Among them are arts venue Southport Bijou Cinema, live events business Virtuopo and Baltic-based restaurant Manifest.

Liverpool Food Walking Tours, For Dogs’ Sake Treats, Lunko By The Lane and Heatio are also among those making their debuts on this year’s shortlist.

They are vying for awards glory alongside established names from the regional independent business community, including Merseymade, Delifonseca, Wongs Jewellers and engineering firm Sutcliffe.

A total of 46 different businesses are shortlisted across 12 categories, while five individuals have also been shortlisted in the Business Person of the Year category.

The hugely popular MIB Awards were created by Morecrofts Solicitors to showcase the positive social and economic impact that independent business owners and leading entrepreneurs have on the city region. Winners will be announced at Liverpool’s Rum Warehouse on Thursday 19 October.

Alison Lobb, managing partner at Morecrofts Solicitors, said:

“It is wonderful to see so many new businesses entering the MIB field and rubbing shoulders with a host of businesses that have blazed a trail for independence for many years.

“The high quality and volume of entries continue to amaze us every year and the process of shortlisting has been an incredibly tall task for our judging panel once again.

“As hundreds of local businesses and entrepreneurs have found out over the past ten years, the MIB Awards is a vibrant community within a community, and I hope they are able to reap the rewards of that for years to come, regardless of who wins each award.”

The awards are headline sponsored by Liverpool BID Company. Its chief executive, Bill Addy, said:

“We are delighted to play our part in recognising the incredible achievements of local independent businesses who continue to aspire and inspire during uncertain times.

“The event promises to be a wonderful celebration of our shared achievements as a city region business community and we look forward to meeting many familiar and new faces on the night.”

The full shortlist can be found here:

Trades or Manufacturing

Dams Furniture
DefProc Engineering
Ley Holdings
TD Construction Testing

Professional Services
Bathgate Business Finance
Global School Alliance
Loud Speaker
TD Construction Testing

Culture & Tourism
Future Yard
Liverpool Food Walking Tours
Southport Bijou Cinema
St Luke’s Bombed Out Church

Creative Business
Make C.I.C
Shakespeare North Playhouse Productions
Virtuopo
Loud Speaker

Community Impact
Rotunda Enterprises
Southport Bijou Cinema
Sutcliffe
Your Voice Your Choice Days’ Service

Retailer
Crosby Coffee Roasters
Delifonseca
For Dogs’ Sake Treats
Merseymade
Wongs Jewellers

Start Up
Heatio
Lunko by the Lane
Manifest
Start-Yard

Bar
Ma Boyles Eatery & Alehouse
Manolo
The Bridewell
The Dead Crafty Beer Company

Restaurant
Antonio’s Bar & Grill
Baltic Market
Manifest
Mowgli Street Food

Health & Wellbeing
BTR Liverpool
Evolving Mindset
Health @ Work
Move
Yoga Nation Wellbeing Hub C.I.C

Employer of the Year
Blends
Hatters Digital Agency
MLA
Warwick North West

Digital & Technology Business
E-SIGN
Heatio
Quirky Digital
Virtuopo

Business Person of the Year
Christian Anderson – Doogles Donuts
Moira O’Shaughnessy – Financial Planning Corporation
Paul Kallee-Glover MBE – KI Partnerships
Andrea Edwards – MOVE
David Wafer – McIver Scott Recruitment