rhinos as we look to the future.”

Younis Chaudhry, Regal Foods

Regal Food Products founder Mohammed Chaudhry has received an MBE for services to business and to the community in Bradford, and Charles Turner, chair of Made in Sheffield and managing director of Edward Turner and Son, has been recognised for services to manufacturing and business in Sheffield.

MBEs have also been awarded to Dr Kerrie Davies, lately lead scientific advisor, Technologies Validation Group at the UK Health Security Agency, Gillian Hodgson, of York, founder of Flowers From the Farm and Dave Corfield, who recently retired from BAE Systems at Brough, East Yorkshire, after four decades.

Corfield was also CEO of Prismatic, leading the team developing PHASA-35, an uncrewed, solar powered aircraft.

In June 2023, he oversaw the first successful stratospheric flight trials, navigating technical and programme challenges to push the boundaries of aviation.

He said: “I’m both surprised and humbled to receive such an honour. It’s been a privilege to work with some incredible people across BAE Systems and the wider defence industry and I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had during my career.”

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