Companies of all sizes from across the £5bn Liverpool city region maritime sector, and across the North West, are invited to enter ninth Mersey Maritime Industry Awards. Tony McDonough reports

Mersey Maritime is inviting entries from marine and logistics businesses in Liverpool city region and across the North West for its ninth annual Mersey Maritime Industry Awards.

Being held at Liverpool Cathedral on Thursday, November 2, the MMIAs are one of the biggest events in the calendar of the UK’s £116bn maritime sector. They celebrate the achievements of the industry’s most outstanding companies and individuals.

The MMIAs are open to any business, company, individual, non-profit organisation or charity, operating in or supporting the maritime, logistics and energy sectors in the city region and wider North West. Three categories are also open to national entries.

Mersey Maritime was conceived to create an ecosystem, championing and supporting one of the most diverse maritime regions in the UK. It has been doing so ever since it was founded in 2002.

It is expected that 2023’s ceremony will be the biggest yet following last year’s awards which welcomed more than 600 industry professionals drawn from across the UK and beyond.

Entries for the MMIAs can be submitted via the Mersey Maritime website here. There are 12 award categories in total:

• Business of the Year
• Diversity Champion Award (national award)
• Employer of the Year
• Future Skills Award (national award)
• International Trade Award
• Maritime Ambassador Award
• Maritime Professional Services Award
• Net Zero Award (national award)
• Positive Impact Award
• Rising Star Award
• Small Business of the Year
• Technology & Innovation Award

Closing date for submitting award entries is Tuesday, August 29. Every application received is assessed by Mersey Maritime’s industry judging panel who select the finalists for each category following a rigorous process.

The winner of each category will once again be determined by the industry itself, with an industry voting platform launching in early October 2023.

Mersey Maritime interim chief executive, Ruth Wood, said: “We are very excited to see what this year will bring for all those wishing to showcase their achievements.

“Bringing the maritime industry together has always been at the heart of Mersey Maritime and is fundamental to what we do.

“We are committed to championing our members and the broader industry and the awards provide them with an opportunity to showcase their achievements to a huge audience.

READ MORE: Ruth Wood takes helm at Mersey Maritime

“It is also important to us to give the wider industry an opportunity to have their say on who amongst their peers is the best in class. Once again, we will offer a voting platform to facilitate this.

“The industry vote is all about creating even more opportunities to showcase the fantastic innovation, growth and positive impacts happening here in this region.

To view the award categories, apply for an award or buy tickets/tables, visit Mersey Maritime’s website by clicking here.