The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders 2023 has celebrated the achievements of some of Britain’s most innovative and ambitious entrepreneurs for the sixth year in a row.
Created by investment partner LDC, part of Lloyds Banking Group, and supported by The Times, this year’s programme received entries of the highest calibre and surpassed the expectations of the judging panel.
The business leaders featured in The LDC Top 50 are growing their businesses at home and overseas, making a positive contribution to society and driving progress against their sustainability goals. They hail from every corner of the UK and span every sector of the economy. Together, they employ more than 6,700 people and turn over more than £1.2bn.
In total, twelve retail and consumer business leaders were named in The LDC Top 50, with a further one featured as One to Watch. Shining examples included Mark Scott and Tony Ottley, founders of raw pet food producer Bella & Duke; Harriet Hastings of Biscuiteers, the personalised gifting business that now runs two icing cafés; and Jack Scott and Alex Wright, founders of DASH Water, which specialises in using “wonky” fruit to create naturally flavoured seltzer.
They were recognised at a celebratory event at BAFTA in London last night, with accolades awarded for the UK’s Most Ambitious Business Leader and a series of individual award categories.
The retail and consumer award winners are:
· Honouring the leader who has created a business driven to contribute to a more sustainable future, The ESG Award went to Tony Cleary of Lanchester Group. An advocate of renewable energy, Tony has built a business with outstanding sustainability credentials and has led the development of a new self-powered bottling plant. Lanchester Group is also the first business in Europe to heat its warehouses with water from disused mine workings.
· The Rising Star in Sustainability Award went to Lucy Macnamara of Aspiga, in recognition of her unwavering commitment to ‘circular fashion’. Her ethical fashion company stimulates fair trade with international artisans, as well as making fabulous clothes and jewellery. It also achieved B Corp status last year and aims to be carbon neutral by 2025.
· As part of this year’s programme, we introduced The Alumni Award to recognise one individual from across The LDC Top 50 alumni network who has continued to push on and achieve brilliant things. This went to Dan Williams of Orean. Originally featured in The LDC Top 50 in 2019, when he had just completed an impressive turnaround of the private label cosmetics manufacturer, Dan has since ramped up growth in the US, added an insights department to the business and become a B Corp.
John Garner, managing partner at LDC, said: “This year’s LDC Top 50 entries surpassed all our expectations and once again showcased the outstanding talent and ambition that exists among entrepreneurs from across Britain.
“In business, ambition is the driving force that propels innovation, growth and success, and the winners, as well as all of those recognised in The LDC Top 50 and Ones to Watch, should be proud of their achievements.
“At LDC, we have always championed ambition. We back management teams who are striving for growth, providing them with the investment and support they need to achieve their commercial goals and make a positive contribution to society and the environment.”
Since 2018, The LDC Top 50 has received more than 3,000 nominations and celebrated more than 500 business leaders, shining a spotlight on the remarkable success stories of medium-sized businesses.
The retail and consumer business leaders featured in The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2023 are:
· Rob Carlin, Superior Wellness
· Rob Darby, 200 Degrees Coffee
· Jack Scott and Alex Wright, DASH Water
· Darran Garnham, Toikido
· Lucy Macnamara, Aspiga
· Harriet Hastings, Biscuiteers
· Tony Cleary, Lanchester Group
· Kieran Fisher, KBF Enterprises
· Jon Walsh and Dr Megan Rossi, Bio&Me
· Mark Scott and Tony Ottley, Bella & Duke
· Laura Rudoe, Evolve Organic Beauty
· Adam Pye, John Pye & Sons
The retail and consumer business leader named as One to Watch is:
· Zabir Ali, Wessex Optical
