Bank of the Year

NatWest
NatWest Group reported a £6.2bn pre-tax profit for 2024; success reflected in a share price that’s been on an upward trajectory for the past 12 months, nearly doubling in that time. Almost 17 years after its bailout the bank is inching back towards full private ownership with the Treasury’s stake now standing at around 8 per cent. It’s expected that the government will sell down its stake entirely this year, leaving the business in a healthy position with analysts saluting its valuation and cheering its outlook.

Allica Bank
One of the UK's fastest growing fintechs, the SME-focused bank continues to enjoy solid growth. At the end of last year the bank boasted £4bn in customer deposits and revealed it had lent £3bn to support businesses, five years after issuing their first custom loan. Having previously appeared in The Sunday Times 100, the Sifted 250, and the Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 rankings, could it be time to add a City AM Award to that list of gongs? Its fans hail the support offered to UK entrepreneurs, and with nearly 700 employees the recently rebranded bank (a nifty orange bowler hat) aims to win a 10 per cent market share in SME business banking.

Arbuthnot Latham
This has been a historic year for Arbuthnot, when the Princess Royal opened its glamorous new headquarters in Finsbury Circus, showing the bank's commitment to both the future and the City. The bank continues to stride ahead; profits in 2024 were five times the level five years ago and deposits, loans and AUM all hit fresh records. Arbuthnot's success shows there is still a vital place for a traditional private bank in the 21st century. CEO Andrew Salmon says "strong, meaningful relationships with our clients are at the core of our business" as he hailed the new HQ's "upgraded meeting and hospitality spaces at a time when much of the industry opts to move as many client interactions as possible online.”

Monument Bank
A challenger bank for the “mass affluent” Monument has enjoyed impressive growth since its launch in 2019 with an offering of attractive savings rates combined with elements of a lifestyle concierge. With around £5bn in assets investors continue to be drawn to the business, with talk of a New York IPO in the future. With more than 60,000 customers - mostly entrepreneurs, investors and City professionals - the app-based bank has put quality customer service at the forefront of its offering. International expansion is also on the horizon. 

Investec
Making the cut in Corporate Knights 2025 Global 100 rankings of sustainable corporations with revenue over $1bn - for the third year running - and picking up another smattering of industry awards for its D&I commitments, it’s clear that Investec is still determined to carve its own path. In the year to March 2024 adjusted operating profit was up 32 per cent to over £400m with the loan book increasing 35 per cent and customer deposits edging over £20bn. The Banker hailed Investec as the top performing UK bank last year and with a winning focus on mid-market corporates and high-net-worth clients, CEO Ruth Leas - at the helm since 2020 - is certainly making her mark.

HSBC Innovation Banking
When Silicon Valley Bank UK collapsed HSBC stepped in, in a move that looks to be paying off with the resulting HSBC Innovation Banking getting off to an impressive start. Launched at London Tech Week in 2023 the new business now has just under 4,000 clients from across the UK including established blue chips, VCs, PE firms, start-ups and fast-growing businesses. Backed by the might of HSBC, the bank boasts impressive growth with over 700 staff supporting businesses on the growth journey whether through funding rounds or IPO ambitions. Last year's results are understood to put the bank ahead of target. HSBC Innovation Banking is also an active supporter of - and advocate for - the UK's tech and innovation sector, with their wider network leveraged to support inclusion through organisations like ColorInTech, Career Ready, and Black Founders Fund Europe.

Investor of the Year

Justin Onuekwusi, St James Place
Justin took on the role as Chief Investment Officer at St James’s Place in October 2023, stepping into the top job at the UK’s largest wealth manager when the company was struggling. While he isn’t the sole reason for the firm’s turnaround over the last year, his focus on cutting costs and increasing investment outcomes for investors has helped reassure clients that SJP is serious about its modernisation effort. He said recently that his role during global volatility is "much like an angler patiently waiting for that elusive big catch," adding "we need to stay nimble, keep our lines tight, and be ready to seize the opportunities that arise from extreme market moves."

