The Oscars of the ocean have been awarded to companies large and small at the London Boat Show. The Marine Trades Association/Boating Business Awards, recognise excellence in individuals and companies working in the UK marine industry.

Panels from Boating Business and the Marine Trades Association consider the nominations for the annual awards, which were presented in front of a packed audience of industry professionals at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in London’s Docklands. The awards are sponsored by Boating Business, Matchtech and Ocean Safety.

The MTA award for Retailer of the Year went to Jimmy Green Marine Ltd, a family company based in Beer in East Devon, who has been a mail order chandler since 1981. Andrew Ash-Vie of Harken UK Ltd picked up the MTA Personality of the Year award. Andrew is a well-known figure in the industry and has been Managing Director of Harken UK Ltd for the past 14 years.

The Boating Business awards celebrate achievement across a range of areas from the Boating Business Environment Award to the Boating Business Lifetime Achievement Award. This year’s Boating Business Scott Deverell Young Businessperson of the Year award was presented to Mark Edwards of Matchtech. As well as being Operations Director of Matchtech’s Engineering division, Mark is an active committee member within the BMF.
   
Sunsail scooped the Boating Business Environment Award, recognising the company’s commitment to responsible tourism. Force 4 Chandlery won the Boating Business Boats.com Website Award. The Boating Business awards were presented by Peter Nash, Editor of Boating Business.

The coveted Boating Business Lifetime Achievement Award, which was presented to Alan Morgan. Alan successfully ran Alan Morgan Yachting for 34 years, subsequently serving as Chairman of National Boat Shows for the period 2006-2008 and president of the British Marine Federation from 2010 to 2012.

The evening’s final award, the Chairman’s Special Award, was presented to Will Blagdon (Blagdons Boatyard and Chairman of BMF south west).

MTA Chairman, Riki Hooker, said: “It is fantastic that these awards allow us to acknowledge publicly the work done by these individuals and companies. It’s encouraging that in spite of a challenging business environment, our industry continues to offer examples of those whose success can inspire others”.

Nominations for next year’s awards will open in autumn 2014.