North West business awards winners revealed

The cream of North West businesses were celebrated last night as the BVCA announced the winners of the latest round of the BVCA Management Team Awards 2019 at our annual dinner in Manchester.
Produced in association with Grant Thornton, these awards shine a spotlight on the best performing companies in the UK backed by private equity and venture capital. Taking place throughout the year and across the country, last night it was the turn of businesses based in the North West to take a bow ahead of the national final on 28 November at the BVCA Gala Dinner.
The winners are:
Venture-backed Management Team of the Year
Matillion
Cloud computing storage specialists based in Altrincham
Backed by YFM Equity Partners
Since its inception in 2011, Matillion has performed incredibly well, expanding both its team and its geographical range. The management team, led by Matthew Scullion and Ed Thompson, are incredibly ambitious and constantly strive to improve the product and increase their customer base, paving the way for future scalability with an ongoing strong focus on CSR.
Growth Management Team of the Year
4net Technologies
Stretford-headquartered provider of cloud communication and collaboration services
Backed by YFM Equity Partners
Richard Pennington and his team are leading a business that is performing very well and delivering strong organic growth, whilst also increasing its headcount. It is impressive to see them winning landmark contracts and delivering on good public sector work. The management team, which has been with 4net since inception, provide first class customer service, which has resulted in numerous awards.
Mid-Market Team of the Year
Pure Cottages
A leading provider of distinctive high-quality self-catering holidays from its base in Windermere
Backed by LDC
Pure Cottages has more than doubled its EBITDA in the past year as a result of successful acquisitions, which have increased the number of properties within its portfolio and has helped expand the company across different geographies. It is a particularly impressive that Paul Liddell and his team perform so well at a time when the buy and build market is challenging.
Large Company Team of the Year
Sykes Holiday Cottages
One of the largest self-catering holiday property lettings agencies in the UK, headquartered in Chester
Backed by Livingbridge
Sykes has grown significantly since it was founded and is now one of the UK’s leading and fastest-growing independent holiday cottage provider. Graham Donoghue and his team have grown the business internationally. Moreover, the business has seen continued growth in employee numbers, properties, income and bookings. Their commitment to employee wellbeing and their support of the local community is impressive.
Business Transformation Management Team
M247
Manchester-headquartered The UK’s fastest growing connectivity and internet infrastructure provider
Backed by Livingbridge
Jenny Davies and her team have successfully transformed M247 into a leading connectivity and cloud services partner supporting businesses across the UK and worldwide. They successfully implemented a transformative acquisition strategy, which has allowed the business to grow its product range and international presence. The business has experienced consistent double-digit organic growth and now supports over 10,000 customers in 110 countries.
For further information, please contact
Tom Allchorne, Director, Communications, BVCA
+44 (0)20 7492 0407
[email protected] or [email protected]
Notes to editor
- The BVCA Management Team Awards, produced in association with Grant Thornton UK LLP, are the only awards to celebrate the achievements of private equity and venture capital-backed management teams. There are eight regions in total, each with their own judging panel, and all winners are automatically forwarded to the national final, the results of which will be presented at the BVCA Annual Gala Dinner at the end of the year in London. Please click here for more information.
- The North West judging panel consists of: Steve O’Hare, Equistone Partners Europe (judging chair); Ryan Bevington, Maven Capital Partners UK; Daniel Brecker, Grant Thornton UK; Andrew Davidson, Dunedin; Robert Davis, Calculus Capital; Jonathan Diggines, Mercia; Ged Gould, LDC; Nick Holder, Livingbridge; Neil Inskip, BGF; Kieran Lawton, Palatine Private Equity; Marc Shirman, Beringea; Andy Thomas, YFM; Rupert West, Puma Private Equity.
- The British Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (BVCA) is the industry body for the UK private equity and venture capital industry. The BVCA has over 770 member firms, representing the vast majority of UK-based private equity and venture capital firms and their advisers.
- Grant Thornton is one of the world’s leading organisations of independent assurance, tax and advisory firms. These firms help dynamic organisations unlock their potential for growth by providing meaningful, forward-thinking advice. Proactive teams, led by approachable partners in these firms, use insights, experience and instinct to understand complex issues for privately owned, publicly listed and public sector clients and help them to find solutions. More than 35,000 Grant Thornton people, across over 100 countries, are focused on making a difference to clients, colleagues and the communities in which we live and work. The UK Grant Thornton member firm provides services to over 40,000 privately held businesses, public interest entities and individuals. It is led by more than 185 partners and employs more than 4,200 of the profession's brightest minds. Find out more at www.grantthornton.co.uk.