GP Bullhound, the technology investment bank, has published a list of the 50 fastest growing technology firms in the north ahead of this month’s Northern Tech Awards taking place in Liverpool on 23 March.

According to GP Bullhound the list of 50 private companies demonstrates the depth of technology excellence operating in the North and includes businesses such as Skyscanner, Sky Bet, Missguided, Mobica and Nomad Digital, which are seen as having potential for global expansion. The 50 companies have grown their combined revenues by 90% to £1.12bn in 2015.

Over half of all the selected firms specialise in enterprise software, demonstrating the strength of the Northern software scene. Meanwhile 26% of companies are in IT services, the others specialising in e-commerce or digital media.

28% of the companies are based in Manchester, 16% are from Yorkshire and 14% reside in Newcastle. Other locations featured include Blackpool, Sunderland, Chesterfield and Glasgow.

According to GP Bullhound the 50 companies are powering the combined digital Gross Value Added (the total output minus the value of inputs) of the North of England and Scotland, which sits at £10.4bn. The investment bank added that it believes these types of technology businesses will form the bedrock of the growth expected by the Northern Powerhouse initiative.

Hugh Campbell, Managing Partner of GP Bullhound, commented: “This year we have seen a particularly stellar list of companies apply, from household names to up-and-coming disruptors. These companies have shown the dynamic potential of Northern tech to consistently produce high-growth digital businesses. The digital economy is thriving and this is a cause for celebration.”

The 50 companies form a shortlist. The final ranking and judges’ awards will be announced at GP Bullhound’s Northern Tech Awards on 23 March 2016, an invitation-only dinner at The Titanic Hotel, Liverpool.

Judges include David Rowan, Editor of Wired, Sir Terry Leahy, ex-CEO of Tesco, and Alex Baldock, CEO of Shop Direct. Awards include the Fastest Growing Company, the Most Innovative Company and the Overall Judges’ Award.

The ceremony will celebrate tech firms that have had at least three years of revenue growth and a minimum of £1m of revenue in 2013. Early stage technology companies will also be showcased in partnership with the Tech North ‘Northern Stars’ initiative.

The top 50 fastest-growing tech companies in the North (alphabetical order):

Agenor Technology

Angel Solutions

Apadmi

Aql

Aspire Technology Solutions

Azzure IT

Bede Gaming

Blue Prism

Carfinance247

Centriq Group

Chess Telecom

Cloud Technology Solutions

Cyberhawk Innovations

Degree53

Dialogue Group

Ebecs

ESP Group

Evoke Creative

Evolution Funding

Exco InTouch

Godel Technologies

Houseology

Intechnica

Interact

Metronet

Missguided

Mobica

Mobysoft

Nomad Digital

Nucleus

OnTrac

Orange Bus

Performance Horizon

Pinnacle Enterprise

PJA Distribution

ProVu Communications

RealityMine

ResponseTap

SafeGuard

Scott Logic

Sky Betting & Gaming

Skyscanner

Stroma

Sykes Cottages

The Nostrum Group

TheLADbible

Tyres on The Drive

Utiligroup

WorkCast

Zuto

For more information visit the Northern Tech Awards website