The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders has highlighted the stories of the UK’s most driven entrepreneurs.

Among the featured leaders, three are from the West Midlands, with four others named as “Ones to Watch.”

Now in its seventh year, the programme—created by LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, in partnership with The Times—has celebrated over 350 business leaders who are making an impact across various sectors.

The 2024 Top 50 leaders are creating jobs, promoting social equality, championing sustainability, and expanding internationally.

Collectively, they employ over 5,000 people and generate more than £1.1bn in revenue, operating across 39 towns and cities throughout the UK.

Winners include Tiku Chauhan and Kavita Parmar, co-owners of Birmingham-based Word360, which partners with public sector organisations like the NHS, and Alex Latham, founder of Oldbury’s Latham’s Security Doorsets, now one of the UK’s largest suppliers of steel security doors.

At a celebratory event held at BAFTA in London, Glenn Powell of Hereford-based software company FormusPro received the “Highly Commended: One to Watch” award for his work in helping businesses digitally transform their operations.

The West Midlands entrepreneurs in this year’s Top 50 include Alex Latham of Latham’s Security Doorsets, Nick Higginson of Phoenix Health & Safety, and Kavita Parmer and Tiku Chauhan of Word360.

“Ones to Watch” include Glenn Powell of FormusPro, Polly Barnfield of Maybe*, Ben Harwood of Naismiths, and Aaron Fox of TelXL.

Among the national winners, Russ Mably of Medtrade was named the UK’s Most Ambitious Business Leader. Other awardees include Brinsley Sheridan of RE Group for the Impact Award, Dan Jones of Neo G for the International Award, and Richard Haddon of Bluewater Bio for the Sustainability Award.