Among the trailblazing winners at the inaugural event, hosted by Liverpool Chamber, were premium sports nutrition specialist Applied Nutrition, which took home the Business of the Year prize, and independent retailer Block P, which was recognised in the Storyteller category for its Nike Air Max archive project. 

 The Start-Up of the Year award went to Wyld Sauna, which created the UK’s first public floating sauna in Liverpool’s Princes Dock, while care services provider Caring Connections was named Scale-Up of the Year. 

Talent and skills development is a key focus for Liverpool Chamber and two awards sought to recognise excellence in this area. Inhouse Legal Solutions was named Talent Trailblazer and Hugh Baird College collected the Education Innovator award for its employment-focussed WorkReady programme with eduScrum. 

Highlighting the importance of international trade, the Global Excellence award went to Clarke Energy, which operates across 27 countries. The award for People, Place, Planet, recognising business as a force for good, was won by Hidden Gems CIC, which uses therapeutic arts and crafts to support those dealing with bereavement or mental health challenges. 

Individuals were also recognised within the awards, including Oliver le Brun, founder of youth-led digital health education platform Beat Modules, who was named Rising Star. Rachel Lawless, business growth manager at LYVA Labs, won the Cornerstone prize, a new category celebrating those who quietly power the city region economy. 

LYVA Labs enjoyed a double success as it was awarded the Catalyst prize, while Leafnotes, a rapidly-growing intelligent care management and case-notes platform, won the Digital Excellence award.  

All of the winners were decided by two separate independent judging panels and were announced in a captivating ceremony held at Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, where awards sponsors including premier sponsor BT Local Business had their brands emblazoned on the stadium’s pitch side digital hoardings and jumbotron big screen.  

A further prestigious prize, the Chair’s Award, was given to National Museums Liverpool for its enduring cultural, social and economic impact on the Liverpool City Region.  

Paul Cherpeau, chief executive of Liverpool Chamber, said: 

“Our inaugural Liverpool Innovation & Impact Awards were devised to shine a light on the businesses and business leaders which are not only enjoying commercial success today but are also leading the growth areas of the future. 

“The record number of nominations and the quality of the shortlisted candidates certainly did not disappoint, and we congratulate every one of them for the impact they are clearly making.  

“That spirit of innovation and impact was further amplified at the awards ceremony itself, where an eclectic and diverse group of successful business leaders came together from a range of sectors to create an electric atmosphere. 

“We believe that the Liverpool City Region is on the verge of unique levels of opportunity and promise, and we are delighted that, through the awards, we have been able to capture a snapshot of the breadth of talent and creativity that will lead our economic growth.” 

Alison Lobb, chair of Liverpool Chamber, said: 

“What a pleasure to be surrounded by so many innovative businesses, whose ideas and projects reflect the future of our city region’s business community.

“National Museums Liverpool is an incredibly worthy winner of this year’s Chair’s Award. A steadfast ambassador for culture and the arts, and a major contributor to our thriving visitor economy, NML represents so much that is good about our city region and we are proud to have so many of its world-class venues here on our doorstep.”