Lord Mayor Honours UK Tech Leaders Driving Innovation and Purpose
Four standout British tech firms, Aspect Capital, Tide, Neighbourly, and Guavapay, have been recognised by the Lord Mayor of London, Alastair King, with the prestigious Lord Mayor’s Award.
The awards, part of the Growth Unleashed programme, highlight companies making their mark through innovation, growth, and social purpose. The initiative is designed to revive the UK’s appetite for responsible risk-taking, channel investment into high-growth sectors, and ensure firms continue to scale from within Britain.
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Speaking at the ceremony, the Lord Mayor said:
“These companies represent the very best of British innovation. Forward-thinking, impactful and globally ambitious. From fintech to social tech, their work aligns with my mayoral programme Growth Unleashed. I am proud to celebrate their achievements and the role they play in strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in financial and technological excellence.”
Driving Growth and Impact
The Growth Unleashed programme sits at the centre of the City’s efforts to support high-growth sectors. Projects include the Scale Up Showcase, which connects innovative firms with institutional investors, and the Mansion House Accord, under which 17 of the UK’s largest pension providers have pledged to allocate at least 10% of their default funds to private markets by 2030.
These efforts build on London’s strength as a global hub for fintech and artificial intelligence. More background is available on the City of London Corporation website.
The Award Winners
Aspect Capital – Growth Optimisation
Aspect Capital was recognised for its expansion into new markets, particularly China, and for delivering cutting-edge quantitative investment solutions.
Anthony Todd, Chief Executive, said:
“This achievement marks a significant milestone for Aspect Capital and reflects our long-term commitment to bringing innovative investment solutions into one of the world’s most dynamic financial markets.”
More about the company can be found at Aspect Capital.
Tide – Empowering SMEs
Digital banking platform Tide received the award for supporting small and medium-sized businesses with financial tools and inclusive growth strategies.
Oliver Prill, Chief Executive, said:
“By providing essential tools across finance, administration, and related services, we enable SMEs to save time, cut costs, and focus on growth. With over 13% of the UK market share and 1.5 million members worldwide, our commitment to small business success is stronger than ever.”
Further details are on Tide.
Neighbourly – Social Impact at Scale
Neighbourly, a platform connecting businesses with local communities, was recognised for its pioneering role in social impact technology.
Steve Butterworth, Chief Executive, said:
“This recognition is not just for our team, but for every local charity, volunteer, and business leader who’s helped us build something genuinely impactful.”
Explore more about the platform at Neighbourly.
Guavapay – Global Payments Innovation
Payments firm Guavapay received the award for advancing cross-border financial technology and promoting financial inclusion through seamless digital infrastructure.
Elkhan Nasibov, Group Managing Director, said:
“We are proud to embrace the white heat of technology to drive payment digitisation, expand global financial connectivity, and ensure access to the financial tools people need to grow.”
More information is available at Guavapay.
A Vision for London’s Future
With these awards, the City of London signals its intent to keep Britain at the forefront of financial and technological innovation. The recognition of Aspect Capital, Tide, Neighbourly, and Guavapay reflects not just business success but also the wider purpose of ensuring growth benefits both the economy and society.
For more stories on business, technology, and innovation in the Square Mile, visit EyeOnLondon City.
[Image Credit | City of London Corporation]
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