Daren Ward

A vote for me is a vote for real-world resilience, multi-industry grit, and a lifelong commitment to community. Over a diverse career spanning structural engineering, hands-on retail and community roles, 18 years in Isle of Man investment management, and nearly a decade on the board of the ManxSPCA (alongside my past directorship with Manx Cancer Help), I have learned what it takes to build, support, and sustain from the ground up. Through Forward Marketing, I’ve had the privilege of bringing this lifetime of strategic experience to nearly 200 businesses across the Isle of Man and the UK—helping everyone from local independents like The Candy Bear Factory to Lancaster City Football Club scale without unsustainable overheads. Winning Founder of the Year would not just validate my own journey from the construction sites of the late '80s to modern enterprise strategy; it would champion the founders and community leaders who punch above their weight every single day. Your vote means validation for our mission and fuel for our next chapter of impact.