CONTACT Originators CEO Steve Mulcahy has won two accolades at the North West edition of the Business Desk Leadership Awards 2025, securing both Manufacturing Leader and Company Leader (51-100 employees) categories.
The awards, hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com, celebrate exceptional leadership across various industries in the region. Steve was shortlisted in two categories, underlining his 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 prepress partner to printers in the corrugated packaging and label printing sectors. His approach has seen the business grow from a £3 million to £10 million turnover enterprise.
He said, “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 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.
