31 North entrepreneurs shortlisted as regional finalists in Entrepreneur Of The Year™ UK  

Technology, automotive programme, health and retail are among the sectors represented by the entrepreneurs

 North, May 6 2022: EY has announced the shortlisted regional finalists in the Entrepreneur Of The Year™ UK 2022 programme. The finalists include 31 entrepreneurs from the North of England, representing 25 of the region’s leading businesses from across the North West, North East and Yorkshire.

The North-based entrepreneurs will join 27 inspiring individuals from London and the South East, six entrepreneurs from the South West, 16 entrepreneurs from the Midlands and 24 entrepreneurs from Scotland.

The 31 shortlisted entrepreneurs from the North of England are:

• Tony Hughes (Founder and CEO) – 4^th Utility, Hale
• Tiffany Thorn (CEO) – BiVictriX Therapeutics plc, Alderley Edge
• Michael Ribaudo (CEO) and Andy Pinnington (Chairman) – CyberIAM Holdings Limited, Ellesmere Port
• Dan Martin (Chief Executive) – Elmtronics Ltd (Trading as Mer), Consett
• Jamal Tahlil (Director), Edgar Chibaka (Director) and Simon Alderson (CEO) – First Response Group, Leeds
• Jordan Appleson (Founder and CEO) – Hark, Leeds
• Andrew Minnock (CEO) – Helios, Alderley Edge
• Gary Favell (CEO) – International Leisure Group (American Golf), Warrington
• Robin Skidmore (Founder and CEO) – Journey Further Limited, Leeds
• Brenda McLeish OBE (CEO) – Learning Curve Group, Durham
• Jonathan Koslover (Managing Director) and Debbie Falconer (Managing Director) – Manchester Fertility Services Ltd, Cheadle
• Steve Watmough (CEO) and Paul Pugh (Director of Consulting) – Mason Advisory Limited, Salford
• James Sharpe (Co-Founder and Managing Director) – My Fabulosa Limited, Nantwich
• Christy Foster (Managing Director) – Online4baby, Oldham
• Liz Ashall-Payne (Founding CEO) – ORCHA, Daresbury
• Jack Sutcliffe (CEO) and Simon Hobson (Director) – Powersheds Ltd, Bradford
• Dave Stevinson (CEO) – QBS Technology Group Limited, Alderley Edge
• Brinsley Sheridan (Director) – RE:GEN Group Ltd, Durham
• Anna Sutton (CEO and Co-Founder) – The Data Shed Ltd, Leeds
• Sanjay Vadera (CEO) – The Fragrance Shop, (Chairman) – Per-Scent, Manchester
• Ben Booth (CEO) – Trivoni Software Limited (Trading as MaxContact), Ardwick
• Simon Taylor (CEO) – Uinsure Holdings Limited, Manchester
• Paul Hallett (Founder and CEO) – Vet AI Ltd, Leeds
• Frank Barrett (CEO) – Woodall Nicholson Holdings, Bolton
• Bobby Thandi (Founder and CEO) – XR Games, Leeds

Ben Wildsmith, EY Entrepreneur Of The Year UK Partner Sponsor in in the North said: “The innovation, leadership and positive societal contribution made by entrepreneurs plays an important role inspiring the next generation of business leaders, today and tomorrow.

“It’s great to welcome this year’s North regional finalists into our entrepreneurial community and to see the range of different industries represented. The innovation shown by these individuals is vital to fuelling growth in the local economy, creating jobs and helping to maintain an entrepreneurial spirit in the North of England.

“The Entrepreneur Of The Year UK programme continues to celebrate the best of the UK’s leading entrepreneurial talent, recognising innovators from across the country, and creating a community of unstoppable entrepreneurs that are positively impacting people and their communities whilst leaving a lasting business legacy.”

Victoria Price, EY’s UK Private Tax Leader and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year UK Partner Lead, added: “Entrepreneurs have and always will be the beating heart of the UK’s economy. The fact this year’s programme has been so tough is testament to the way in which business leaders up and down the country have responded to the challenges posed by the current landscape. Our regional judges have an extremely difficult task ahead of them.”

This year, 104 entrepreneurs have been shortlisted as regional finalists across the UK, coming from a vast array of sectors – from technology to healthcare and many more in between. These finalists will seek to emulate the success of Matthew Scullion, 2021’s Entrepreneur Of The Year UK and CEO of Manchester-based Matillion, a firm which created 180 jobs and achieved unicorn status last year. In June, Matthew will go on to represent the UK at EY’s World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2022 in Monaco.

Alan Hooks, Head of Private Clients at Julius Baer International Limited, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year UK Headline Sponsor said: “Julius Baer is delighted to be Headline Sponsor of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme for the second year and we have seen yet again a truly inspirational group of entrepreneurs in the 2022 cohort. Our warmest congratulations to this year’s finalists and we look forward to following their progress through this prestigious programme.”

Four regional judging panels will convene at the end of May, with national finalists set to be announced in September before moving onto national judging days in October. The overall winner of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year UK will be revealed in November 2022.