Newcastle-based start-up Castle Peak Group has been crowned National Professional Services StartUp of the Year at the 2025 UK National StartUp Awards. The announcement was made live at Ideas Fest on 11 September, the UK’s festival of entrepreneurship and innovation.
Founded in 2024, Castle Peak Group is a family-run executive and board search firm working with public sector organisations and like-minded partners who share a commitment to strong governance, accountability, and the benefits of diversity and inclusion in leadership.
The business was established by James Carss, who returned to the UK after more than a decade working in Asia. His experiences of inequality in both education and the workplace inspired him to build a company with a mission to champion inclusive leadership and unlock talent that reflects the communities organisations serve.
James Carss, founder of Castle Peak Group, said:
“Winning this award is a huge honour and a milestone moment for Castle Peak. It recognises the vision we set out with – to challenge the status quo and bring more inclusive leadership into the public sector. The award is also a credit to our small but determined team and to the organisations that have partnered with us in our first year. We are only at the beginning of our journey, and this recognition gives us even greater energy to grow our impact.”
The UK StartUp Awards were established to celebrate the achievements of new businesses across ten UK regions and to showcase the entrepreneurs shaping the future of the economy.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans OBE, creator of the UK StartUp Awards, said:
“I am delighted to announce that Castle Peak Group has won their category at this year’s UK StartUp Awards national finals. The best of the best from across the UK.”