THE winner of the top prize at this year’s Liverpool Daily Post’s Regional Business Awards was last night unveiled as millionaire haulier Steve O’Connor.
The man whose family founded haulage firm O’Connors and who owns Widnes Vikings Rugby League Club was named DLA Piper Business Person of the Year for both his track record in business and for steering the development of transport hub, the Mersey Multimodal Gateway (3MG), located in the shadow of Widnes’ Jubilee Bridge. He was presented with his award in front of an audience of 400 people at a black-tie dinner held at Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral.
As managing director of Stobart Ports, Mr O’Connor has been responsible for the multi-million pound development of a combined rail, road and sea freight handling facility that has already created thousands of new jobs for the region and which promises to deliver thousands more in the future.
Recently, Stobart secured Tesco as a tenant of a 528,000 sq ft distribution centre at the 44-acre site.
Accepting the award from DLA Piper Office managing partner Philip Rooney, Mr O’Connor said: “It's a very humbling experience to be among my peers, my family and my friends and to receive this award.
"A night like this gives you a phenomenal opportunity to reflect – and to look ahead.
"I don't really feel worthy of this accolade. We just keep getting on with our job."
This year’s awards were given a Chinese theme to mark Liverpool’s participation in the World Expo in Shanghai.
The keynote speaker was former Conservative cabinet minister Steven Norris and the host for the evening was BBC broadcaster Peter Sissons.
HomeBargains owner TJ Morris was named as the KPMG Business of the Year. The award was made in recognition of the discount retailer’s consistently high annual sales growth and strong profit margins over two decades. It was part of a double success for the business last night.
TJ Morris has recently extended its Gillmoss head office facility, where it has invested in an automated stock picking system that serves its fast growing nationwide network of stores. The new £30m investment has created hundreds of local jobs and is part of an expansion plan that will see the group open scores of new stores in parts of the country that it has not been represented in before. TJ Morris hopes to break the £1bn sales mark within the next few years.
TJ Morris also collected the O2 Corporate and Social Responsibility award for its sports, cultural and environmental work in the local community.
The judges commented: “This business has a fantastic story. It has consistently delivered high levels of top line growth, matched by a profit performance that beats the biggest players in its sector. It demonstrates impressive business processes. Their passion and drive for success has them always looking to the future with new strategies and developments, but with a firm base in the region.”
The runners up in the KPMG Business of the Year category were investment management firm Rensburg Sheppards and Speke-based online retailer Shop Direct Group. The runners up in the O2 Corporate and Social Responsibility category were Chester-based Bank of America Europe Card Services and law firm Weightmans.
The Royal Mail Small Business of the Year award, open to local firms employing 50 staff or less, was won by Liverpool Science Park-based web design agency Mando Group.
The judges said they selected Mando because: “It’s a hard working business with great characteristics and a positive approach which is reflected in a strong financial performance. This company continues to stride forward with a demonstrable commitment to developing new ideas that have aided its success so far. The firm has a bright future ahead.”
