MEMBERS NEWS
INDEPENDENT BUSINESSES SET FOR “PROUD RETURN” TO MIB AWARDS The Merseyside Independent Business Awards is returning this year, with nominations now open across a range of categories. Having been suspended for the past two years due to Covid-19 restrictions, the popular awards ceremony will once again bring together as many as 500 guests at Liverpool’s Rum Warehouse on Thursday 20 October.
manufacturing, health and wellbeing and creative business, while there are also awards recognising community impact and best employer and a new category for bar of the year, recognising the challenges facing hospitality operators during the pandemic.
“The awards ceremony will be an opportunity for businesses of all shapes and sizes to make a proud return to the spotlight, celebrating each other’s successes, sharing their own experiences with peers and rebuilding bonds within the local independent business community.
Alison Lobb, managing partner at Morecrofts Solicitors, said: “When we last came together for the MIB Awards in October 2019, we could not have envisaged the personal and professional storm that lay ahead of all of us and we know it has been a particularly difficult period for a lot of smaller business owners.
“We would encourage businesses, their advisors, suppliers or other peers to put forward their nominations and help us to make this year’s awards a true celebration of the resilience, creativity and quality that characterises Merseyside businesses.”
“I am delighted that the awards are now able to resume and that we can look forward with greater optimism.
“We are delighted to continue our longterm support of the awards and we look forward to being back in the company of so many small business owners and their teams in October.”
The Merseyside Independent Business Awards were created by Morecrofts Solicitors to shine a light on the economic impact of the region’s independent business owners and leading entrepreneurs.
To enter the Merseyside Independent Business Awards or for information, please visit www.mibawards.co.uk
Firms can be nominated across a total of 14 categories, such as trades and
THE GUIDE LIVERPOOL’S JAY HYND ON WHY THE CITY’S FUTURE HAS NEVER LOOKED BRIGHTER At the height of the pandemic, there were work days when The Guide Liverpool director Jay Hynd felt like one of the only people in the city centre. “I remember coming into the office and all I saw were Deliveroo drivers and pigeons, that was it, but that seems like a world away now because town is absolutely buzzing again.
36
The awards are headline sponsored by Liverpool BID Company. Bill Addy, chief executive of Liverpool BID Company, said: “The MIB Awards is one of the most popular events in the professional calendar and it plays an important role in recognising the economic and social contribution of our independent business community.
“You hear voices from around the world back in the city, and just a really lovely energy. “There are so many new things happening: stores, restaurants and attractions opening, small businesses have survived and the high street is busy, we’re getting new brands in, and the events calendar is absolutely full. “A lot of these things were planned before the pandemic, but they’re still going ahead – the Shakespeare North theatre for example, and places like Eureka on the Wirral. “In lots of other cities you notice how many venues are closed, how many shops are shuttered up, but in Liverpool we really haven’t had that. “So we’re bucking the trend but, honestly, that’s exactly what I expected. “Not once did I doubt we’d come back because even when things were really tough there was a spark of creativity from businesses and people, I just couldn’t imagine the city failing afterwards.” It’s already been a busy 2022 for The Guide, which has expanded its team, and
introduced big screens in Central Station to give Liverpool updates to millions of passengers. It’s also teaming up with Shocal to launch an app, bringing local food delivery, shopping and The Guide Liverpool content onto phones, and in September there’ll be a new website. “In 2020, we had to change everything we did on The Guide because essentially we’re a what’s on platform and there wasn’t a great deal on! We adapted to also promote positive local news stories; so it became what’s on, what’s good and what’s important. Now, the good news seems to just keep coming for the city and I can only see it going from strength to strength. Long may it continue” Follow @TheGuideLpool to get the latest as the city continues to shine!
