Categories

There are 14 categories and we hope that the awards will allow your company, charity or organisation to take stock of your performance and gain the recognition that you deserve. Organisations can submit an entry to more than one category. Good luck!

Applications open on April 1st 2025.

Bevis Minter Award sponsored by Nautilus International

The Bevis Minter Award recognises officer trainees who show outstanding determination and overcome challenges in their journey toward a maritime career. Training establishments in the UK or Republic of Ireland that offer approved officer trainee programmes leading to a Certificate of Competency can submit nominations for the Bevis Minter Award. Nominees must be current officer trainees or have completed their training within the past 12 months.

This Award was established by Nautilus in memory of Bevis Minter, a former Nautilus Council Chairman who was a passionate advocate of British seafaring skills. Bev - who was a Port of London Authority marine pilot died in office with the award being established in 1996 to formally recognise the hard work and dedication of officer trainees.

The Business of the Year Award honours excellence, innovation, and exceptional achievements in the maritime industry. This prestigious accolade is presented to a company who can showcase outstanding business performance, strategic vision, and a dedicated commitment to advancing the maritime sector in the United Kingdom.

Clean Maritime Operator sponsored by Artemis Technologies

The Clean Maritime Operator award recognises maritime companies pioneering efforts to transition their UK operations towards zero emissions. This award celebrates organisations across the maritime sector, encompassing shipping, ports, engineering, professional services, and leisure marine. The recipient exemplifies proactive measures towards sustainability, leading the industry in reducing environmental footprint and fostering a more sustainable maritime sector.

Coastal Powerhouse Award 

The Coastal Powerhouse Award celebrates maritime businesses, charities, organisations, or groups of any size, who demonstrate exceptional leadership as catalysts for growth within coastal communities. Through values, passion, and visionary initiatives, recipients are transforming their communities into Coastal Powerhouses. This award celebrates and acknowledges their significant contributions, bringing well-deserved recognition to their endeavours.

Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award sponsored by Stena Line

The Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award welcomes applicants from maritime businesses, charities, or organisations of any size who can showcase a genuine dedication to diversity and inclusion. Winners exhibit tangible efforts in cultivating a diverse workforce, including collaborations with other entities to exchange best practices. This award celebrates their commitment to fostering an inclusive environment within the maritime sector.

Employer of the Year Award 

The Employer of The Year Award celebrates maritime businesses, charities, or organisations of all sizes that foster stimulating and supportive work environments that prioritise employee welfare. This award recognises high staff satisfaction levels and a motivated, cohesive workforce, recipients demonstrate a genuine commitment to personal and professional development, employee satisfaction, and innovative HR initiatives. This award honours their dedication to creating engaging and supportive workplaces within the maritime sector.

Future Skills Award sponsored by Trinity House

Open to all maritime business, charity or organisations, this award recognises those that have made a tangible contribution to meeting the future skills needs of the sector. The winner will be able to evidence pioneering activity across education, training or apprenticeship development, to help match available skills to the emerging and future requirements of the industry. This could be on a micro level, within a region or across the whole country.

International Trade Award 

The International Trade award aims to recognise a maritime business of any size that is actively involved in international trade. Applicants will be able to demonstrate a significant increase to their importing and exporting activity or how they have attracted significant Foreign Direct Investment. This can be evidenced through increased revenue and job creation. 

Maritime Ambassador sponsored by Expleo Group

The Maritime Ambassador Award recognises an outstanding individual who has distinguished themselves as an exemplary advocate for the maritime industry. This prestigious accolade celebrates a person who has demonstrated unwavering commitment, passion, and dedication to promoting and advancing the maritime sector. 

This category is not open for submissions, the winner is picked by our judges. 

Rising Star Award sponsored by Knights Brown

This award is open to maritime apprentices, ratings, graduates, and young maritime professionals. Nominations will be made by the employer or tutor and will demonstrate distance travelled by the individual, the skills learned and the impact this individual has had on the organisation and wider maritime sector. This category is for all  apprentices, ratings, graduates and young maritime professionals employed in the sector, regardless of which pathway they are following, and does not have to be a traditional marine or maritime framework. This award is for people up to the age of 30. 

Maritime UK Woman of the Year sponsored by WISTA UK.

This award aims to honour and celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions of a remarkable woman in the maritime industry. This prestigious accolade recognises an individual who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and dedication, serving as an inspiration to others while making significant strides for women within the maritime sector.

This category is not open for submissions, the winner is picked by our judges. 

SME of the year 

This award is open to businesses that have been established for more than two years, with up to 250 employees. They will demonstrate an ability to grow or a strong potential to do so. The business must have a clear understanding of the market in which it operates and its future development within that marketplace, together with sound and measurable business practices. 

Start-up of the Year Award sponsored by Port of London Authority 

The company must have a clear understanding of the market in which it operates and its future development within that marketplace, together with sound and measurable business practices.

Technology and Innovation Award 

Open to any business, charity, organisation or research institution from across the maritime sector, the winner will be able to demonstrate an exceptional commitment to technology and innovation. Nominated organisations will evidence how they have solved or overcome a particular challenge related to maritime through developing and deploying a new innovative product or service.