European technology investment bank GP Bullhound has called on the North鈥檚 best tech companies to come forward for the Northern Tech Awards 2017 and be part of the region鈥檚 first Northern Tech 100 League Table.
GP Bullhound is partnering with Tech North, the Government-backed tech sector initiative, to find, recognise and celebrate the region鈥檚 biggest tech success stories.
The league table ranking companies in order of their rate of growth will be published on the same day as the awards ceremony on聽March 30th in Newcastle.
鈥淭he growth of the Northern digital economy continues to accelerate, contributing over 拢18 billion to the region鈥檚 productivity,” said Hugh Campbell, managing partner聽at GP Bullhound.
“Digital businesses across the North are having a sizeable impact on the immediate growth and future prosperity of the national economy.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 awards will champion the businesses and entrepreneurs driving growth, fuelling innovation, and shaping the future of the Northern economy.
“Newcastle – home to Sage, the only software business in the FTSE 100, and a thriving hub for start-ups and scale-ups –聽provides the ideal platform to showcase this excellence.鈥�
In 2016 online travel platform Skyscanner was awarded the prestigious overall judges鈥� award for聽demonstrating outstanding levels of innovation, leadership and international reach.
Skyscanner was sold last month to Chinese travel company Ctrip for 拢1.4 billion.
The ten winners from Tech North鈥檚 鈥楴orthern Stars鈥� competition will also be recognised as early-stage tech companies to watch.
Richard Gregory, director of Tech North, added: 鈥淩ecognising the impressive breadth and depth of successful digital businesses in the North of England is at the heart of our mission, and we look forward to showcasing the 100 fastest growing firms.鈥�
The awards will take place at an invitation-only dinner at the Boiler Shop. Newcastle, one of the UK鈥檚 most dynamic tech hubs, employs more than 22,000 people in its digital economy, according to Tech City UK.
With over 40,000 students in the city, access to talent is also an important asset for local digital entrepreneurs and businesses.
鈥淓ntrepreneurs and digital businesses are an engine of growth across the North of England. The Northern Tech Awards are vital recognition of the creativity and dedication that drives the digital economy,” said Chris Blaxall, CFO of Performance Horizon, which was the winner of the overall judges鈥� award聽in 2015.
鈥淭he recognition Performance Horizon received as winner of the overall judges’ award in 2015 was an important opportunity to showcase the talent and innovation that have enabled us to establish a footprint in over 170 countries.
“Platforms like the Northern Tech Awards will be critical to ensuring that others are able to go global.鈥�
The awards celebrate tech firms that have had at least three years of revenue growth, with a minimum level of revenue of 拢500,000 in 2014.