The North just proved, again, that you don’t need London to lead the world
The winners of the 2026 Northern Tech Awards have been crowned, and the numbers speak for themselves.
One hundred companies. £2.4 billion in combined revenue. Thirteen years of the UK’s most exciting technology awards. Last night at the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester, GP Bullhound brought 250 of the North’s most ambitious founders, CEOs and business leaders together to celebrate the companies defining what British tech looks like in 2026.
The evening was hosted by technology journalist and broadcaster Georgie Barrat, with a keynote from Scott Fletcher MBE, the entrepreneur who built ANS Group from scratch in Manchester and sold it for over £200 million, delivering a masterclass in what Northern ambition looks like when it’s given room to run.
The Winners
- Fastest Growing Company of the Year: Phlo
- Fastest Growing Larger Company of the Year: QBS Software
- Judges’ Innovation Award: Snappy Shopper
- Judges’ Award for Global Ambition: Reality Mine
- Judges’ Leadership Award: Origo
- Judges’ Tech4Good Award: StormHarvester
- Judges’ Entrepreneur Award: Street Group
- Judges’ Award for Cultural Excellence: Genio
- Overall Judges’ Award: Portswigger
- Northern Star Innovation Award: Literal Labs
- Northern Star Entrepreneur Award: Afternoon Finance
- Northern Star Award for Commercial Success: Cytix
- Northern Star Overall Judges’ Award: urfuture
Now in its thirteenth year, the Northern Tech Awards is the definitive celebration of the fastest-growing and most innovative technology companies across the North of England and Scotland. Organised by GP Bullhound, the awards recognise both established scale-ups in the Top 100 League Table and early-stage Northern Stars pushing the boundaries of what’s next.
This year’s charity partner, The King’s Trust, whose mission is to empower young people with the confidence, skills and experience they need to live, learn and earn.
Thank You
GP Bullhound extends its sincere thanks to this year’s judges for their rigour and dedication, and to the sponsors who make the Northern Tech Awards possible: HSBC Innovation Banking, Apprentify, Cazenove Capital, Elevare Software, Inflexion, Oakley Capital, Squire Patton Boggs, London Stock Exchange, YFM Equity Partners and Scottish National Investment Bank.
For media enquiries and 2027 partnership opportunities contact, northerntechwards@gpbullhound.com or visit northerntechwards.com.
About GP Bullhound
GP Bullhound is a leading technology advisory firm, providing transaction advice and capital to the world’s best entrepreneurs and founders. Founded in 1999 in London and Menlo Park, the firm today has 11 offices spanning Europe, Asia and the US. For more information, please visit www.gpbullhound.com.
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