Eric Martyn

Bell Lamb & Joynson’s Marcela Salter Wins Crime Leading Associate of the Year at Legal 500 Awards

Bell Lamb & Joynson Solicitors is proud to announce that Marcela Salter, (front centre of team picture), Criminal Defence Solicitor, has been named Crime Legal Associate of the Year at The Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards.

The award recognises Marcela’s outstanding contribution to criminal defence and her dedication to supporting clients through some of the most serious and complex cases.

Marcela brings more than three decades of experience in criminal law, having built a reputation for her resilience, compassion and depth of courtroom experience.

Since joining Bell Lamb & Joynson in September 2021, she has become a highly respected member of the firm’s Criminal Defence Team, known for her unwavering commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for her clients. Her recognition follows another milestone for the firm, after Bell Lamb & Joynson’s Crime Team was ranked in Tier 3 in the Legal 500 earlier this year, reflecting the strength and reputation of the firm’s criminal defence work across the region.

Originally from Chile, Marcela came to the United Kingdom as a refugee in 1975. Fluent in both Spanish and English, she brings a culturally aware and empathetic approach to her work, particularly when supporting vulnerable individuals and those facing language barriers. She began her career in criminal law in 1989, initially working as an office junior beforeprogressing through roles including Magistrates’ Court Clerk and caseworker across both the Magistrates’ and Crown Courts.

While working full time, she undertook her legal studies at Liverpool John Moores University, completing both her LLB (Hons) and Legal Practice Course, before qualifying as a solicitor in February 2016. Throughout her career, Marcela has worked on a wide range of serious and complex
criminal matters, including cases involving serious violence, homicide, sexual offences, complex conspiracies, organised crime and prison law. Her experience also includes involvement in several high-profile cases that have attracted national attention, including the
nationally reported Brianna Ghey case. She is widely recognised for her calm and determined advocacy and her ability to build trust with clients during periods of significant stress and uncertainty.

Marcela holds Police Station Accreditation, is a Mental Health First Aider, and is currently awaiting the results of her Higher Rights of Audience examinations with the University of London, which will allow her to undertake advocacy in the higher courts.

Speaking about the recognition, Marcela said: “Criminal defence work can be incredibly challenging but also deeply rewarding. Every client deserves to feel heard, supported and properly represented, regardless of their circumstances. I feel very fortunate to be able to do this work and to be part of such a dedicated team.”

Outside of work, Marcela has been married for over 27 years and has two adult sons. She often credits the support of her family as the foundation that has enabled her to build such a long and demanding career in criminal defence.

 

Savera UK supports launch of groundbreaking domestic abuse reporting toolkit

A groundbreaking toolkit to help journalism students, journalism educators, journalists and editors report accurately and ethically on domestic abuse has been launched by the University of Sheffield with expert guidance from Savera UK, a leading charity helping people affected by ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices.

Savera UK, which is based in Merseyside but operates nationally has contributed to a section of the toolkit focused specifically on reporting on cases of HBA and harmful practices, including forced and child marriage, female genital mutilation, conversion ‘therapy’ and spiritual abuse.

The section covering HBA and harmful practices comprises short explainer videos about the issues, guidance for writing on the topic and working with survivors as well as further learning resources and links to research. Development of the toolkit has been led by Michelle Rawlins, a journalism educator at the University of Sheffield. Michelle has drawn on her 30 years’ experience as a national journalist to create the Domestic Abuse Reporting Toolkit. The aim is to help journalism students, journalism educators, journalists and editors report on the subject, which affects a huge portion of society, in a way that can help create positive and impactful change.

Michelle has collaborated with Sheffield Women’s Aid, the Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS), Savera UK, the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, domestic abuse survivors, including Claire Throssell, prominent and highly respected campaigners, researchers and women’s refuges, to create a comprehensive set of interactive guidelines, teaching materials and resources to help and support anyone reporting on domestic abuse, stalking, ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices.

