Hundreds of guests gather at the Sefton Park Palm House to hear the winners of the Downtown in Business 2025 City of Liverpool Business Awards revealed. Tony McDonough reports
Winners of the Downtown in Business 2025 City of Liverpool Business Awards (COLBA) were revealed in front of an audience of 250 guests at Sefton Park Palm House.
Sponsored by Liverpool BID Company and the City of Liverpool College, the awards was attended by the leader of Liverpool City Council, Cllr Liam Robinson, and the council’s chief executive Andrew Lewis.
It was a particularly strong evening for businesses linked to the city’s thriving property and sport sectors, both of which took home multiple accolades.
Winners from the property world included leading developers, innovative architects, and major investors who have helped shape Liverpool’s skyline and deliver transformational regeneration projects across the city region.
Laing O’Rourke, main contractor on the £750m Everton FC stadium, was recognised for its outstanding contribution to the city region. The company was also responsible for the development of Liverpool One, the new Royal Hospital, and Clatterbridge.
Chair’s award went to Sutcliffe, a Liverpool-based engineering and surveying consultancy and the Business of the Year award went to Starship, which specialises in factory-built homes using modern methods of construction (MMC).
The Jockey Club also took home the Chief Executive’s Award for its stewardship of Aintree Racecourse and the Grand National Festival while Wild Thang once again flew the flag for the city region’s SME sector, scooping the Supplier of the Year Award.
Both Liverpool FC and Everton FC were honoured for their immense contribution to the city’s global profile and economic impact. Together, the two clubs generate an estimated £800m a year for the local economy.
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Frank McKenna, group chair and chief executive of Downtown in Business, said: “The awards, now in their 22nd year, continue to showcase the best of Liverpool’s business community
“It was great to be in a room full of positivity and energy, with a real optimism for the city’s prospects or the future clearly on show. Many congratulations to all of the award winners – and indeed to all those companies who were nominated for awards.”
Full list of winners:
- Employer of the Year: Nugent
- Business Supplier of the Year: Wild Thang
- Newcomer of the Year: Wyld Sauna
- Legal Firm of the Year: SBW Law
- Professional Services Firm of the Year: DSG Chartered Accountants
- PR & Marketing Agency of the Year: Poke Marketing
- Innovation and Tech Business of the Year: Compliance Chain
- Hospitality Venue of the Year: Fazenda
- Hotel of the Year: INNSiDE by Meliá
- Property Firm of the Year: Morgan Sindall
- Business of the Year: Starship
- Contribution to Liverpool Award: Laing O’Rourke
- Liverpool BID Company Award: Everton FC & Liverpool FC
- Chair’s Award: Sutcliffe
- Chief Executive’s Award: The Jockey Club