Laurence Hulse, Dowgate Wealth
Hulse has led one of only two investment trust IPOs on the London Stock Exchange over the last three years - doing so as the youngest trust manager in history. His Onward Opportunities fund focuses on investing in small UK companies, an often-unloved area of the market. However, since the IPO, the trust is up almost 30 per cent and has managed to avoid the wide discounts in share price plaguing most of the sector as it targets returns of at least 15 per cent per year. He says he prides himself on working actively with the Boards and Exec teams of investments to drive shareholder value, "applying private equity techniques to publicly listed companies."

Ed Legget and Ambrose Faulks, Artemis
Ed and Ambrose co-manage the Artemis UK Select fund and its high income fund. Their strategy has often topped the leaderboard of UK funds, growing 33 per cent in the last year compared to a sector average of 13 per cent, and has proven to be one of the few actively managed UK funds to continue bringing in new cash from investors. Trustnet noted last year that the fund "is the top performer in the IA UK All Companies sector over five years to 11 September 2024 and the third-best over 12 months." Ed has said recently "you can’t look at a company in isolation from what’s going on in the world...you can’t have a view on a housebuilder without having a view on interest rates, the planning regime, mortgage availability, economic growth and unemployment.

Michele Kang
Michele Kang can be credited for putting investment in women’s sports front and centre of a successful portfolio. Already the owner of football clubs Washington Spirit and Lyon, she recently purchased Women’s Championship team London City Lionesses and used the last 18 months to invest $4m in the US women’s rugby team, $30m into US women’s football and $50m in seed and match funding for female sports training research under her London-based umbrella firm Kynisca Sports International. The South Korea-born American businesswoman and philanthropist has put in the hard yards and has developed a portfolio in women’s sport which is the envy of many rival funds. She has set trends and diversified across multiple sports and in multiple markets. Kang is a trailblazing investor, and a trendsetter for those looking to do sport differently. 

Antler
Claiming to be the most active early-stage VC firm in the world, Antler invested in more AI startups than any other VC firm last year. In just five years, they've backed 1,400 tech startups in 30 cities globally, more than 100 of which are based in London. Antler backs startups at the inception of their growth journey by running founder residencies. The very best founders from around the world join for ten weeks when they're helped with finding a cofounder, problem discovery and early traction. Antler invests in the best startups to emerge from these residencies, armed with the capital to keep on backing portfolio companies as they scale up to Series C. In the UK alone, they receive 10,000 applications every year and at only five years old, the portfolio is showing very positive growth indicators. By 2030, they aim to support more than 6,000 tech startups around the world. 

Insurance Company of the Year

Howden
David Howden founded his firm in 1994, establishing a broker employing three people. Today he describes the business as "a phenomenal British success story" with 20,000 employee-owners worldwide and having passed the £3bn revenue mark for the first time earlier this year. The insurance group notched up double-digit growth in 2024 for the fourth year in a row, and inked no fewer than 65 strategic acquisitions. The group has been pushing its brand out via sponsorship partnerships with the sport sector, including the British & Irish Lions rugby union team and the British team part of the SailGP sailing competition as part of a strategy "to invest very heavily in telling our wonderful story.”

WTW
CEO Charles Hess declared in February that  “WTW is entering 2025 with considerable momentum after delivering on our 2024 financial targets through solid revenue growth, robust margin expansion and earnings growth," and with revenue coming in at a shade under $10bn for 2024 he's allowed to have a spring in his step. Ranked joint fourth in the table of London's Leading Brokers 2024, the NASDAQ-listed giant has invested heavily in technology and AI and last year won plaudits for its innovation in sustainability and protecting biodiversity. 

Hiscox
Hiscox has cemented its position as a leader in the insurance industry, achieving record-breaking financial performance in 2024. With pre-tax profits soaring to $685.4 million (£541.5 million) — a 9.5% increase from the previous year — and net written premiums rising to $3.7 billion (£2.9 billion), the company continues to excel in underwriting discipline and risk management. Under CEO Aki Hussain’s leadership, Hiscox has driven innovation in specialist insurance, particularly in cyber, high-net-worth, marine, art insurance and commercial lines. Its focus on cutting-edge digital solutions, customer-centric products, and global expansion further solidifies its reputation.

