The best in Liverpool business was celebrated tonight as a ceremony rewarded the firms which are driving the city region forward.
The took place virtually on Thursday evening, praising the thriving firms in and around the city region who have overcome huge challenges posed by the past year. It's the biggest, best and longest-standing business awards in the Merseyside region with a long history of recognising and rewarding successful organisations across all sectors.
Among the winners of the 10 prestigious awards were property restoration specialist The Forshaw Group, which took home Business of the Year (over 50 employees) sponsored by Merseyrail.
Director Liam Hanlon received the award on behalf of the firm, describing it as an “absolute honour”.
He said: “It’s great testament to all the things that have been said about the city region tonight, the great businesses, people and communities. I’m very, very proud to be associated with all that.
“It’s about our people, our spirit, our commitment and that togetherness.
“It’s a great place we live and work - it’s brilliant.”
Speaking about the region’s recovery from the pandemic, he added: “We will come through stronger from this. We have got tough days ahead - financially and emotionally.
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“But if we can keep the spirit, enthusiasm and drive, we will come through it as a whole business community.”
Among the night's other winners were cycle safety app Busby, which won International Business of the Year sponsored by the Department for International Trade North West, and Make CIC, which won Creative Impact Award sponsored by InYourArea.
Sky Medical Technology took home the award for Innovation and Technology Award sponsored by Liverpool Business School at LJMU, while Devtropolis won Start-up Business of the Year.
Debbie Bennett of Debbie Bennett Funeral Directors took home the prestigious Business Person of the Year Award sponsored by Liverpool John Moores University.
Accepting the award - and holding back tears - she said: “Thank you so much. It’s been so difficult this year. We have not been able to give the families the send off that they wanted. We had to adapt and try our best to give them what they needed.
“My staff have done an amazing job - I am so grateful to them.”
Speaking at the event, Maria Breslin, Editor of the Liverpool Echo, said: " Tonight is a celebration of the great businesses that make our region so successful and the envy of cities around the world.
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"Your commitment and perseverance is inspiring and I look forward to supporting you as we pick up where we left off pre-pandemic.
"Much has been made of the community spirit this region displayed as the pandemic took hold and, also, the creativity and resilience of the city region’s companies in looking after their staff and customers.
"You have shown such ingenuity to battle through the crisis so far. We often speak about the ‘business community’ - never before has that meant so much as we see companies across Merseyside truly supporting each other.
"We are rightly proud of our community spirit in this part of the world. It is second to none. But resilience and community spirit can only achieve so much.
"We now need the Government to convince us levelling up is real and the Northern Powerhouse more than just a slogan."
Alistair Houghton, Editor of BusinessLive, added: "This has been a remarkably tough year for businesses large and small - and we applaud all of you for your hard work and effort in keeping our economy going.
"Tonight it’s time for us to celebrate success - and to look forward to a bright future.
"We must celebrate the success stories from across the whole city region - from the regeneration and transformation of New Brighton and Prescot, to all of the innovation and job creation going on in quiet industrial units or logistics parks anywhere from St Helens to Wirral and Knowsley, Sefton and Halton.
"And we should thank all those in our hospitality and visitor economy sectors, who have had such a hard few months but who will play such a key role going forward as we open to visitors again.
"Next time we hold these awards, I hope to be back in a tux and thanking you all in person."
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The event was put on by the Liverpool Echo and BusinessLive, with this year's headline sponsor , a faculty within .
Category sponsors were the Department for International Trade North West, Merseyrail, United Utilities and InYourArea.
It was hosted by journalist and broadcaster Nicholas Owen.
Tim Nichol, Pro-Vice Chancellor at Liverpool John Moore's University, said: "We are a headline sponsor for this event because we wish to celebrate success within the region.
"The event identifies a huge amount of creativity and innovation right across the sector and, particularly in these challenging times, the resilience of businesses that has been extraordinary. We wish to therefore showcase that success."
Here is the full list of winners:
Start-up Business of the Year
Winner: Devtropolis Ltd
Judges said: " Created pre-pandemic, tilling system used in the hospitality industry.
"Covid hit so they got themselves into New Zealand, as the country was Covid-free."
Runners-up: Virtuopo; Winderness Hair
Innovation and Technology Award
Sponsored by
Winner: Sky Medical Technology
Judges said: “The first therapy of its kind to receive regulatory clearance from both 海角视频 NICE and US FDA for blood clot prevention.”
Runners-up: NeedleSmart; Parkhaven Trust
Creative Impact Award
Sponsored by
Winner: Make CIC
Judges said: "In 2019 they opened their third creative hub, whilst retaining 83% occupancy during the pandemic.
"As a community, they crowd funded for a solidarity fund to help residents survive. Other projects included an Urban Farm and community gardens."
Runners-up: Jayne Moore Media; Tate Liverpool
Outstanding Charity Support
Winner: Donna Scully & Carpenters Group
Runners-up: DT Hughes Contractors; Krol Corlett Construction
Judges said: " Donna and the team at Carpenter have supported the L6 Centre for many years.
"During the pandemic, she provided vital support for the families living in severe deprivation.
"After seeing a tweet begging for help Donna and the team at Carpenters bought them a brand new van to help with delivering over 1000 food parcels throughout the city."
Corpor ate Social Responsibility Award
Winner: FRC Group
Runners-up: Smylies Ltd; Wilderness Hair
Judges said: During the pandemic purchased a mattress-cleaning machine, after appearing on North West Tonight, the company stressed how much care homes urgently needed mattresses, along with social housing, homeless shelters etc.
"Hotels across the region and beyond donated, with FRC working endlessly to supplier and demand."
Business of the Year (up to 49 employees)
Winner: Sutcliffe
Runners-up: CAL International; Pinch of Salts; RW Invest North
Judges said: " Productivity increased in Covid - the company focused on mental health.
"It continued to upskill staff and take on via Kickstarter."
Young Business Person of the Year
Sponsored by
Winner: Craig Greenwood
Runners-up: John Morley; Roxanne Twomey
Judges said: "Craig c reated EverKool Limited when he was 19 in 2007, going from a one-man band to 38 staff."
Business Person of the Year
Sponsored by
Winner: Debbie Bennett
Runner-up: Jayne Moore
Judges said: " Facing extreme adversity in a male dominated industry, her fellow colleagues would tell her that a female funeral director would not make it.
"Debbie began trading just before the pandemic during which both her parents passed away. Having started in the most unprecedented times she now has a team of all female staff, and opened another funeral parlour in the north of the Liverpool City Region."
International Business of the Year
Sponsored by
Winner: Busby
Runners-up: CAL International; Smylies Ltd
Judges said: "Whilst Busby is only three years old, the director has recently secured a contract for Deliveroo International which will create 120,000 new riders."
Business of the Year (over 50 employees)
Sponsored by
Winner: The Forshaw Group
Runners-up: Fletchers Solicitors; MSB Solicitors; Rathbone Brothers plc
Judges said: " Having seen significant growth year on year, the company acted fast during Covid. It was recently awarded gold for Investors in People.
"Created women into construction, focused on the armed forces along with taking further staff on and introducing leadership and management training."