Yorkshire’s Fastest 50 are growing with purpose

Emma Digby, Partner at Ward Hadaway, has been speaking to companies in this year’s Fastest 50 about how that is being put into practice and what it means for businesses as they scale.

“For many companies, responsible business is not something that sits alongside the commercial strategy,” they say. “It runs through how decisions are taken across the organisation. What we are seeing is a more integrated approach, where considering the sociological and environmental impact of our choices is part of how businesses define performance, rather than seeing this as something reported on separately.

“That is reflected in our own approach at Ward Hadaway. Responsible business runs through how we operate as a firm, from our work with charities and community organisations across the regions we serve, to how we support our people and widen access to the profession through training and alternative entry routes. It also informs how we manage our environmental impact and, ultimately how we work with clients, particularly in sectors where governance, transparency and social value are increasingly important.”

That approach is supported by a structured programme of activity across the firm. Ward Hadaway supports regional charities with investments of time and money, as well as offering employees a paid volunteering day each year. It supports colleagues acting as trustees, governors and non-executive directors, alongside investment in early-career development and alternative routes into the profession. Environmental activity has focused on a number of practical changes, including reducing single-use materials and improving internal data to support longer-term carbon reduction.

At Simon Bailes Peugeot, a franchised dealership group based in North Yorkshire, Managing Director Simon Bailes says responsible business influences customer relationships, the promotion of low-emission vehicles and long-standing work with local schools and education providers to support future talent entering the sector.

At Outdo, a Leeds-based outdoor media owner, the emphasis is both internal and external. CEO Mike Brennan says responsibility means considering the impact of decisions on staff alongside shareholders, with employee feedback influencing how the business develops and maintains its culture as it grows.

For Ardent, a fire protection and safety engineering business, responsibility is tied directly to its core purpose. Managing Director Matt Lewindon says decision-making is guided by the need to protect lives and critical assets, with reliability and long-term partnerships taking precedence.

“What comes through consistently is that businesses are defining responsible business in ways that reflect how they operate,” Emma says. “It varies by sector. For some, the focus is environmental performance; for others it is people, safety or community engagement, but in each case it is built into how the business runs.”

From intent to structure

As businesses grow, maintaining that focus requires more structure. What may have started as values or culture is increasingly being formalised through frameworks, reporting and defined processes.

Emma says this is something Ward Hadaway is also seeing in its client work, particularly across the public sector where expectations around governance, reporting and social value are becoming more defined and regulated.

“We are seeing more organisations move from intent into something more structured,” they say. “That includes how they measure progress, how they report on it and how they ensure it is embedded across the organisation. Meanwhile expectations are also changing among customers and employees, which is driving that shift across both public and private sectors.”

At Winder Power, a Leeds-based manufacturer of power and distribution transformers, responsible business is underpinned by a commitment to long-term value across customers, employees, suppliers and the wider community. Finance Controller Gavin Ackroyd says this is reflected in governance, procurement standards and the way the business approaches growth.

For Boston Energy, a Hessle-based wind energy services provider, responsible business is defined as balancing economic, social and environmental responsibilities across employees, customers, suppliers and communities. This is supported through external assessment, including a Bronze EcoVadis rating, alongside workforce training aligned to the growth of wind energy capacity.

In sectors where trust is critical, the focus is different again. Vyta Health, a Barnsley-based health and wellbeing products business, has prioritised product transparency and regulatory compliance. CEO Will Brennand says quality and safety are central to the business, with every product independently checked so customers can be confident in what they are buying.

Emma adds that these themes are increasingly reflected in how businesses are assessed externally. “Responsible business now has a direct link to reputation, to recruitment and to how organisations are viewed by customers, suppliers and partners. As organisations scale, maintaining that consistency becomes more challenging. The businesses managing it well are the ones where responsibility is understood across the organisation and built into everyday decision-making. It is also becoming part of how long-term success is measured, not just growth, but how that growth is delivered and sustained over time.”