Beazley
Beazley has delivered impressive financial performance in 2024, achieving a record pre-tax profit of $1.4 billion (£1.1 billion), a 13% increase from the previous year. Shares hit a record high in response. The specialist insurer also demonstrated strong shareholder returns with a $500 million (£394 million) share buyback and a 76% rise in its ordinary dividend to 25p per share. Gross written premiums grew by 10% to $6.2 billion (£4.9 billion), reinforcing Beazley’s market leadership in cyber, specialty, and liability insurance. CEO Adrian Cox highlights the company’s underwriting expertise and resilience amidst a challenging claims environment. With estimated losses from the Los Angeles wildfires expected to be much lower than its peers, Beazley remains well-positioned for future growth.

Aviva
Aviva has delivered an exceptional performance in 2024, posting a 20% rise in operating profit to £1.77 billion, surpassing analyst expectations. Under CEO Amanda Blanc’s leadership, Aviva has strengthened its market position with its landmark £3.7 billion acquisition of Direct Line, reinforcing its dominance in the UK insurance sector. Shares have climbed 11% this year and over 50% in the past five years, reflecting investor confidence. With strong trading momentum and a clear growth strategy, Aviva continues to drive innovation and customer-focused solutions. Bank of America analysts noted recently that “The hype with which the business is presented is certainly compelling and we believe the fundamentals back it up."

Law Firm of the Year

Freeths
The national law firm brought the Post Office litigation on behalf of the Sub-Postmasters who were so egregiously wronged by the system. The ITV drama spotlighted the landmark High Court victory on Mr Bates vs The Post Office. Its work is not yet over as it supports victims of the Horizon scandal over the Compensation Scheme issues. The firm saw double-digit percentage growth over the last financial year, with revenue surpassing £145m. On average, it's earned a growth rate of more than 10 per cent in the previous five years.

Kennedys Law
Best known for its insurance work, Kennedys Law has been expanding geographically, having doubled in size since 2018. The firm has been working to diversify its insurance offerings to healthcare and corporate and commercial lines of business. This resulted in the firm's revenue jumping by 17 per cent over the last financial year to over £380m. At the heart of the firm are its DE&I initiatives, which result in actions rather than just words, including having women hold the majority of positions on its executive board. 

Kingsley Napley
In its 87th year as a law firm, the firm posted its best-ever financial figures after its turnover jumped 17 per cent to over £71m. It stemmed from the firm's work to broaden its client services by bringing in new hires and skill sets, including tax disputes and insolvency specialists. The London-based firm now has over 500 people on the books, its largest headcount on record. As a result, it focuses on its culture, including offering counselling and pregnancy loss programmes. 

Quinn Emanuel
The London office of this US-HQ litigation-focused firm surpassed £200m last year, continuing solid growth over the past few years. The firm made headlines last year when it bumped up its newly qualified (NQ) salary to £180,000, making its young lawyers one of the highest-paid in the City. The litigation firm sees its name on a fair share of significant cases, including acting for Credit Suisse bondholders and the administrator for NMC Health ahead of the trial against EY. 

Herbert Smith Freehills
Digital innovation is one of its core strengths, and the firm invested in various technologies and skill sets to support this drive, including Virtual Reality tools. The UK-Australian firm's posted financials speak for themselves, with double-digit percentage figures for revenue and profit last year after generating well over £1bn. As the firm pushes for global coverage, all eyes will be on it over the next few years after it revealed it was merging with the US New York-based law firm Kramer Levin. 

Innovation of the Year

Meatly
Twenty per cent of all the meat produced on the planet is eaten not by humans, but by pets. And as the first DEFRA-approved pet food brand, whose debut product landed on shelves early this year, Meatly promises to slash its industry’s outsized environmental footprint by making lab-grown meat with the same nutritional value as ordinary pet food. With the aim - eventually - of “eliminating factory farming from the pet food industry" - one can’t accuse it of not aiming high enough.

Synthesia
Having just had its valuation doubled to over $2bn in a recent funding round, artificial intelligence firm Synthesia is one of Britain’s hottest start-ups. The London-based firm’s AI-powered corporate avatars have already attracted over 60,000 paying customers. And its recent series D made it Britain’s most valuable generative AI media company, earning it talismanic status in business and tech circles. Unlike the tech darlings like Arm, Darktrace and Iona in whose footsteps it is following, though, it has also committed its future to London. 