The resource is free to access and aims to ensure the reporting of domestic abuse, in all its nuanced guises and is survivor centred, allowing the voices of those who have been impacted to be heard in a way which is thoughtful, supportive and meaningful. The toolkit will continue to evolve post-launch, with new and emerging information and guidance being added as it becomes available.

Michelle Rawlins said: “Savera UK worked with me to create a set of meaningful guidelines that will empower journalists and editors to report ethically and effectively on ‘honour’-based abuse and harmful practices with the knowledge and insight to create positive and impactful change. Together we can all make a difference, with the ultimate aim of helping those who are impacted and give a voice to those who are often unheard.”

Savera UK CEO and Founder, Afrah Qassim (pictured), said: “Working on the front line, we see first-hand the impact of uninformed reporting on ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices like forced marriage, FGM, conversion ‘therapy’ and spiritual abuse. Incorrect terminology, stereotyping and suggesting that these human rights violations are part of a specific culture or community is deeply harmful to already-marginalised groups. Poor reporting risks demonising communities, puts individuals at risk of harm and breaks down trust that has been hard-won by frontline organisations like Savera UK. This in turn makes it even harder for survivors and people at risk to come forward to access lifesaving and life-changing help.

“We developed our media guidelines to address the gaps in knowledge on these issues, and we are proud to see them included in The Domestic Abuse toolkit that has been created by Michelle Rawlins at the University of Sheffield, alongside other content created by our team and other survivors and specialist services. We are especially pleased to see HBA provided its own space and focus, as although a form of domestic abuse, it has specific characteristics that journalists should be aware of and consider in their reporting. The toolkit is a vital resource, and we look forward to supporting its evolution and empowering journalists with the knowledge they need to report more ethically and effectively on HBA and harmful practices.”

Domestic Abuse campaigner, Claire Throssell, whose two children were cruelly murdered by their own father, in October 2014, on a court approved access visit, said: “This toolkit will support, guide and prepare students journalists to empower and enable all victims and survivors to be able to share their experiences in a powerful and impactful way. This toolkit paves the way to reporting on an issue that affects all of society and handles correctly the articles written may lead to lasting changes in the UK and across the world.”

For more information or to access the Domestic Abuse Reporting Toolkit,

visit: https://sites.google.com/sheffield.ac.uk/domesticabusetoolkit/home

 

 

 

 

Business Duo Launch Mersey Maritime-Influenced book to inspire future career choices

Liverpool entrepreneurs Natalie Reeves Billing and Alex Cousins launch new book designed to inspire more young people to pursue careers in maritime. 

Business duo Natalie Reeves Billing and Alex Cousins believe a new book will inspire more young people to seek a career in the maritime sector and increase diversity in the process. The Liverpool-based founders of the business and education adventure hub The Animates are focused on inclusive innovation and recently launched The River of Life book at the Power of Women fundraiser in the city.

The Power of Women 2026 event was conceived and organised by Trinity Logistics chief executive Amanda Unsworth and her team, with the book written by multiple award-winning local author Natalie.

Alex said: “River of Life is a storybook celebrating our region’s maritime heritage and is inspiring children to explore skills, careers and innovation in a fun way. It’s also part of a much wider business strategy of activity that we as The Animates have been immersed in. Beyond the book, we’ve established an impressive business network, collaborating with many diverse businesses along the route.

“The launch of the book at the event coincided with the growth of female empowerment within many leading businesses and organisations on Merseyside. It proved to be the perfect platform to highlight Amanda and many other leading female lights working across different industries in Liverpool city region.”

Former docker Amanda, who founded Trinity Logistics in 2017, said some of her proudest business moments have been growing a female-led logistics company in a traditionally male-dominated industry. “Beyond commercial growth, a major focus has been giving back working with local colleges, universities and schools to educate young people about logistics and encourage more women to consider careers in the industry,” she explained.

Rise Construction Framework,  led by Sara Lawton, is another organisation collaborating with The Animates and is supporting Natalie and Alex on their next project covering the construction and regeneration industries. Founded in March 2016 as a social business, Rise has made a huge impact on the lives of people across communities who need additional support.

