savvy navvy wins at Marine Trade Association awards
The British Marine Trades Association (BMTA) awards dinner, which celebrates the successes in the UK leisure marine industry, was held at The Grand, Southampton, on Monday (12 June).
British Marine Trades Association Business of the Year went to Savvy Navvy. This popular and growing new business received glowing nominations from industry peers stating that the “fun, innovative and trustworthy company” have “developed a successful Google Maps for sailors“.
Savvy Navvy founder Jelte Liebrand says: “It is amazing. Yes we are really young and yes we have grown really quickly, but to get the recognition of the industry, as a whole is beyond belief. I honestly did not believe we would win this. I am lost for words.”
The David Coleman Excellence in Exporting Award, presented by Barton Marine’s CEO Suzanne Blaustone, was awarded to Wilks. Essex-based Wilks is one of the world’s leading companies in the manufacture and supply of fendering and decking systems.
Chris Berry, Wilks joint MD, said of his win: “It means a heck of a lot to win this award. It is our 50th year, we lost our father this year and he backed us all the way on exports so, this is brilliant. It is a celebration.”
The MTA Young Marine Professional of the Year, sponsored by A Plan Commercial Marine Insurance, went to Maritime Yacht Services, superyacht tender refit and repair director, Sophie Tapp.
The award everyone wants, MTA Personality of the Year went to someone that has the respect of the industry, is a true character, has built a successful manufacturing business with a dedicated team; Jeremy Dale OBE.
Finishing off the evening, MTA chairman Paul Martin spoke highly of the 2023 MTA chairman’s special award recipient, Ian Cooke, citing that he has gone above and beyond for the marine industry.
Martin says: “Following on from the success of our 2022 event with new venue and new time of year ahead of Seawork we knew we had built a format that works, and that the MTA awards dinner is a firm favourite among the industry. I was proud to again be able to present the awards to several very deserving winners.”
The annual BMTA event sponsored by A-Plan Insurance, Marine Resources, Barton Marine, Barrus, ASAP Supplies and Deep Blue Cloud DMS.
Event sponsor and 2022 Business of the Year award winner Marine Resources MD James Ward says: “The MTA Dinner is always one of the best evenings in the industry networking calendar. The companies represented each year really are the backbone of the UK leisure marine Industry and cover such a wonderful variety of businesses, all as passionate about our industry as we are here at Marine Resources. This is why we continue to support this brilliant event time and time again.”
Juliet Boyles at Barrus adds: “Barrus was proud to sponsor the MTA awards dinner again this year. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get together with our colleagues and customers and celebrate the best in the industry.”
Award winners
British Marine Trades Association Business of the Year 2023 Savvy Navvy
British Marine Trades Association Chairman’s Special Award 2023 Ian Cooke
British Marine Trades Association Personality of the Year 2023 Jeremy Dale OBE
British Marine Trades Association Young Professional of the Year, supported by A-Plan Sophie Tapp
David Coleman Excellence in Exporting 2022 – 2023 Wilks Rubber Plastics