Beam
The long, thankless battle against red tape has consumed column inches and political speeches for decades and has also - prevailing wisdom dictates - got worse. Step forward B-corp certified Beam - an AI-powered software tool that promises to save public sector staff - especially social workers - hours a week by recording case work and generating the laborious and time-consuming notes and actions. Boasting that it saves social workers a day every week, Beam allows users to spend more time speaking to patients or clients, saving taxpayer money in the process.

Oxford Ionics
Oxford Ionics cemented its position as one of the UK’s most innovative firms when it unveiled in July a new chip that promised to shake up the arcane but future-defining world of quantum computing. The innovation was heralded as ‘pivotal’ to the effective mass rollout of quantum computers, and brought forward estimates of when the super-powerful type of computer can be commercially viable to just three years. It also has an esteemed panel of backers, ARM’s Hermann Hauser, Lansdowne Partners and Braavos Investment Advisors all getting in on the action at its most recent 2024 funding round.

Luminance 
Luminance is a pioneer in legal AI that promises to unlock hours of lawyers’ and advisors’ time by taking care of laborious contract analysis. It has already amassed an impressive client base, including the likes of BBC Studios, DHL, Yokogawa and Hitachi, and claims to have saved the latter over 500 hours a year on contract generation alone - and to have cut Yokogawa’s response time to business queries from 10 days to 5 minutes.

Technology Business of the Year

Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi has solidified its position as a leading force in technology, achieving a landmark IPO on the London Stock Exchange in 2024. The successful flotation underscored strong investor confidence, fuelling further innovation and global expansion. After trading sideways since its IPO in June, Raspberry Pi’s stock price took off in December last year, and has surged by more than 90 per cent in the last two months. The Christmas boost came after US hedge fund SW Investment Management bought a 3.59 per cent stake in the firm. Renowned for its affordable, high-performance computing solutions, Raspberry Pi continues to revolutionise education, and the company remains at the forefront of technological innovation. Its ability to blend commercial success with a mission-driven ethos has earned them a solid reputation.  

Wayve
Last summer the British artificial intelligence startup that creates autonomous systems for vehicles secured over $1bn (£800m) in backing, in what was the UK’s largest ever AI fundraise. The Softbank, Nvidia and Microsoft AI darling, founded in 2017, has been integrating its technology, called ‘embodied AI’, into cars and robots, transforming them into autonomous vehicles that it says can see, think, and drive through any environment. The firm recently announced plans to accelerate its international expansion by launching a new hub in Germany. Wayve’s expansion into Europe’s largest auto market will allow the firm to refine its ’embodied AI’ technology, focusing on lane change assistance that adapts to human driving behaviour. The firm has already expanded into the American market, opening an office in Silicon Valley and testing its fleet in San Fransisco. It plans further expansion in North America, including opening a Vancouver-based branch.

Darktrace
The cyber-security powerhouse that was backed by the late Mike Lynch was plucked from the London Stock Exchange last year in a $5bn takeover by private equity outfit Thoma Bravo, in what was seen as a blow for London but a ringing endorsement of the firm which was led by new Investment Minister - and Personality of the Year nominee - Poppy Gustafsson. The firm’s annual threat reports continue to set the debate in the cyber-security industry and Darktrace earlier this year made its first acquisition since going private, snapping up UK-based cyber firm Cado Security.

Zilch
Zilch is the fintech payments innovator of the world’s first ad-subsidised payments network (ASPN), which puts responsible lending and financial inclusion at its core. The firm achieved its first quarterly profit in the autumn of 2024, announced plans to double its workforce, and has grown rapidly to £145m run-rate revenue. The City remains a buzz with rumours of a possible London IPO, a decision that will be closely watched by both the Square Mile and Westminster. As the UK’s first FCA-regulated BNPL provider, Zilch champions responsible borrowing through personalised affordability limits and partnerships with StepChange Direct. Its innovative ‘Zilch Up’ initiative helped over 25,000 customers switch from being invisible to visible at the UK’s major credit reference agencies in testing alone. By setting new industry benchmarks and working closely with regulators and government on a range of policy issues, Zilch is a fintech trailblazer whose journey is being eagerly followed. 

