Northern resilience and opportunity in the spotlight at High Growth 50 event

Over 100 business leaders, investors and advisers gathered at Manchester’s Aviva Studios last night for the first High Growth 50 community event — a follow-on from last year’s inaugural report which celebrated some of the most ambitious and fast-growing companies across the North. 

Set against an uncertain economic backdrop, the event offered an opportunity for honest conversation about what it really takes to scale a business in 2025. Across two panel discussions, a stellar line-up of speakers explored the realities of fast growth in a turbulent market — covering everything from access to capital and leadership culture to staying true to customers and purpose under pressure. 

Jonny Saatchi, managing director at MC2, opened the evening by reinforcing the importance of championing positive business stories from the North: “We know things are hard — and are likely to get harder. But that only makes it more important that we tell the stories of brilliance in our region. Yes, we need to be realistic about the challenges. But realism doesn’t limit our ability to be visionary, in fact, it strengthens it. Events like this aren’t just about celebration; they’re about resilience and learning from each other.” 

Panellists included Stephen Critchlow, founder of healthtech business Evergreen Life; Matt Ritchie, M&A director at national childcare group Kids Planet; and Danny Downs, chief commercial officer at performance sportswear brand Castore — all featured in the inaugural High Growth 50 list. Their stories reflected resilience in action: from pivoting during the pandemic to making bold M&A decisions rooted in values, not just data. 

Reflecting on Castore’s journey and the lessons learned along the way, Danny said: “There’s no playbook for building a global sportswear brand from the ground up. You’re learning in real time, running through brick walls when most would retreat. We’ve made mistakes, but resilience means owning them and getting better.  

“Like all fast-growing businesses, we’ve chased too many opportunities at once. That comes at a cost, burning time, relationships, even reputation. The real growth comes when you learn to be more selective, to point and shoot with purpose.” 

The second panel shifted focus to the wider market environment, with insight from Dr Clive Black, vice chairman at Shore Capital; Sarah Ashby, CFO at Mamas & Papas; and Bod Buckby, head of UK primary markets (North) at the London Stock Exchange. Together, they explored how rising interest rates, regulatory reform, and global instability are reshaping how and where UK businesses scale. 

Bod pointed to the opportunity ahead: “We’re on the cusp of the biggest shift in the UK capital markets in 40 years. Pension reform, regulatory evolution, and a renewed political will for growth creates a once-in-a-generation opportunity. But it’s also incumbent on us as an ecosystem to make scaling up easier, more aspirational, and more achievable.” 

The High Growth 50, developed by MC2 in partnership with Beauhurst and the London Stock Exchange, will return later this year with a new cohort of businesses making an impact across the region.  

Download the High Growth 50 report here.