Entrepreneurs awarded in New Year's Honours 2025

Several business owners have been honoured by King Charles III in the 2025 New Year's Honours.

Among the entrepreneurs recognised were Poppy Gustafsson. The co-founder of cyber security business Darktrace, who was given a CBE, was recently appointed as the government's investment minister.

Recognised with a knighthood was Dr John Lazar. He co-founded Enza Capital which "backs entrepreneurs and teams using technology to solve large and meaningful problems across Africa". He is also chair of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, "a charity that enables young people to realise their full potential through the power of computing".

Receiving an OBE was Alex Kendall, co-founder of self-driving technology firm Wayve. It has raised funding of $1.05bn (£840m), the largest known investment in an artificial intelligence company in Europe.

Also recognised with an OBE was Mark Mills, who has started and sold several businesses including cashpoint company Cardpoint; Margot Cooper, founder of Limbs and Things, which creates anatomical models to help train medical professionals, and Persephone Books founder Nicola Beauman, who reprints neglected fiction and non-fiction, mostly by women writers from the 20th century.

Others on the OBE list include four subpostmasters who have campaigned for justice for those caught up in the Post Office Horizon IT system scandal, one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history.

Among the recipients of an MBE were Harry Destecroix, who set up Bristol-based deep tech incubator Science Creates; Richard Finney, "moustache meister" at men's grooming products business Captain Fawcett, and 91-year-old Barbara Boyd, who started Hadleigh Thrift Shop in Suffolk in 1999 and has raised more than £2m for charitable causes.

Another local business owner recognised was Alaa Habbooby, who runs Cafe Noir at Thames Ditton train station in Surrey. He received a BEM.

Business and trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

"The business leaders in the New Year's Honours list and their companies are the lifeblood of our economy and those receiving awards should be very proud of what they have achieved and for flying the flag both at home and abroad.

"I'm also pleased to see a group of Horizon subpostmasters included. They deserve special recognition for their tireless campaign for postmasters who have waited far too long to get justice, and we remain committed to seeing justice done."

Entrepreneurs in the King's New Year's Honours 2025

Business owners and founders on the 2025 New Year's Honours list include:

Knights Bachelor (KT)

• John Lazar, co-founder, Enza Capital (for services to engineering and technology)

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

• Annika Bosanquet, co-founder, Wrapology (for services to business)

• Gillian Parkin, managing director, GGR Group (for services to the lifting industry)

• Poppy Gustafsson, co-founder and CEO, Darktrace (for services to the cyber security industry)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

• Dana Denis-Smith, founder and CEO, Obelisk Support (for services to women in the legal profession)

• John Evans, executive chair, Beanies the Flavour Company (for services to entrepreneurship)

• Gian Power, founder and CEO, TLC Lions (for services to mental health)

• Victoria Robertshaw, founder, Green Street (for services to the retail sector)

• Amos Simbo, founder, Black Professionals In Construction (for services to the construction industry and to diversity)

• Simon Spinks, CEO, Harrison Spinks Group (for services to the mattress and bed industry)

• Lee Castleton, campaigner for subpostmasters (for services to justice)

• Josephine Hamilton, campaigner for subpostmasters (for services to justice)

• Christopher Head, campaigner for subpostmasters (for services to justice)

• Seema Misra, campaigner for subpostmasters (for services to justice)

• Abdul Fatehi, CEO, United Corporation (for services to international trade)

• Mark Mills, serial entrepreneur and philanthropist (for services to business and to charity)

• Nicola Beauman, founder, Persephone Books (for services to publishing)

• Margot Cooper, founder and president, Limbs and Things (for services to 3D medical simulation training)

• Alex Kendall, co-founder and CEO, Wayve (for services to artificial intelligence)

• Carl Cavers, founder, Sumo Group (for services to the video games industry)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

• Mohammed Chaudhry, owner and founder, Regal Food Products (for services to business and to the community in Bradford)

• Michael Bailey, managing director, Col-Tec Solutions (for services to the print industry and allied trades)

• Rachel Blackburn, CEO, US2U Consulting (for services to the business Community and to exports)

• Joeli Brearley, founder and CEO, Pregnant Then Screwed (for services to working families)

• Katherine Darlington, founder and CEO, The Scott Partnership (for services to business growth and to international trade)

• Harry Destecroix, founder, Science Creates (for services to science)

• Richard Finney, founder and moustache meister, Captain Fawcett (for services to international trade and to charity)

• Christopher Murphy, managing director, Dunster House, and director, Military Medals and Books (for services to business and to charity)

• Bolaji Sofoluwe, co-founder, Enterprise, Training and Knowledge Group (for services to sustainable business growth, to female entrepreneurs and to international trade)

• Raymond Newell, managing director, Oakwell Management Services (for services to industry in the Midlands)

• Charles Turner, chair, Made in Sheffield and managing director, Edward Turner and Son (for services to manufacturing and business in Sheffield)

• Laura Ward-Ongley, founder and Global CEO, EXEAT (for services to international trade, to sustainability and to women in business)

• Barbara Boyd, founder, Hadleigh Thrift Shop (for services to charitable fundraising and to the community in Hadleigh, Suffolk)

• Duncan Farrington, farmer and founder, Farrington Oils (for services to agriculture and to the food and drink industry)

• Ian Stevenson, founder and CEO, Cyacomb (for services to online safety technology)

Medallists of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

• Alaa Habbooby, owner, Cafe Noir (for services to the community in Thames Ditton, Surrey)

• Richard Haley, postmaster, Epworth Post Office (for services to the Post Office and to the community in Doncaster)

• Hemandra Hindocha, postmaster, Westcotes Post Office (for services to the Post Office and to the community in the Midlands)

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