Awards Categories

This award will go to the business that can show outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, as well as sound management practices. This category is open to any business. There is no turnover criteria. The business must demonstrate outstanding performance, particularly over the last 12-24 months, in several aspects relating to their business operation. This should include commercial success, clear plans for growth, commitment to staff, local communities, environment and customers, a track record of innovation and strong leadership. Entrants must have been trading for a minimum of two years as of 13th September 2023.

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The Alan Woods Lifetime Achievement Award, is presented by vote of the National Maritime executive to an individual who, during their lifetime, have made outstanding and significant contributions to the field of the UK maritime sector.

Alan Woods MBE, is the Chair/ founder of Woods’ Silver Fleet and co-founder of Thames Clippers who continues to be a passionate advocate of Thames passenger boat building, safety and design innovation.

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This award is made to a business, volunteer or community group in recognition of their significant contribution in helping to regenerate and transform UK coastal towns or regions, local rivers and inland waterways.

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This award will go to a businessperson or entrepreneur who shows outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, as well as sound management practices. This individual must demonstrate they have achieved commercial success, have clear plans, strategies and goals for their business and a strong track record of innovation. This category is open to any individual over 21 years old (as of 13th September 2023) who is instrumental as the business owner or main shareholder in leading their successful business or organisation in reaching its goals and potential.

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This Award is open to a person is 30 years of age or under on the 13th September 2023 who has worked in business for a minimum of three years and demonstrated a high degree of entrepreneurship, creativity and vision for the future. Entrants are anticipated to be business owners and/or directors who have brought financial and/or non-financial benefits to their organisation through their efforts. It is suggested that entrants should be able to show evidence of some or all of the following: Developed and implemented strategic business plans, Implemented plans to achieve growth and improve profitability, Actively taken steps to exceed customer expectations and Raised their organisation’s profile. In addition to this, judges will want to see an understanding of the relationship between their own development and the success of the business.

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The Outstanding Maritime Apprentice of the Year Award acknowledges the outstanding achievements of an apprentice who has successfully applied their learning in the workplace to advance themselves, their organisation and the community around them. The apprentice will demonstrate: A high level of progression and commitment to their own personal and professional development, Management or leadership capabilities that are already making a positive impact on their employer, peers, or provider, How their learning during their apprenticeship has been directly applied to their workplace and the impact it has had.

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Tell us what makes you the best new UK maritime business .This category is open to any business/organisation that came into business in the last 2 years (start date on or after the 13th of September 2021). There is no turnover criteria. The business must demonstrate outstanding performance, particularly over the last 12-24 months, in several aspects relating to their business operation. This should include commercial success, clear plans for growth, commitment to staff, local communities, environment and customers, a track record of innovation and strong leadership.

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The winners of Family Business of the Year will be combining their passion in business with their shared family values. Your business may have been passed down to you or you have started a business to pass on to your children in the future. The judges will be looking at how you can grow your business while keeping your core family values at the centre of everything you do. This category is open to any family business that is owned and operated by two or more members of a single family. They must be related either by blood, marriage, civil partnership, cohabitation, or adoption. Entrants must have been trading for a minimum of two years as of 13th September 2023.

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This category is open to any organisation, that is successfully marketing its products or services (including digital export trade) to customers outside the UK, and/or marketing products or services (including those of third parties) domestically. Entrants must be able to demonstrate outstanding improvements in commercial performance through export strategies and how international strategies have been developed, how products or services have been tailored for overseas or domestic markets.

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The ‘Disruptor of the Year’ award is for those entrepreneurs and businesses that are challenging established thinking with an innovative product or service which is less than 10 years old. This award recognises individuals who have demonstrated exceptional creativity, originality, and entrepreneurial spirit in their pursuit of new ideas and innovative solutions. Nominees for this award will have shown a willingness to challenge conventional thinking and to disrupt established business models, leading to significant changes and advancements in their respective industries.

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