Jodie Roebuck, based at the Yorkshire company Fera Science, has been named CFO of the Year, while the North East-based Paralloy Group won the Transformation of the Year award at the inaugural Private Business Awards, sponsored by BDO.

The awards, held on Thursday, 11 September, celebrated the achievements of private businesses across the United Kingdom. Cycle Pharma was awarded Private Business of the Year 2025.

Private businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, employing 27 million people and generating a combined annual turnover of £4.5 trillion. The awards aim to highlight the innovation, resilience, and success stories that drive the UK forward.

Gareth Singleton, Regional Managing Partner at BDO in Yorkshire, commented: "Private businesses are the unsung heroes of our economy. These awards recognise not just financial success, but the entrepreneurial spirit, job creation and community impact that define the best of UK business.

“Despite the uncertainty and complexity facing the world, all of the winners and shortlisted businesses give us reason to be very optimistic about the future. We’d like to congratulate everyone involved.”

Winners were selected across 10 categories by an expert judging panel of leading industry figures. The awards attracted nominations from diverse sectors and regions throughout the UK, reflecting the breadth and depth of private business excellence nationwide.

The full list of winners is below:

Tech Business of the Year: Flagstone

Social Enterprise of the Year: Half the Story

Scale Up Award: ZenZero

Transformation of the Year: Paralloy Group

Future Leader Award: Shaun Sookoo at Viomar Holdings

CFO of the Year: Jodie Roebuck at Fera Science

CEO of the Year: Jacyn Heavens at Epos Now

VC/PE-backed Business of the Year: Totalmobile

Family Business of the Year: Timpson Group

Private Business of the Year: Cycle Pharma