Maritime awards finalists celebrated at Southampton reception

Published by

Tom Kilkelly

Credit: Maritime UK Solent

Finalists for the Maritime UK (MUK) Solent Awards 2023 were celebrated at a special reception held at the Southampton International Boat Show on 19 September.

Representatives from the Solent maritime organisations shortlisted for the 13 MUK Solent award categories were granted the chance to network ahead of the awards, which are being hosted at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on Thursday 5 October.

Maritime UK Solent Managing Director Stuart Baker hosted the reception and welcomed the finalists, sponsors, charity partner, Portsmouth Sail Training Trust, and other VIP guests.

Stuart said: “This year has been exceptionally successful for Maritime UK Solent and the maritime organisations in our network we are proud to champion.

''The finalists represent the Solent’s fantastic maritime sector and have done exceptionally well to be shortlisted from the record-breaking number of applications we received this year.

“We launched the Awards to celebrate this incredible regional sector, and all its achievements, milestones and developments which benefit our local communities as well as our national economy.''

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Maritime UK Solent also hosted Founder and Trustee of Portsmouth Sail Training Trust (PSTT) Ed Philips, to hear more about the charity’s work.

PSTT were chosen to be this year's Maritime UK Solent Awards Charity Partner, selected by the Maritime UK Solent Board from a number of applications from charities working across the Solent.

Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Cllr Tom Coles, said: "For the City of Portsmouth, maritime is literally everything. Portsmouth wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t the Royal Navy and the industries around it.

''It’s a great honour for Portsmouth to be hosting these Awards. To have these industry leading Awards come to Portsmouth with its rich maritime history is fantastic.”

Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022. During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan). His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.