Crysp founder named ‘One to Watch’ in LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders

Pete Mills, founder and chief executive of Crysp Ltd, has been named a ‘One to Watch’ in the prestigious LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders 2025, following a year of exceptional growth and innovation for the Bradford-based technology firm.

The annual list, compiled by LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, in partnership with The Times, celebrates the UK’s most dynamic entrepreneurs and high-growth business leaders. The ‘Ones to Watch’ category highlights emerging leaders and scale-ups making rapid progress and showing strong potential for national and international success.

Founded in 2020, Crysp has grown into one of the UK’s leading providers of safety and compliance management software, working across both public and private sectors. The company combines cutting-edge technology with professional auditing and advisory services to help organisations manage complex regulatory requirements more efficiently.

Based in Saltaire, Shipley, the company employs a team of auditors, operations specialists and software developers, with revenues increasing by more than 50% year-on-year. Crysp’s growth has been fuelled by a deliberate strategy of collaboration, innovation, and strong advisory partnerships.

Among its major clients are EDF Energy, Showcase Cinemas, and hundreds of schools, aesthetic clinics and healthcare providers across the UK.

Crysp’s partnership with Azets, the international accounting and advisory firm with offices in Leeds, Bradford and York, has been central to its financial strategy and expansion plans.

“Building Crysp has been an incredible journey so far,” said Mills, who attended the LDC awards ceremony at BAFTA in London. “To be named among the LDC Top 50 and recognised as One to Watch is a huge honour. It’s a testament to our team, partners and customers who believe in our mission to make safety and compliance management simpler, smarter and more effective.”

He credited early guidance from Victoria Wainwright and Simon Roberts of Azets Bradford for helping Crysp establish solid financial frameworks during its scale-up phase.

“Surrounding yourself with the right advisors is key,” Mills added. “Azets has supported us through financial planning, taxation, and our upcoming expansion into the US, helping us build a sustainable capital growth plan.”

In 2023, Crysp secured investment from Twinkl Hive, the accelerator founded by Jon and Susie Seaton, which has further accelerated its development and market reach.

The company recently won a significant contract with the Catawba Nation, a Native American tribe in the US, supporting major real estate data projects — marking its first major international milestone.

Victoria Wainwright, Managing Partner at Azets Bradford, said the recognition was a “powerful endorsement” of Crysp’s vision and ambition.

“Warmest congratulations go to Pete and the Crysp team for this richly deserved recognition,” she said. “We consider it a privilege to have supported their journey and look forward to the next phase of their growth in the UK and internationally.”

John Garner, Managing Partner at LDC, praised the calibre of this year’s nominees.

“It’s been eight years since we launched the Top 50, and every year we meet exceptional people,” Garner said. “This year’s Ones to Watch have already achieved incredible success — and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.”

Looking ahead, Crysp plans to continue expanding internationally while maintaining its core mission: simplifying and improving safety and compliance for organisations of all sizes. The company’s leadership team is focused on sustainable scaling, ensuring its technology and advisory services remain reliable and accessible as it grows.

“Our next chapter is about scaling responsibly,” Mills said. “We’re building for the long term — combining innovation, people and partnerships to deliver better compliance solutions for businesses across the UK and beyond.”

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Crysp founder named ‘One to Watch’ in LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders