Region’s rising stars named on GBYPY 2026 shortlist
The Future Faces Chamber of Commerce has revealed the shortlist for its annual Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year (GBYPY) awards.
The awards are taking place on September 24 at Birmingham Town Hall and will celebrate young professionals from all backgrounds and industries.
The new look event is set to bring together emerging talent and established leaders in a cinematic setting designed to spark conversation.
The headline sponsor of the event is Arden University who will be gifting an Executive MBA to the overall winner. They are also sponsoring the award for the Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year
Sophie Poduval-Morrell, manager of Future Faces, said: “The talent in this region never ceases to amaze me! Huge congratulations to all those who have been shortlisted for the Greater BYPY Awards this year.
“The competition is tough; Birmingham is a region full of passionate and driven young people and these awards are all about showcasing that!
“I can’t wait to celebrate these brilliant shortlisted young professionals on the terrace of Birmingham Library in August, followed by the new format for the awards in September.”
The shortlist is as follows:
Greater Birmingham Apprentice of the Year
Shalom Gallagher - Accenture
Ugonna Okoro - Lloyds Banking Group
Charis Willis - Balfour Beatty VINCI
Xavier Walker - Lichfield District Council
Jacob Hollis - CB Frost & Co LTD
Owen Atkins - Midland Eye
GBYPY - Creative Industries and Culture
Sophie Allen - Serrano Media
Shannon Williamson - Cudos Creative
Catherine Kennedy - Quietnote Ltd
Maddi Belsey-Day - City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Will Naylor - Colour Cubed Creative Communications
Dominic Mould - Domographics
GBYPY - Digital, Tech & Innovation (Sponsored by BMet)
Carys Hanson - KPMG sponsored by Bmet
Benjamin Roberts - Medilink Midlands
Jacob Hodgetts - KPMG
Kiranjit Kaur Shergill - Barclays
Nathanael Potter - Balfour Beatty Vinci
Akaash Thao - Intercity Technology
GBYPY - Sustainability and ESG
Ellie Cashmore - Blackberry Events
Ellie Larkin – Jacobs
Selena Zang - Arup
Will Higgins - West Midlands Combined Authority
Matthew Everett - VCMP UK
Manik Gupta - KPMG UK
GBYPY - Events and Hospitality
Jens Kelly - The NEC Group
Aimee Hawkins - Lichfield District Council
Prabjot Ragbotra - Mitchells and Butlers
Emma Jones - ALLINALL EVENTS LTD
Rae Rodien - Blackberry Events
Alicia Goodison - The NEC Group
GBYPY – Finance (Sponsored by Canaccord Wealth)
James Kidd - XPS Group
Michael Evans - Deutsche Bank
Kieran Duffy - Heligan Wealth Management
Mohammed Amine Aitmoulay - Y S Spring Ltd
Tom Randall - Bishop Fleming LLP
Tara Pittaway - Barclays Bank PLC
GBYPY – Legal (Sponsored by Forvis Mazars)
Hollie Gould - Anthony Collins Solicitorss
Idil Guzel - Anthony Collins Solicitors
Poppi Hall - Enoch Evans LLP
Kristian Campbell-Drummond - Weightmans LLP
Drew Wilson - Eversheds Sutherland Solicitors
Faith Brynel Pomell - Faith Brynels Insights CIC
GBYPY - Built Environment and Engineering
David Awani - Jacobs
Priya Jadav - BBV
Max Wowra - Savills
Ola-Sheni Eniodunmo - Jacobs
Arjun Delay - Fisher German
James Perry - Space Building Consultancy Ltd
GBYPY - People and Wellbeing
Ana Indi Amona - Rainha Noir Coaching
Kanak Singh - Wilkes
Georgia Hannant - The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Lillie Bridgen - Intercity
Rosie Edgington - Daily Rotations
Jordy Eduardo Loja Valencia - WSP UK Ltd
GBYPY - Marketing, Sales, and Communications
Rebecca Snoad - Spark Media
Faryal Bhatti - Norton Insurance Brokers
Ollie McGrath - Tribera Ltd.
Briony Mucklow - Queen Alexandra Charity
Sophie Millman - Blackberry Events Ltd
Harrison Taylor - Solihull Moors FC
GBYPY - Start-ups and Entrepreneurship (Sponsored by Birmingham City University)
Ayamba Alfred Collins - Asteria Engine
Alex Cook - Vistage
Lucas Toborek - Chef Lucas Catering Services Ltd
Joshua Ball - Pearson Ball Limited
Amy Court - Blue Diamond Recruitment Ltd
GBYPY - Charity and Social Impact
Ravina Ark - United By 2022 Charity
Zoe Maxfield - Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
Morgan Byrne - Lichfield District Council
James Brumwell - Gas Street Church
GBYPY - Training and Education
Priya Tailor - KPMG
Emma Hawkins - Arden University
Kumar Jayantilal - University College Birmingham
Jason Metcalfe - University College Birmingham
Sonia Dosanjh - University College Birmingham
Iveta Pudilova - National Neurodiversity Training
All shortlisted candidates are required to attend the in person judging day on Thursday, July 9 at Arden University. During the day, candidates will face a 15-minute interview with a panel of senior business leaders.
The judging panel will be revealed soon, which will be chaired by Lillian Elekan, director of membership at Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
A shortlist celebration will also be held on Thursday, 20 August at Birmingham Library. The free event is open to both members and non-members.
Tickets to the GBYPY awards night are currently discounted at £70 plus VAT until 1 July. Afterwards, the tickets will be priced at £90 plus VAT.
A corporate bundle of five or 10 tickets are priced at £450 plus VAT and £900 plus VAT respectively.
All shortlisted candidates will receive a free ticket for the GBYPY awards night.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Sophie Poduvel-Morrell on s.poduval-morrell@birmingham-chamber.com
Pictured: Shortlisted candidates for GBYPY 2025
