Backing ambition: Ward Hadaway North West Fastest 50 returns to Manchester

The awards, in partnership with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, recognise companies across the North West that have delivered sustained turnover growth and shown the ambition, discipline and judgement needed to expand in a tough market.

This year’s Fastest 50 reflects the breadth of the North West economy, with construction and engineering, retail, leisure, and technology among the most strongly represented sectors.

For every company on this year’s list, growth has come from a decision to keep investing, hiring or entering new markets at a time when progress is harder to achieve and easier to lose.

For some, that has meant backing new premises or equipment. For others, it has meant strengthening management teams, raising finance, improving systems or taking a longer-term view while the market remains difficult to read.

The Fastest 50 recognises this growth, but it also recognises the decisions behind it. It is a measure of what happens when ambition is backed with discipline, confidence and a clear plan for the future.

Liz Bottrill, Executive Partner in Ward Hadaway’s Manchester office, said: “The Fastest 50 is one of the clearest examples of what we mean by backing ambition. These awards champion the businesses in the region that are achieving their ambitions and, in many cases, going beyond them.

“But backing ambition is not only about supporting businesses that are already growing. It is about recognising that ambition means different things to different people. For a company, it might mean investment, job creation or entering a new market. For a young person trying to take the first step in their career, it might mean having somebody prepared to back them and give them a chance.

“The North West has a depth of talent, enterprise and ambition that we do not always give ourselves enough credit for. These awards celebrate the companies using that energy well, but they also remind us that the region is stronger when businesses, communities and institutions back each other.”

The awards will bring together business owners, founders, investors and advisers from across the North West, with the region’s 50 fastest growing businesses revealed at the event.

For Ward Hadaway, the awards form part of its role in the regional business community. The firm’s Manchester team has seen increased demand from clients looking to plan earlier, seek advice sooner and make confident decisions about the next stage of growth.

The awards come as the firm continues to demonstrate its commitment to Greater Manchester’s business and civic life. The company recently announced a 12-month partnership with We Love MCR Charity, becoming an official sponsor of the Manchester Rising Stars Fund, which supports young Mancunians facing barriers to education, training and employment.

Ward Hadaway has also worked with regional leaders on issues affecting business performance, including workforce wellbeing in Greater Manchester’s hospitality sector, where burnout, retention and pressure on managers have become serious concerns for employers.

Liz added: “When businesses do well, there is a responsibility to channel some of that success into helping others achieve their ambitions too. That might be through clients, young talent, community partnerships or the wider regional economy.

“The North West has no shortage of ambition. The priority is making sure that ambition is backed in the right way, from young people coming through to the companies already shaping the region’s growth story.”

The Ward Hadaway North West Fastest 50 Awards 2026 will take place on Friday 10 July from 12 noon at Manchester Hall.

The final list will be announced at the invite-only event, with awards presented to the fastest-growing small, medium and large businesses in the region, alongside the overall North West Fastest 50 winner.