Arm
Arm Holding’s flight from the London Stock Exchange to New York was a blow to the City, but the Cambridge-based chip maker remains a great British success story. Committed to “building the future of computing” and with a hand in everything from smartphones to supercomputers, innovation remains at the heart of Arm - not least as AI continues to advance. The company recently announced plans to launch its own chips with Meta secured as one of its first customers. The tech star’s market cap currently stands at around £100bn.

Entrepreneur of the Year

Kate Prince, Ancient + Brave
After pursuing an illustrious career in media law, Kate Prince saw an opportunity in the burgeoning world of wellness. Prince founded Ancient + Brave in 2018, a brand specialising in high-quality supplements that has rapidly gained recognition. The company has exploded in popularity and secured millions of pounds in investment. Under Prince’s leadership, the company has not only achieved B Corp certification, but sold its products in over 200 stores across 22 countries. The brand has built a devoted following, with celebrity fans of Ancient + Brave including Davina McCall, Ellie Goulding and Dame Kelly Holmes. Prince has also been vocal in advocating for a “cultural shift” to help more entrepreneurial women secure funding to support their start-ups.

Jade Holland Cooper, Holland Cooper Clothing
Jade Holland Cooper is a British fashion designer and founder of the luxury, tartan clad brand Holland Cooper, known for its fusion of classic British heritage with contemporary style. Raised on a farm in Suffolk, Jade identified a gap in the market for elegant, statement countrywear and launched her brand in 2008 with a collection of tweed miniskirts. Since then, Holland Cooper has grown into a hugely lucrative fashion empire, worn by celebrities and royalty, including the Princess of Wales. From the Cheltenham Races to Claudia Winkelmann in the Traitors, Cooper has really made her mark on contemporary British style.

Charlie Bowes-Lyon and Freddy Ward, Wild
Charlie Bowes-Lyon and Freddy Ward are the co-founders of Wild, a sustainable personal care brand launched in 2019. Childhood friends with entrepreneurial backgrounds, they set out to revolutionise the industry with refillable, plastic-free deodorant and body wash. With a mission to eliminate single-use plastic from bathrooms worldwide, Wild offers natural, compostable refills housed in sleek, reusable cases. The brand quickly gained traction online and in the media - reaching a £26m turnover by 2022. The company is now being eyed-up by consumer giant Unilever, in a deal that could value the start-up at £230m. Wild has become a leading force in eco-conscious personal care, and Bowes-Lyon and Ward continue to push the boundaries of ethical beauty, making sustainability the new standard in everyday essentials.

Andreas Adamides, Helm
Serial entrepreneur Andreas Adamides is a founder’s founder. Having experienced first-hand the challenges of starting a business, he joined Helm, formerly the Supper Club, as CEO. Helm was founded for entrepreneurs to kick around ideas over dinner, and is home to the capital’s most high-profile founders. One of the secrets of Helm’s success is the one golden rule: a strict no-sales ethos. Instead, it’s the ‘give and get’ – members are expected to help out their fellow members where they can, with advice, learning, experience or knowledge. And Adamides, who has founded a raft of successful start-ups including BuyQuick, WileyFox, FinluxDirect and CatchApp, has become a leading champion of entrepreneurship.

Tom and Phil Beahon, Castore
Brothers Tom and Phil Beahon are the co-founders of Castore, a premium sportswear brand launched in 2015 to challenge industry giants with high-performance, innovation-driven apparel. Former athletes - Tom a professional footballer and Phil a semi-professional cricketer - their first-hand experience in sports inspired them to create the brand. Starting with a vision to create the lightest, most durable sportswear, Castore has grown into a global powerhouse, securing major partnerships with teams and athletes, including Andy Murray, who became a shareholder in 2019. The brand has since expanded into football, Formula One, and rugby, working with elite clubs and franchises worldwide. After rapid expansion, Castore is now eyeing up a listing in what would be a significant next step for the company.

