Fastest 50 – The Businesses Powering Yorkshire’s Future
25th March, 2025
Marking 15 Years of Celebrating The Region’s Fastest Growing Businesses
The Ward Hadaway Yorkshire Fastest 50 Awards returns in 2025 to shine a spotlight on the region’s most dynamic and successful businesses. Set to take place on Friday 28th March, the annual event, held in partnership with The Yorkshire Post, celebrates the companies driving economic growth and showcasing the best of Yorkshire’s business community.
Emma Digby, Executive Partner in Ward Hadaway’s Leeds office, will open this year’s Fastest 50 event as it marks 15 years of recognising Yorkshire’s fastest-growing businesses independently verified by Companies House data. For one and a half decades, the Fastest 50 has celebrated the businesses that define Yorkshire’s economy – companies that innovate, adapt and continue to grow.
Emma says: “We are incredibly excited to welcome business leaders, entrepreneurs and industry experts from across Yorkshire to this year’s event. It’s a chance to celebrate our region’s business community, which continues to show remarkable ambition, innovation and resilience. The Fastest 50 is about recognising companies leading the way, setting new benchmarks and contributing to the area’s economic success.”
From the industrial revolution’s wool mills to today’s thriving tech hubs, Yorkshire has long been a cornerstone of the UK economy. Its business landscape is as diverse as it is ambitious, with enterprises spanning manufacturing, finance, digital technology, tourism, agriculture and retail. Against an ever-changing economic and geo-political backdrop, the resilience, creativity and determination of Yorkshire’s businesses continue to push the region forward.
This year’s keynote speaker, entrepreneur and investor Mark Roberts, will take to the stage to share his insights on what drives business success. As the co-founder of Beer Hawk, an online craft beer retailer based in Leeds, and Perfect Draft, a home beer tap system, Mark has built and scaled high-growth brands. Now an active investor and mentor, he works with fast-growing companies across multiple industries, helping them navigate expansion in a competitive marketplace.
With first-hand experience of leading businesses through rapid growth, Mark will explain how Yorkshire companies can develop from a start-up mindset to a high growth enterprise in order to stay ahead in today’s fast-moving business world. Drawing on his own journey, he will share his perspective on leadership, innovation and the strategies that set agile, forward-thinking businesses apart.
The strength of Yorkshire’s business community is evident in this year’s Fastest 50. From fast-growing start-ups to established companies with a great regional legacy, Yorkshire is home to rapidly growing sectors such as advanced manufacturing, construction, retail and technology. The surge in digital innovation has seen businesses in fintech, artificial intelligence (AI) and software development making significant strides, while the construction and property sectors continue to expand with new investment in commercial and residential developments.
Leeds has cemented its position as a leading centre for digital innovation, while Sheffield’s manufacturing sector continues to adapt to new technologies and global supply chains. Further investment in the M1 corridor signals exciting times ahead, reinforcing Yorkshire’s status as a powerhouse for industry and enterprise.
Businesses continue to navigate challenges, including fluctuating inflation and interest rates. Access to finance remains a key concern for SMEs, but with financial resilience now firmly embedded in many businesses’ strategies, companies are finding new ways to manage costs and invest in sustainable growth.
Emma continues: “There’s a confidence in Yorkshire businesses that comes from experience. Many have stress-tested their financials and adapted to market pressures, which puts them in a strong position to seize new opportunities. The companies we celebrate in this year’s Fastest 50 demonstrate the kind of forward-thinking leadership that drives economic success.
“Yorkshire has a long history of industry and invention and that puts us in a strong position to lead the way in sustainable business practices. From green energy projects to smarter supply chains, businesses here aren’t just thinking about the future – they’re building it.
“The businesses recognised in this year’s Fastest 50 awards have achieved significant growth by adapting, innovating and seizing new opportunities. Their success stories reflect a region that thrives on determination, ingenuity and a willingness to embrace change.”
This year’s awards are an opportunity to recognise the businesses that are driving the region forward, setting new standards and contributing to economic growth. The countdown has begun and all eyes are on Yorkshire’s business community which comes together to celebrate the companies shaping the future of Yorkshire.
Please note that this briefing is designed to be informative, not advisory and represents our understanding of English law and practice as at the date indicated. We would always recommend that you should seek specific guidance on any particular legal issue.
This page may contain links that direct you to third party websites. We have no control over and are not responsible for the content, use by you or availability of those third party websites, for any products or services you buy through those sites or for the treatment of any personal information you provide to the third party.
