Indeed, the clue was in the title. The spirit of innovation that exudes through our business leaders, from start-ups and SMEs to global exporters and household multinationals, is the driving force behind our continued resilience and renewal.

Awards were presented across a range of categories including technology, skills, products and services, while we were also honoured to award three special prizes for individuals who have contributed and continue to contribute to the social and economic fabric of our city region, presented to mark our 175th Anniversary. A full list of winners and a review of the evening can be found here.

However, beyond the very worthy winners and the highly notable shortlisted candidates, there was a tangible sense that ‘being innovative’ was a common thread throughout the room.

Our event sponsors, Chamber patrons and strategic partners, event hosts, table guests and certainly the venue itself; each of them is finding new ways to conduct their business, broaden their network and do things a little differently than they have in the past in order to overcome or mitigate the clear challenges and burdens this economy is placing on organisations.

It is a difficult trading environment, of that there is little doubt, and this was alluded to anecdotally by guests throughout the evening. Yet the event was still a sell-out as 400 people came out on a quite wet and blustery Thursday evening to share in other’s successes, their spirit seemingly undimmed.

However, positive relationships can never be one-way and there’s only so far that a siege mentality among businesses can endure. It’s imperative therefore that policymakers now display their own spirit of innovation and find new ways to conduct their business of running the country.

Central to that duty is creating an economic environment where business owners are encouraged, rather than scared, to move forward, create jobs and opportunities, invest in plant or premises, and simply grow.

Measures such as tax deductions for employee wellbeing schemes and wage subsidies to help young people with long-term health issues get into work are just two examples of how the government can empower positive change, and these are the kinds of steps we will be championing ahead of next month’s Budget.

The Innovation in Business Awards reinforced what we already knew; there is a depth of business talent here in the Liverpool City Region and immense strength of will. Now the government, and in particular the Chancellor, must show they understand their role as an ally to business.