Analyst of the Year

Charles Hall
Few people have done more to sound the alarm about the parlous state of London markets in the past year than Charles Hall. Through a series of papers, notes and punchy media interventions, Hall has become one of the defining voices explaining not only the extent of the exodus from London markets but articulating in brutal clarity why it matters. An April 2024 research note warning that the FTSE Small Cap index would cease to exist as soon as 2028 if delistings remained at their current rate made a particularly big splash.

Helen Thomas
If the sell side is at its best when it makes predictions that appear to go against the herd but ultimately prove on the money, then Thomas has embodied such an approach over the course of the last year. Few people span the worlds of politics and markets - understanding the very different laws of physics that guide them - better than Thomas, who runs the boutique analysis shop Blonde Money. In a year of major elections, she has called every major poll right, and on the domestic front, she was also something of a lone voice in predicting a July general election when all conventional wisdom suggested otherwise.

Victoria Hasler
Hasler bagged one of the top research jobs in the City in late 2023 when Hargreaves Lansdown chose her to take up the mantle as its head of fund research. Guiding the investment decisions of HL’s 1.9m clients is no small gig, and she has taken to the role with aplomb, steering them through the recent Saba offensive on investment trusts and regularly chiming in on the biggest issues affecting UK investors with clarity and insight.

Clive Black
Shore Capital’s Dr Clive Black is the go-to voice for insightful, detailed and original analysis on UK consumers, food and retail. The retail sector has been buffeted since the Budget with additional costs to say nothing of intense competition within the sector and challenging consumer sentiment and confidence. Clive Black’s research guides investors through this complex and vital sector with authority and clarity, making him one of the City’s most well-known and admired analysts. 

Simon French
Often seen gracing the business pages of the business press, French has earned his spurs as one of the most influential macro voices in what has been a significant year for fiscal and monetary policy decisions. With punchy and original analysis of issues as wide-ranging as the UK’s productivity conundrum, housing market and trends in fixed income, Panmure’s chief economist has become known for his original and independent mind. His hyper-dovish prediction of six rate cuts from the Bank of England in 2025 is a prediction to watch, as tariffs go up and geopolitical tensions ratchet higher.

City Champion

Steven Fine
Steven Fine is one of the boldest advocates for - and defender of - London's capital markets. As boss of investment bank Peel Hunt he has proven himself a relentless champion of public markets and a leading voice in the debates about the future of the City. Last year he issued a stinging warning about the health of UK equity markets, telling City AM: “If you don’t care, if you’re in the camp that says I don’t really give a sh*t – excuse my language – then that’s fine. But if you do care, you should look at the 100 companies that have left [the exchange]". But he doesn't just complain, and his concern shouldn't be taken for a lack of optimism in London's future. Respected in Whitehall and the City, Steven is Deputy Chair of the FCA Markets Practitioner Panel, representing the interests of financial markets participants, and is also a non-executive director for the Quoted Companies Alliance.

Lisa Gordon
The group of City grandees lobbying for reform of the UK’s capital markets, the Capital Markets Industry Taskforce, bolstered its team this year with the appointment of Lisa Gordon, chair of small-cap broker and investment bank Cavendish, as the plight of London's junior market, AIM, rises up their agenda. Gordon, who also holds a Non-Executive Director of JP Morgan Small Cap Growth & Income  and Magic Light Pictures Limited, a leading film and television production company, said that the UK’s smaller listed firms were at a “critical juncture” and action was needed to “navigate the challenges and seize the opportunities ahead”. She has previously served as a NED at Alpha Group and M&C Saatchi. As part of CMIT, she leads the group's vital efforts to champion the needs of smaller quoted and listed companies in the UK.

Chris Hayward
As the de facto Leader of the City of London Corporation, which governs the Square Mile, Chris Hayward has emerged as an energetic voice in debates relating to the competitiveness of London's financial services district. Indeed, he serves one the industry's principal spokespeople at home and abroad and acts as a bridge between the City and Westminster. In addition to championing the City's professional and economic contribution to national life, Chris is also a leading advocate for its civic and cultural infrastructure and political identity. 

James Ashton
As Chief Executive of the Quoted Companies Alliance, James is a passionate defender of the UK’s small and mid-sized publicly traded businesses and the infrastructure that supports them. He has been at the heart of debates around reforms to listing rules and investment policies, and ensures that the interests of the QCA’s membership are heard loud and clear. As a former City Editor and Executive Editor of the Evening Standard, and City Editor of the Sunday Times, he understands the issues facing businesses and, crucially, how to communicate on their behalf. 

