A brand-new prestigious celebration that we are hosting, in celebration of the UK’s maritime industry, is set to take place in the Solent in just one week’s time.
Hundreds of representatives from the industry that contributes £37.4bn to the UK economy will gather in Southampton on 19 September for the inaugural Maritime UK Awards.
The event is set to take place in a different part of the UK every year but we have worked hard to ensure that the first awards ceremony will take place here in the Solent. Fittingly, it takes place during the Southampton International Boat Show, Britain's biggest and best festival of boating.
The move to hold the event in the Solent has been welcomed by many.
Gary Jeffries, our chairman said: “We are absolutely thrilled that our hard work to bring this new event to the Solent has paid off. Importantly, it’ll give us the chance to put our region in the spotlight and show just what a hotbed the Solent is for innovation and success within the marine industry.”
Councillor Christopher Hammond, leader of Southampton City Council, added: “It is such an honour to be the first ever host city of this fantastic new event. Southampton is synonymous with the maritime sector and we have so many success stories here to shout about. I’m looking forward to attending on the night and really putting our city on the map.”
As well as many businesses from across the country, several Solent-based companies have been named as finalists in the awards and could be in the running for picking up an award on the night.
The categories and finalists are:
2050 Award sponsored by the Department for Transport Red Funnel Ferries; MJC2; Port of Tyne
Business of the Year Award sponsored by PwC Ribeye Boats; Williams Shipping; Pole Star
Coastal Powerhouse Award sponsored by Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute Mersey Maritime; Port of Cromarty Firth; Solent LEP
Diversity Award sponsored by Red Funnel Ferries Spinnaker Global; Royal Fleet Auxiliary; BAE
Employer of the Year Award sponsored by Stellamar Royal HaskoningDHV; Carnival UK; Hill Dickenson
Future Skills Award sponsored by Nautilus International Cornwall Marine Academy; The Nautical Institute; Orka Informatics
Innovation Award sponsored by UK Shipping Register Thales; Shakespeare Monofilament; Lignia Yacht
International Trade Award sponsored by Portsmouth International Port Actisense; Superyacht Tenders and Toys; Port of Dover
Rising Star Award sponsored by Western Union Business Solutions Royal HaskoningDHV; BAE; South Tyneside College
STEM Award sponsored by DFDS Seafarers UK and Sea Cadets; South Shields Marine School; BAE Systems
Start-up of the Year sponsored by DonMac Data ARC Marine; Marine Tapiit; The Shipping Exchange
Sustainability Award sponsored by the Royal Navy Port of Cromarty Firth; Port of Dover; ABP
Ben Murray from Maritime UK said: “The judges have certainly had their work cut out picking just one winner for each category and we look forward to hearing who they are next week. What the shortlist shows is just how these new awards are recognising national businesses and organisations from the entire spectrum of the industry – from leisure and sailing to shipping and advanced manufacturing.”
To find out more about the Maritime UK Awards, which are sponsored by Stellamar and Don Mac Data and take place at the Leonardo Royal Southampton Grand Harbour, visit www.maritimeuk.org/awards
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