Contact Originators is delighted to announce that CEO Steve Mulcahy has been recognised at the North West edition of the prestigious Business Desk Leadership Awards 2025, securing both Manufacturing Leader and Company Leader (51-100 employees) awards in a highly competitive field of the region's top business leaders.
The awards, hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com and held on March 27th at the Midland Hotel in Manchester, celebrate exceptional leadership across various industries in the UK’s North West. Steve was shortlisted in two competitive categories, underlining his significant impact on both Contact Originators and the wider flexographic printing industry.
Under Steve's leadership, Contact Originators has transformed from a traditional platemaking company into an innovation-driven prepress partner to printers in the corrugated packaging and label printing sectors. His visionary approach has seen the business grow from a £3m to £10m turnover enterprise, while maintaining its independence and reputation for excellence.
Steve Mulcahy commented: "I'm honoured to receive this recognition as both Manufacturing Leader and Company Leader, which truly reflects Contact's ethos that 'leaders never follow'. Leadership isn't just about guiding a team when times are good – it's about demonstrating vision and commitment every single day, especially when faced with challenges.
“At Contact Originators, we strive to lead by example in everything we do, from technical innovation to sustainability. It's a genuine privilege to work with such a talented and dedicated team of people that bring passion and expertise to their roles every day. This award is testament to their hard work as much as anything else."
Steve's leadership was notably put to the test in 2020 when Contact Originators faced a devastating fire that destroyed 40% of its production capacity. Rather than downsizing, Steve led a multi-million-pound investment in a new manufacturing 'supersite', transforming adversity into an opportunity to reimagine what a modern prepress facility could be, with sustainability and innovation at its core.
Beyond Contact Originators, Steve serves as Chairperson of the Board for the Flexographic Industry Association (FIAUK), driving high standards for quality and sustainability across the entire flexographic print industry.
Contact Originators continues to expand its services and reach under Steve's direction, with further growth into the labels and flexible packaging sector, as well as expanding its operations across Europe.
