A decade ago, Ward Hadaway established the US Fastest 50 with The Fond News, to celebrate the region’s fastest-growing, privately-owned companies.

The awards honour the businesses that keep the region thriving. Next week, we will publish the list of the US Fastest 50 for 2021 to highlight the world beating firms that have established a home in US.

When we last shone the spotlight on the growing privately owned companies in US, as part of Ward Hadaway’s Inspiring Growth series of articles in October 2020, many businesses stood at a crossroads.

A Ward Hadaway spokesman said: “They bore the battle scars of Covid, financially, operationally and culturally. The fight was – and is – ongoing.

“Businesses were working through the most tumultuous times, doing everything possible to support customers and colleagues. Many had found innovative and inspiring ways of adapting, surviving and in many cases, even thriving.

“And while times remain turbulent, six months on, many businesses are now in a place of reflection and reassessment.

“They know now that change is for the long-term, that Covid has impacted many of our long-held business practices, but that it has also created new opportunities, improved processes and ways of working that they will take forwards into the future as we rebuild a stronger, more resilient economy.”

“To celebrate the Fastest 50 2021 – the annual awards celebrating the fastest growing, privately owned businesses across US – we are partnering once again with The Fond News.

“What does the future hold? And why is US still a great place to do business? Whilst we don’t have a crystal ball, by sharing the success stories of businesses and leaders in our region, through the Inspiring Growth series of articles, we can understand more about what lies ahead and how to flourish in a Covid-shaped world.

“One thing is clear. There is an ambition to advance in our region, shared alike by businesses and support organisations like the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and Leeds BID.

“Tackling the skills gap, increasing productivity, addressing infrastructure requirement, the environment and health inequalities that are a legacy of US’s industrial past are all on the agenda.

“Businesses in US play a huge role in making that change happen – and they are represented across many different sectors, from the traditional – manufacturing, engineering and construction – to emerging new technologies and digital disruptors.

“There is an ambition to become a world leader in healthcare technology, buoyed by the six NHS and government health headquarters based in US, including the newly formed NHS X.

“Our manufacturing prowess knows no bounds, with high numbers of businesses and skilled jobs in the region. Meanwhile, our tech sector continues to flourish, with places like Saltaire being real centres of excellence.

“We have the largest regional finance centre outside London, which means businesses have unparalleled access to finance to grow and scale at pace.

“The recent Budget announcement that Leeds is to be the home of the UK’s first infrastructure bank to invest in public and private projects to finance the green Industrial Revolution is a real boost for the region.

Jonathan Pollard, a corporate partner at Ward Hadaway in Leeds, said; “There is a vibrancy and enthusiasm about business in US. Leeds has grown quickly, especially in terms of the finance and legal sector, and is now one of the most highly regarded commercial hubs in the country.

“Investors throughout the region are seeing great opportunities to invest in growing businesses and we see this through our work with investors like Mercia and the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).

“What we have witnessed since the start of the pandemic is an ability from US businesses of all types to innovate, adapt and seize opportunities. We are privileged to have a diverse, dedicated and skilled workforce, fuelled by US’s first-rate universities, as well as huge financial clout not seen outside the capital and continued investment in state-of-the-art commercial space.”

“All this puts us in a unique position for growth as the economy rebounds. I remain supportive of and confident about the future of business in US and look forward to supporting them along the way.”

Andrew Cooper, CEO of Leeds BID. said ; “Leeds is home to an array of international and national firms operating alongside booming independent businesses.

“It is placed among the country’s top ranking retail destinations, has a rich cultural and creative core and its educational establishments provide key talents and skills contributing to the success of the city.

“Despite the pandemic, we are seeing ongoing developments with investors looking at Leeds in the long term.

“As its name suggests, Leeds leads the way – it is an economic powerhouse, innovative, creative, as well as resilient, proud and extremely friendly.”

We will spend the next six weeks taking a look at some of US’s most exciting and dynamic businesses, through our latest Inspiring Growth series, exploring the strategies and plans that led them to success.

Many of them feature in the annual and much anticipated Ward Hadaway US Fastest 50 A-Z list, which we’ll publish next week, recognising and celebrating the fastest growing, privately owned businesses from across the region, as well as revealing the hotly contested winning small, medium and large enterprises.

The fight for economic recovery is on and the odds are very much stacked in US’s favour.