Northern Tech Awards – Top 100 Shortlist Revealed

The North is home to some of the most ambitious, fast-moving, and transformative technology companies in the world. Today, we are pleased to recognise those companies.

GP Bullhound is proud to reveal the 2026 Northern Tech Awards Shortlist – 100 of the fastest-growing technology companies across the North of the UK, alongside our coveted Northern Stars: the most exciting early-stage businesses defining what comes next.

Now in our thirteenth year, the Northern Tech Awards have become the definitive celebration of the region’s technology ecosystem. These are the companies building the future. The ones that started with a bold idea and the determination to see it through. The ones proving, year after year, that you don’t need to be in London to lead the world.

The winners will be selected and announced at the Northern Tech Awards ceremony, taking place on 23 April at the Imperial War Museum North, Manchester.

2026 Award Categories

• Fastest Growing Company of the Year (with revenues under £10m in 2023)

• Fastest Growing Larger Company of the Year (with revenues over £10m in 2023)

• Judges’ Innovation Award

• Judges’ Award for Global Ambition

• Judges’ Leadership Award

• Judges’ Award for Cultural Excellence

• Tech4Good Award

• Judges’ Entrepreneur Award

• Overall Judges’ Award

The Region’s Top Northern Star Awards

• Northern Star Innovation Award

• Northern Star Award for Commercial Success

• Northern Star Entrepreneur Award

• Northern Star Overall Judges’ Award

Hugh Campbell, Co-founder & Managing Partner of GP Bullhound, said: “Year after year, the Northern Tech Awards remind us just how much exceptional talent and ambition exists across this region. Our Top 100 fastest-growing tech companies collectively generate over £2.5 billion in revenue – a remarkable achievement. In our thirteenth year, we are more excited than ever to bring the industry together on 23 April and celebrate the brilliant companies and founders that make the North’s technology ecosystem so special.”

The 2026 Northern Tech Awards are proudly sponsored by: HSBC Innovation Banking · Apprentify · Cazenove Capital · Elevare Software Group · Inflexion · Squire Patton Boggs · London Stock Exchange · Oakley Capital · YFM Equity Partners · The Scottish National Investment Bank

Supporting the next generation: GP Bullhound is proud to support The King’s Trust, an organisation dedicated to helping young people build the confidence and skills they need to access employment. Because the talent that will power tomorrow’s technology ecosystem deserves every opportunity to succeed.