Search begins to find the region’s fastest growing privately-owned companies

The 2019 Awards which recognise businesses across the region, from every sector and industry, have once again been organised by law firm Ward Hadaway in association with The Yorkshire Post.

They will highlight the success of companies across Yorkshire which are not only flying the flag for business, but are also vital to the region’s economic health in challenging times.

Martin Hulls, managing partner at Ward Hadaway, said: “The Ward Hadaway Yorkshire Fastest 50 is our way to celebrate the businesses that keep this region thriving.

“They are the heroes of the Yorkshire economy and the ones projecting a story of sustained growth in tough times through innovation, efficiency and skills.

“We are seeing companies emerging that are committed to driving the economy forward as we all face up to the challenges and opportunities of a post-Brexit future.”

Firms on this year’s list will be hoping to emulate the success of Leeds-based Pure Retirement, which took home the awards for the Fastest Growing Large Business and Overall Fastest Growing Business at the 2018 event.

The Yorkshire Fastest 50 2019 is compiled using publicly available financial data from Companies House. By the analysis of company financial figures, the Ward Hadaway Yorkshire Fastest 50 identifies the privately-owned, profit-making companies which have seen the biggest annual expansion in their turnover in recent years.

This process will create a definitive list of the 50 fastest-growing companies in Yorkshire which will be published in March. On March 22 at a special event at Aspire in Leeds awards will be handed out to the fastest-growing small, medium-sized and large businesses, for companies with annual turnover of between £1m and £7.5m, between £7.5m and £25m and turnover of more than £25m respectively.

One of those three winners will then receive the accolade of being crowned Yorkshire’s overall fastest growing business for 2019.

This is the ninth time that the Ward Hadaway Yorkshire Fastest 50 has taken place, and the event has become a firm fixture in the region’s business calendar.

John Murray, executive partner at Ward Hadaway’s Leeds office, said: “More than a decade on in Leeds and we are delighted to be joining forces again with The Yorkshire Post to launch the 2019 Awards.

“The event does a terrific job of highlighting and celebrating the high-achieving companies which do the region and the country proud and we are looking forward to seeing which businesses and which sectors have prospered most in recent years.”

Over the last nine years, the Yorkshire Fastest 50 Awards have attracted some of the biggest names in business and politics. Guest speakers have included Ed Balls, who was Labour’s Shadow Chancellor at the time, Transport for the North chairman and former CBI director general, John Cridland and Larry Gould, CEO of thebigword.

Last year, the keynote speaker was Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Sir Keir Starmer.

This year’s Yorkshire Fastest 50 guest speaker will be announced next month in the Yorkshire Post.

Greg Wright, deputy business editor of The Yorkshire Post, will speak at this year’s Ward Hadaway Yorkshire Fastest 50 Awards ceremony, where winners from the final 50 will be revealed.

Mr Wright said the event aimed to celebrate excellence across the business community.

He added: “The Yorkshire Post is proud to be on board once more for the Ward Hadaway Yorkshire Fastest 50 and we look forward to working together once more.

“The awards recognise businesses that are achieving growth and contributing to the overall success of the region.”