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The Top 50 2023 event

We hosted The Top 50 2023 celebratory event at BAFTA in London, to celebrate The UK’s Most Ambitious Business Leaders of last year – the night was full of networking, making connections and celebration. If you want to see yourself on the stage this year or know someone who deserves the spotlight - early registrations for 2024 are now open.

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This year’s LDC Top 50 entries surpassed all our expectations and once again showcased the outstanding talent and ambition that exists among entrepreneurs from across Britain.”

John Garner
Managing Partner, LDC

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The LDC Top 50 2023

Read the success stories of The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders of 2023.

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The 2023 individual award winners are redefining the idea of success – prioritising both people and the planet while growing their businesses and earning recognition as pioneers in their fields.

Luke Consiglio, holding his award at the LDC Top 50 Awards 2023.

Luke Consiglio

Managing Director, The Pantry

The judges were hugely impressed by Luke’s ability to build an incredible business from such a small investment, his ‘give back’ philosophy and mission to help kids eat healthy food.

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Amid huge economic challenges, The Top 50 for 2023 have defied the odds. These resilient leaders are forging sustainable businesses, fostering innovation and driving growth.

This year’s Ones to Watch are already making huge strides and driving growth. They all have so much more potential – these leaders are on course for great things.

Bryan Adams

Founder, Ph.Creative

Mission: “Empowering modern businesses with transformative employer branding through our pioneering 'Give & Get' method and HappyDance, a cutting-edge careers site platform fostering superior candidate experiences."

Zabir Ali

Director, Wessex Optical

Ambition: “To combine premium, service-led retail with everyday and specialist healthcare services, meeting the needs of communities and accessible on the high street.”

Manny Athwal

CEO, School of Coding

Mission: “We exist to educate children and adults to help them build a better future so that they can find solutions to the world’s biggest problems through code.”

Tom Craig and Aaron Dicks

Managing Director & Technology Director, Impression

Mission: “We’re delighted that Impression has been recognised for delivering on its purpose of being the best place for digital talent to transform their careers.”

Bob Dearsley

Chair, Huble Digital Group

Ambition: “To build an international technology services business, full of amazing people from all over the world, who love going to work and amazing their customers with what they can achieve for them.”

Sean Dickinson

CEO, Unicard

Mission: “In a more sustainably focused world, Unicard is dedicated to making public transport more accessible by designing, building, and delivering market leading innovation for transport providers.”

Dan Drogman

CEO, Smart Spaces

Ambition: “Our ambition is to be the world’s leading smart building operating system for commercial real estate. We make the management of offices more efficient whilst significantly enhancing the end-user experience.”

Lee Durham and Richard Lane

Co-Founders, durhamlane

Ambition: “Our ambition is to be the leading B2B revenue acceleration partner for enterprise brands, amplifying sales and marketing performance for success on a global scale.”

Jason Foster

Founder, Cynozure

Mission: “Our purpose is ‘data, for a better tomorrow'. We believe in the power of data to create a better, more open, more inclusive future.”

Stephen Henesy

CEO, Helpthemove

Mission: “To deliver tech-led solutions built on a foundation of industry experience, innovation and valuable partnerships to make Property management effortless.”

Gareth Humphreys

CEO, Solution Performance Group

Proudest achievement: “Managing to take the business from an idea on a flipchart page to reality through the global pandemic – and to still be here!”

Nick Hutchinson

Co-Founder, Glider Technology

Proudest achievement: “Securing a global, multi-year contract to deliver our gliderbim® software and services to the UK Ministry of Defence.”

Mo Isap

CEO, IN4 Group

Mission: “IN4 Group unlocks the potential of highly skilled local talent through technology by delivering sustainable prosperity to communities, ensuring fair access to technology futures for all.”

Craig Letton and Ben Walker

CEO & COO, MRM Global

Mission: “To enable our customers to increase sales and reduce wastage​.”

Nick Lindsay

Managing Director, Elemental CoSec

Proudest achievement: “I am most proud of our people and the difference we make to our clients. Our growth flows from this, rather than the other way around.”

Cheryl Luzet and Nick Silverstone

CEO & Managing Director, Wagada Digital

Ambition: “We want Wagada Digital to be recognised as both a national and international marketing agency working with ambitious clients to propel their brands.”

Rebecca Marks

Co-Founder, Scarlett Entertainment & Management

Mission: “To bring the best entertainment available to hire globally to our clients.”

Stuart Mitchell

CEO, Live and Breathe

Mission: “To run a business that allows everyone who joins us to have the opportunity to develop and to achieve their own personal goals.”

Andy Morgan

CEO, SCT

Ambition: “To build high performing teams with a culture of continuous improvement with the goal of driving exceptional customer experiences.”

Mo Naser and Abid Naser

CEO & COO, SmartSurvey

Proudest achievement: “Transforming SmartSurvey from a mere concept to a trusted Survey platform, helping over 500k users answer over one billion questions to date.”

Daniel Owen

CEO, ArmstrongB2B®

Ambition: “My ambition is for ArmstrongB2B® to become the world’s leading B2B marketing agency for manufacturing and industrial brands.”

Toby Parkins

CEO, Headforwards

Ambition: “Success for me is Headforwards as a force for good, offering high quality jobs and training and contributing to the future of the tech sector.”

Lee Patterson

CEO, Charnwood Discovery

Ambition: “I want to help Charnwood Discovery realise its potential as one of the most impactful outsourced drug discovery partners in the world.”

Lewis Reeves

Founder, Walr

Proudest achievement: “I’m extremely proud of the start we've made at Walr, we've truly created the foundations to kick on and build a business that will change an industry and leave a legacy.”

George Richardson

Co-Founder, AeroCloud

Mission: “To be the largest global Airport Operating System. Our purpose is to connect all airport stakeholders to create a simple and effective exchange of information for airports to make real-time decisions.”

Paul Starr

CEO, SEP2

Mission: “Our purpose is to work with our customers interests at heart to increase their cyber security protections in the best way possible, leveraging our core values of 'Tech Driven. People Powered'.”

Chris Tomlinson

Managing Director, Muuto Consulting

Proudest achievement: “Every time we get an extension or call to come back to a client and they say that they trust us and they know we are the right partner for them. I think that is what makes me proudest.”

Jenny Tsai

Founder, WeArisma

Proudest achievement: “To have the opportunity to work with some of the most innovative and iconic brands in the world along with a great team.”

Oliver Yonchev

Co-Founder, Flight Story

Mission: “To keep brands at the forefront of what’s possible and take advantage of the opportunities that an ever-changing world creates.”

Joe Zielinski

Founder, Zinc Systems

Ambition: “To push technical boundaries and become a global leader in the world of incident and crisis management.”