Natalie, speaking as part of International Women’s Month and who also recently won the Inspiring Role Model of the Year at the Downtown Women In Business Awards, said: “Coming from the same background, I’m in deep admiration of both Sara and Amanda. We’re looking to achieve a similar social impact as a female-led start-up with our digital and physical learning world. Alex and I have also worked with other brilliant female-led businesses including the likes of the pioneering Natalie Kenny of Biograd and Denise Harris at Sum Vivas, who created an AI version of ‘Bam Bam’ for The Animates.

“We’ve also partnered with many schools and organisations including Elevate EBP, Children’s University, Liverpool Learning Partnership, and the Liverpool City Region Careers Hub.”

Main photo: Natalie is pictured far left with Alex centred (back) and Amanda Unsworth far right.
Photograph by Ray Farley

Wirral-based TV psychologist to take on Anfield abseil for Savera UK

Wirral-based TV psychologist to take on Anfield abseil for Savera UK
A forensic psychologist who has appeared on a host of popular TV crime series is taking on a daring abseil 100 feet down Liverpool Football Club’s iconic Anfield stadium, to raise money for Merseyside-based charity Savera UK, which helps survivors and people at risk of ‘honour’-based abuse (HBA) and harmful practices.
Wirral-based Dr Keri Nixon, who has appeared on programmes including Secrets of a Murder Detective, Behind the Scenes: Cold Case UK, Murder in Concrete, White House Farm: Murder, Bloodline & Betrayal and Britain’s Killer Teens, and in expert interviews on LBC and ITV’s This Morning will take on the fundraising challenge alongside her daughter on Saturday 21st March.
Keri is a specialist in domestic abuse, violent crime, mental health, and trauma with 25 years’ experience in the field, and has worked on cases involving domestic abuse, HBA and harmful practices throughout her career. She has been a supporter of Savera UK since the charity’s inception in 2010, sharing its mission to end HBA and harmful practices like forced marriage, FGM, spiritual abuse and conversion ‘therapy’.
The abseil was a gift for Keri’s 50th birthday from her mum, who knew Keri has a fear of heights, but also never backs down from a challenge.
Keri said: “My initial reaction to the challenge was ‘Oh sh**.’, followed immediately by ‘I WILL do this’. Taking on the challenge in March is symbolic as it is the month when we mark International Women’s Day and No More Week, which is a global initiative raising awareness of domestic abuse and sexual violence. I am ready to face my biggest fear to raise money that will help Savera UK to continue its vital specialist services. Every pound raised helps a survivor access help when they need it most, which can save and transform a person’s life.”
Savera UK CEO and Founder, Afrah Qassim, said: “Keri has supported Savera UK since the very beginning and we are so proud and grateful that she is taking this challenge on to raise awareness of the issues of HBA and harmful practices, and raise money to help us continue our work to help survivors find their new beginning or ‘savera’ and provide interventions that stop the harms from happening in the first place – together with supporters like Keri and generous donations from the public, we will end HBA and harmful practices for good.”
For more information about Savera UK, visit: www.saverauk.co.uk

AN HOUR FOR OTHERS IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

An Hour For Others, a local Liverpool charity, has been a pioneer in the city and across the region in empowering people and their communities for more than a decade now.

Despite the acclaim that they have been receiving since they were founded in 2014, they are still a relatively best-kept secret and operate with a small team in spite of their huge successes to date.

Joel Jelen came across founders Gill Watkins and Kev Morland at Jane Reid and Maxwell Hodge’s highly prized ‘Simply Castle Street Network’ and sat down with them at their business HQ in the Cotton Exchange in Liverpool City Centre to hear more about their vision, goals and aspirations for the remainder of 2026 and beyond.

He started by asking Kev how An Hour For Others came about. “The seed was well and truly planted when I stared reality and responsibility in the face. My mum had terminal cancer in 2007 and she told me she was really worried about me. I felt a fire in my belly and said to my mum that I was going to make her proud every single day.” Incredibly powerful and poignant words indeed.

