Manchester has a rich history of technology innovation and as a city it would be somewhat understandable if it rested on its laurels.

However, that couldn't be further from the truth. Manchester is home to some of the most exciting and scalable businesses in the country, many operating globally. We have the infrastructure to support them and a deep pool of talent. The likes of FTSE 250 cyber security expert NCC Group and AIM-listed boohoo.com are testament to this.

We always knew post-Brexit that there would be a period of uncertainty for all sectors. However, our industry in the region is in a positive position – we have a strong base of companies covering all areas of technology, media and telecoms. These businesses are more international and outward-facing than most so are less likely to be affected by what happens in the UK.

The UK and the North West remains a vibrant, innovative and highly-skilled economy and an attractive place for business. We are a world leader in R&D and a hub for innovation, so I believe we can navigate through this time of change, retain our global influence and remain a magnet for international talent and investment.

At a time like this it's more important than ever that businesses which fly the flag for this city on a national and global stage are recognised for their achievements. Entries have now opened for the 2016 Deloitte UK Technology Fast 50 awards, which is a great opportunity for fast-growth tech companies to receive the respect and appreciation they deserve.

The awards, now in their nineteenth year, recognise and rank the 50 fastest growing technology companies in the UK, based on the last four years of revenue growth. Last year's UK Fast 50 winners generated a combined total annual revenue of more than £820 million, provided jobs for 7,400 people and recorded an average four-year growth rate of 1,883% in the 2014/15 financial year. These are quite incredible numbers.

The class of 2016 will be in good company, with last year's winners from the region including online car finance brokers Carfinance247 and Zuto, telecoms provider Money Saver Telecom Group and software firm Cake Solutions. Former winners such as endpoint security software firm Avecto, managed hosting provider UKFast and cloud services provider ANS Group show what these companies can go on to achieve.

This year's awards will identify the next generation of dynamic UK technology companies and potential unicorns. I encourage all of Manchester's tech success stories to enter and give this city even more to shout about.

www.fast50.co.uk/ 

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.