The Top 50 was created by LDC, the private equity investor that is part of Lloyds Banking Group, in partnership with The Times. Now in its eighth year, the programme continues to celebrate the drive and ambition of Britain’s best and brightest entrepreneurs.

Lee was awarded The Innovation Award for transforming South Kirkby into a global hub for live entertainment. Founded in 2015, Production Park has grown from four to 25 acres, housing rehearsal studios, manufacturing facilities, an R&D centre and the Academy of Live Technology to train the next generation. Today, the site is where the world’s biggest artists, from Beyoncé to Coldplay, perfect their stage shows, while also serving as a wider ecosystem for creative companies. Recognised by government as a national model for regional creative growth, Production Park is set to reach £30million in revenue this year.

Lee Brooks, Co-Founder and CEO of Production Park, said: "We want this place to be recognised for live events and entertainment technology in the same way Bauhaus and Black Mountain College are for art and architecture.

Brooks explains. “It can be tougher to build businesses up north than in London but the maker and creator culture here, combined with the space, means it has been really good for us.”

John Garner, Managing Partner at LDC, added: “In the eight years since we launched The LDC Top 50 we’ve had the honour of meeting some exceptional business leaders. This year’s cohort has shown drive and ambition in their growth journeys, proven remarkable resilience, and together they are making a real difference to their employees, the communities they work in and society at large.

“Lee has shown how vision and creativity can reshape an industry. Through Production Park, he has built a world-class home for live entertainment in Yorkshire, supporting global artists while developing the next generation of talent. I’d like to congratulate him on everything he has achieved.”

This year the programme received almost 700 nominations, showcasing the exceptional individuals that are building successful, growing medium-sized businesses right across the UK.

The business leaders featured in The LDC Top 50 for 2025 are making a powerful impact by creating jobs, making a difference in the communities they serve, championing sustainability and expanding internationally. They are also demonstrating resilience as they drive growth and develop new ideas to innovate and diversify.

 They operate from 67 towns and cities across the UK and span every sector of the economy, whilst collectively they employ almost 10,000 people and generate combined revenues of £1.2bn.

The awards, presented last night at a celebratory event at BAFTA in London, were given out after a lively judging session, during which this year’s judging panel of Carl Castledine of Away Resorts; Janette Martin of Talos360; Russ Mably of CELOX Medical and The Most Ambitious Business Leader of 2024; John Garner of LDC and Kate Bassett and Bex Burn-Callander, editors of The LDC Top 50 2025, selected the award winners. 

Read more about the winners of The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2025 here: http://bit.ly/42NQvtQ