Forward to 2014, and Kev met Gill for a first date. Little did she know that Kev had more than romance in mind, he had a business plan too!

The date was a success and Kev said: “Gill was really receptive to my idea in wanting to help communities, it was exactly what she was about. Fortunately too, Gill was an accountant and was able to help me put the pieces of the jigsaw together. She was the missing link in my life, in many ways.”

Gill describes that first date as a bit crazy! “I turned up for coffee and Kev told me he wanted to change the world! We were perfectly aligned because although my career to date had been corporate, my heart, for many reasons and some very personal, was firmly heading in the direction of giving back in my work.”

Shortly after, Gill took the opportunity of an offer of redundancy, encouraged Kev to crack on – and the rest is history! They both decided that the theme of An Hour For Others was about “taking action from the inside out” as Kev describes it. He added: “We’re all about working with people within our community here on Merseyside to make them realise they have the power to make a difference to how we all live our lives. Creating better communities happens when you enable more people to live their lives successfully. We endeavour to achieve this by working in unity, with compassion, respect, kindness and love. This is how we’ve been transforming our world around us in the Liverpool City Region.”

Nodding in agreement, Gill told Joel, “From little acorns, as they say, we’ve attracted a team of volunteers, local businesses and grants, to create multiple programmes of initiatives and activities that represent the catalyst for change set out in our vision. We’re an inclusive organisation, as you would expect, with people of all ages and across all backgrounds benefitting from their well-being, enrolling on training courses to upskill, and embracing other multi-faceted projects that will support people through times of need. Our aspirations include helping people realise their ambition of how they can live in a community where there’s less crime, less poverty, and less sickness. Where people are happy, healthy, fulfilled and where there’s more equality. And we feel that by working together, we can begin to make this their reality.”

My Planet Liverpool has visited AHFO’s community hubs in Huyton and Tuebrook to witness the inspiring work they do. Now Kev and Gill are keen for An Hour For Others to grow their team, with more people, community-oriented organisations and private sector businesses, all volunteering their time or, where possible, donating much-needed funds.

Gill added: “We’re constantly looking for more individuals, businesses or groups to get involved with us. The smallest actions really can make the biggest difference. We’ll be promoting our message much stronger this year too. We’ve become a platform for many businesses who want to show their kindness, with their teams commenting on how showing empathy towards community needs across the region has been so rewarding. We’re really keen to grow our reach too, engaging with many more like-minded companies. Some prefer to donate funds, with An Hour For Others facilitating their corporate social responsibilities. Other companies have given us their staff to facilitate specific programmes. The messages are really the same whoever we engage with. Helping people to claim their power to help others is definitely key to what we do. But also, and in the process, it’s about an aspect of human beings that goes a little deeper. Sharing our ethos about self-kindness.

“It’s a win-win really. We empower people to realise their power to support others and those same people get to spend more time in self-kindness by doing so. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s why we get such great feedback around empathy feeling so good.”

Gill and Kev mentioned many collaborating companies in their conversations with Joel and they promised AHFO will be highlighting these much more as their awareness campaign grows in 2026.

They both say agree when saying, “We are so blessed to have received support from: Really Epic Dog, Liverpool Property Solutions, Barclays, Bruntwood, Blanca Sport, Jaguar Land Rover, In Demand Radio, and Carpet Warehouse.

“There are others too and we’ll be sharing their wonderful support along with the above companies throughout the course of our 2026 campaign.”

Find out more about An Hour For Others, their community hubs and wellbeing programmes and how as a business you can help drive their campaign forward, while helping your own team in the process.

https://www.anhourforothers.co.uk/

 

THE FUTURE OF CONSTRUCTION

My Planet Liverpool magazine contributor Joel Jelen talks to one of the UK‘s leading building safety experts Project Four (P4) and their managing director Max Meadows on what the future holds for the UK construction sector in 2026 and beyond.

