Now in its seventh year, the annual awards ceremony organised by Morecrofts Solicitors saw 500 guests gather at the Rum Warehouse in the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool. Tony McDonough reports

 

Digital and IT services business Polymorph was named Merseyside Independent Business of the Year in front of 500 guests at the Merseyside Independent Business Awards 2019.

At the ceremony, at the Rum Warehouse in the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool, Polymorph, based at the Heath Business Park, picked up two accolades, also scooping the Digital and Technology Business of the Year award.

In all, there were 13 categories as well as the top award and special commendations were given out in a number of categories. The awards, now in their seventh year, were organised by Liverpool-based law firm Morecrofts Solicitors.

Polymorph received their Independent Business of the Year award from Bill Addy, chief executive of the event’s headline sponsor, the Liverpool BID Company. He told the audience that in almost 20 years since it was founded, Polymorph had “successfully adapted to a fast-changing world”.

Other notable winners on the night were Nicola Pink, founder of Liverpool PR firm Pink Media, who was named Business Person of the Year, and there was double success for delicatessen and restaurant business Delifonseca, which triumphed in the both the Retailer of the Year and Restaurant of the Year categories.

Addressing the packed dinner, managing partner at Morecrofts Solicitors, Alison Lobb, said: “Since its inception, the Merseyside Independent Business Awards has become more than an annual dinner. It has become a collective, a network, a family and a community… it has become a platform for new business relationships.”

 

She added that the judges had faced a tough task whittling down the record number of entries into the 51-strong shortlist and and were full of praise for the “quality, diversity and character” of all those that had entered.

Bill Addy also praised the “resilience” of the Merseyside independent business sector. He said the impending exit of the UK from the European Union would be the “biggest act of self-inflicted damage by any country” but added he was confident local businesses would respond to the change with a “new dynamism”.

Full list of winners at the Merseyside Independent Business Awards 2019:

Trades or Manufacturing Business of the Year sponsored by Wesleyan Bank

Winner: Krol Corlett Construction

Professional Services Business of the Year sponsored by Butterworth Spengler

Winner: Your Payroll

Culture & Tourism Business of the Year sponsored by Merseyrail

Winner: Knowsley Safari

Best Creative Business sponsored by Forresters

Winner: The Guide Liverpool

The Award for Community Impact sponsored by Handelsbanken

Winner: Northern Power Women

Retailer of the Year sponsored by Walton Flooring Centre

Winner: Delifonseca

Outstanding Contribution: Blankstone Opticians

Best Start Up Business sponsored by Bruntwood

Winner: Juice Immersive

Employee of the Year sponsored by Suites Hotel

Winner: Joe Clarke of Thornton Hall

Special Commendation: Hannah Todd of Tusk

Restaurant of the Year sponsored by Bolland & Lowe

Winner: Delifonseca

Health and Wellbeing Business of the Year sponsored by Titanic Hotel

Winner: Mindfit

Employer of the Year sponsored by Elliot Fletcher

Winner: Doris

Digital & technology Business of the Year sponsored by DSG

Winner: Polymorph

Special Commendation: NeedleSmart

Business Person of the Year sponsored by InfoTrack

Winner: Nicola Pink of Pink Media

Independent Business of the Year

Winner: Polymorph