Hugh Sergeant
Hugh Sergeant, of River Global Investors, has long been a champion of UK equities but his  innovative approach to banging the drum turned heads in the City last year as he launched a fully-fledged campaign to Make UK Equities Great Again, complete with MUKEGA red baseball caps. His campaign, launched in City AM, included some thoughtful and detailed recommendations for policy changes and cultural shifts designed to put the swagger back in UK equity investors. He said: “As a country we must be proud of wealth creation…If more of us re-engage with this basic belief more money will come into the fundamentally attractive UK equity market.”

Consultancy and Advisory Company of the Year

Blick Rothenberg
Blick Rothenberg is a leading tax, accounting, business advisory and private client firm that isn’t afraid to put its head above the parapet; they are one of the most prolific (and insightful) commentators on tax policy with a reputation for providing timely, original (and quotable) analysis drawing on a wide range of talent and expertise from within the firm. They were particularly punchy on the government’s reform of the non-dom regime. With a haul of advisors commended in last year’s Spears500 list and international expansion plans underway through strategic acquisitions, the firm’s continued growth looks assured.

WPI Strategy
A boutique consultancy that punches well above its weight, WPI specialises in economic consultancy, research and advocacy. With a client list that includes major blue chip firms and a political network spanning Westminster and Whitehall, WPI is the power behind high-profile coalitions and campaigns including the Covid Recovery Commission, whose members included AstraZeneca, Shell and Tesco, and the Retails Jobs Alliance which united Asda, Kingfisher and M&S in a bid to amplify the voices of major retailers during challenging market and policy conditions. 

H/Advisors Maitland
H/Advisors Maitland advises an impressive suite of companies including household names like Dr Martens, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants and Deloitte, as well as large corporates, and financial services firms including Amundi, Close Brothers, and CVC.  The London-based comms consultancy has been a stalwart of the UK’s financial and corporate communications landscape for more than 30 years, recently becoming the headquarters of strategic communications group H/Advisors, which is owned by the global creative and advertising business Havas. In February, H/Advisors Maitland placed 4th in the UK in Mergermarket’s 2024 Global and Regional M&A Rankings, acting as the primary advisors on 108 private capital transactions across 2024 as they continue to grow in a competitive market.

Chatsworth
Describing themselves as “a team of 15 nerds” Chatsworth has carved out a serious fintech niche that places them at the heart of some of the biggest issues facing the City. Most recently the boutique worked closely with the UK Accelerated Settlement Taskforce, a critically important body that advised the Chancellor on reforms to securities trades in London. In February, the government accepted all of the Taskforce’s recommendations. Chatsworth has also been advising on a range of other initiatives to modernise and digitise financial services products and infrastructure, and has supported clients including RobinHood and Euroclear.

Headland
Established in 2012, Headland has rapidly become of the leading reputation and communications consultancies, specialising in financial communications, corporate communications and campaigning, strategy public affairs, sustainability and digital communications. With 40 new client wins last year from across the FTSE100 and FTSE250, and with an 18 per cent increase in fee income, the growth rate in a crowded field is turning heads. Headcount and client numbers are both up on the year, with 185 employees (many joining from more established outfits) and 207 clients on their books. Among the firm's retained clients, 28% have been with Headland for five or more years and their client retention rate rose from 69% to 75% in 2024, making it a growth year in terms of revenue and profit. 

Personality of the Year

Sir James Dyson
One of Britain's most illustrious entrepreneurs, Sir James Dyson is never far from the headlines. He's been a vocal critic of government plans to reform inheritance tax but beyond these interventions in politics he's busy doing what he does best; funding innovation and championing science and design. From developing cutting-edge agricultural innovations to overseeing multi-million pound donations, Sir James remains a powerhouse of entrepreneurial and philanthropic energy.

