The win recognises Winder Power’s continued growth under Connection Capital’s ownership, and the role private capital can play in helping ambitious SMEs scale in sectors critical to the UK economy.
Connection Capital portfolio company Winder Power has been named winner of the Medium category for Yorkshire and the North East at the UK Private Capital Vision 2026: Leaders Driving Growth Awards.
The ceremony, which took place last Thursday, 4 June, celebrated some of the region’s most impressive growth businesses and the private capital investors supporting them. Winder’s award recognises the strength of the business and its management team, as well as the progress it has made since Connection Capital backed its management buyout in 2024.
It also acknowledges the role private capital has played in supporting Winder’s scale-up journey, helping the business invest in its operations, expand manufacturing capability and position itself to meet rising demand across the UK energy sector.
Based in Leeds, Winder Power is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of electricity distribution transformers, supplying 33kV to 132kV units to UK energy sector customers and beyond. Its products provide critical infrastructure underpinning the safe transmission of power across the national grid.
Since Connection Capital’s investment, Winder’s operations have ramped up significantly to meet the step change in demand across the energy sector. From its Pudsey headquarters, the business manufactures transformers supporting customers that help keep power flowing through the UK National Grid.
The award comes as investment in energy infrastructure and electrification continues to accelerate. As the UK’s electricity network adapts to growing demand from renewable power, grid resilience and wider decarbonisation, businesses such as Winder are playing an increasingly important role in supporting the capacity and reliability of critical national infrastructure.
Hannah Willison, Investment Manager at Connection Capital, joined Andy Mill, CFO at Winder Power, for a Spotlight session at the event, discussing Winder’s growth journey and the role Connection Capital has played since the investment.
Sam Kemp, CEO of Connection Capital, said:
“At its best, private capital is about more than funding alone. It is about backing exceptional, ambitious management teams to give them the confidence and strategic support they need to grow sustainably, create skilled employment and contribute to sectors that matter to the wider UK economy.
“We are therefore delighted that Winder Power has been recognised at the UK Private Capital Vision Awards. This is a fantastic endorsement of the strength of the business, the quality of its management team and the important role it plays in supporting the UK’s critical electricity infrastructure.
“Winder is a strong example of the role private capital can play in helping ambitious SMEs realise their potential. Since our investment in 2024, we have been proud to support the management team as the business has scaled its operations, expanded its manufacturing capability and positioned itself to meet growing demand driven by electrification, renewable energy and investment in the UK grid.
“Our congratulations go to Paul and the whole Winder Power team on a very well-deserved award.”
Andy Mill, CFO at Winder Power, said:
“We are proud to receive this prestigious award, which acknowledges the hard work, dedication, and passion shown by all our colleagues here at Winder Power. Our growth is testament to the quality and ingenuity of British design and manufacturing particularly in green energy transformation. With the backing and support of Connection Capital since 2024, we’ve achieved significant scale up including a factory refurbishment that has significantly enhanced our product offering and will support us to build on our existing growth of a more than doubling of EBITDA in two years.”
Winder’s progress reflects the strength of its management team and the growing importance of the markets it serves. It is also a clear example of how private capital can help ambitious SMEs invest in their operations, scale with confidence and respond to long-term structural demand.
For Connection Capital, the award is welcome recognition of Winder’s achievements to date, and of the partnership that has supported its continued development since investment.