Poppy Gustafsson
Baroness Gustafsson CBE stepped down as CEO of cybersecurity giant Darktrace following its sale to Thoma Bravo last year, emerging as the new government’s Minister for Investment - just in time to appear at the flagship Investment Summit held in the City. Having previously taken Darktrace public - before subsequently overseeing its sale - she moved into public service, and her appointment was cheered by the business community. She has banged the drum for the UK tech sector and insists that the UK has the potential to achieve "explosive growth."

Sir Nicholas Lyons
Chair of City giant Phoenix and former Lord Mayor of the City of London, Sir Nicholas was a driving force behind the Mansion House Compact - which aimed to promote pension investment in unlisted equities - and a leading voice in the wider debate about capital markets reform, through his role on the high-powered Capital Markets Industry Taskforce. Sir Nicholas has been a powerful cheerleader for the City; in civic life, politics and economics.

Matt Clifford MBE
Serial entrepreneur Matt Clifford has become synonymous with the UK's emerging AI landscape, having authored the current government's AI Action Plan before being appointed the Prime Minister's Adviser on AI Opportunities. He performed a similar role for Rishi Sunak and was instrumental in 2023's AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park. Matt is the founder of talent investment group Entrepreneur First and Chair of the UK's Advanced Research and Invention Agency. 

Kate Nicholls
The hospitality industry has been in need of a champion of late, and they’ve got one in Kate Nicholls. Nominated in 2022 in recognition of her work defending the sector during the shock of the pandemic, Nicholls has been a leading force in recent months as hospitality businesses face a new wave of economic challenges - not least from government policy. She has balanced forceful opposition with practical suggestions and relentless engagement on behalf of a vital industry.

Business of the Year

M&S
At the end of last year M&S overtook Waitrose in grocery sales for the first time, marking a major milestone in the battle for discerning shoppers. Analysts hailed the retailer’s momentum following strong results and share price growth continues to impress the City. Despite battling inflation and unwelcome tax policies (CEO Stuart Machin accused ministers of "raiding the sector like a piggy bank") the multi-year post-pandemic recovery plan is undoubtedly paying off, with stellar results posted since 2022 and healthy market performance into 2025. Machin says he adopts a “positively dissatisfied” mindset of continuous improvement. Despite economic headwinds, the retailer has announced plans to spend nearly £100m on higher staff pay.

Games Workshop
Over the last decade, the value of Games Workshop’s shares have increased more than 26 times and the maker of Warhammer smashed its way into the FTSE100 at the end of last year, powered by a surging share price across 2024 that saw it end the year with a valuation above Easyjet and Ocado. Shares have climbed by more than 50 per cent over the last year and the company has a market capitalisation of £4.5 billion. Investors welcomed the most recent results with another 7 per cent bump in the share price. Described by analysts as "a great example of a British company that has carved out a market niche and put the customer at the heart of its business," the CEO remains an enigma; Kevin Rountree joined the firm 26 years ago and has never even been photographed. 

RelX
Described by one analyst as "the UK's least well-known large company" this £75bn powerhouse is one of the biggest businesses in the FTSE 100 and has quietly and consistently performed. The information, publishing and analytics provider hit nearly £10bn in revenue last year delivering an adjusted operating profit of just over £3bn. The publicity-shy CEO, Erik Engstorm, says leaning into AI has been a growth driver, as was its exhibitions and live events division which delivered 286 events in 25 countries covering 42 industry sectors in 2024.

Rolls Royce
Shares in the engineering powerhouse have surged since CEO Tufan Erginbilgic embarked on an ambitious turnaround, almost doubling in price over the course of 2024. Strong results at the start of this year saw the dividend reinstated, marking its first payout since before the pandemic. Revenue approaching £18bn also beat analyst expectations with Bank of America predicting a further 50 per cent surge in share price powered by a combination of booming travel demand and increasing military spending around the globe. Rolls-Royce says it’s aiming for profits of between £3.6bn and £3.9bn by 2028.

Heathrow
Europe's biggest hub airport served a record 83.9m passengers last year and in February announced a £250m payout to shareholders - the first since before the pandemic. It has been crowned the most connected airport in the world for the second year running, connecting travellers to 234 destinations across 85 countries. Its ownership structure meant the airport was often in the news but the main story now is one of expansion, with the government giving its backing to a third runway. It's controversial, but it means the sky's the limit for one of the world's busiest airports.