We know from our growing property networks in the Liverpool City Region that the future construction industry will be more regulated, more digital, more accountable, more sustainability-driven, more data-led and more safety-focused. Particularly with the latter in mind, safety and compliance are expected to dominate, especially in the UK…with post-Grenfell reforms having permanently changed the landscape. In fact, there’s never been more demand for building safety specialists with building safety expertise set to become one of the fastest-growing niches this decade.

With the above in mind, I recently met with Max Meadows (pictured) managing director at of one of the country’s leading and expert building safety firms, Project Four Building Safey (P4), to get his thoughts on the possible future of the construction industry. Max explained: “The future of construction won’t be defined by a single piece of regulation or a shiny new process. It will be shaped by how well the industry adapts to higher expectations around competence, accountability and delivery…and whether we are honest with ourselves as an industry about what needs to change.

“Since Grenfell, building safety has correctly moved to the centre of the conversation. The Building Safety Act has put considerable weight behind that shift by placing competence, i.e. skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours (SKEB) at the heart of the system. That’s the right thing to do. This new focus on SKEB has exposed a problem the industry cannot ignore. There are only so many genuinely competent people with the experience needed to deliver higher-risk buildings or assess compliance within the Building Safety Regulator and its multi-disciplinary teams, working alongside the Health and Safety Executive. We’ve said as much from our own findings as well as offering solutions to a House of Commons Select Committee back in September 2025.

In acknowledging the underlying recruitment issues in the industry, I addressed this with Max from a P4 standpoint, an industry-wide perspective, plus the onset of digital, and the knowledge that construction is becoming a data industry that happens to build things.

He responded: “There has been an ongoing battle to recruit from the same small pool of people, which has, and continues to do so, impacted programmes, costs and confidence across the sector. This reality has shaped how we’ve built our business at Project Four Building Safety Experts (P4) over the last couple of years. Yes, we’ve been successful in attracting experienced and capable professionals but we’ve also made a conscious decision not to rely solely on these hires. We’ve invested in bringing construction professionals looking to change roles, graduates and early-career professionals into the business and giving them a clear, structured route to develop their SKEB and work on large, complex schemes. If the industry doesn’t start growing new capability, rather than just moving it around, this problem will only get worse.

“How we enable those people is just as important too. As part of our wider 2–5-year plan, we are investing heavily in digital systems to strip out unnecessary admin, improve consistency and give clear audit trails. The aim is simple…let capable people spend more time doing what they’re good at, supporting project teams, engaging with the Regulator, and adding real value, instead of drowning in process. Digital isn’t about being clever or fashionable. In a heavily regulated environment, it’s about how you protect scarce expertise and make sure good people are focused on judgement and problem-solving, not paperwork.”

Construction has understandably had its fair share of negative headlines over the past decade alongside blame culture. P4 has been outspoken on this subject, so I asked Max to share his thoughts on the current and recent climate.

“There’s been a tendency in parts of the industry to blame regulation or the Building Safety Regulator for everything that’s difficult right now. Regulation is challenging but this didn’t create the underlying issues that Grenfell exposed. At P4, we’ve been very open in saying the industry needs to look at its own issues as well as external pressures. We’ve done this not only at central government level after being invited to share our expertise as mentioned above, but also, for example, in addressing literally hundreds of firms working across the construction sector at industry-wide events curated by P4.

“We’ve been consistently highlighting similar messages in our industry webinars too. That is, investing in competence (SKEB), building systems that actually support delivery, and accepting that higher standards require different ways of working and these are all key to bringing about the required change. We wouldn’t call ourselves disruptors, but we are challenging some long-held assumptions. Building safety isn’t a bolt-on service or a late-stage tick-box exercise. Done properly, it underpins programme certainty, investor confidence and long-term asset performance. “The direction of travel is clear. Over the next five years, the businesses that succeed will be the ones that invest early in people, competence and enablement and treat building safety as a strategic advantage, not a barrier.”

Project Four Safety 17 Mann Island, Liverpool L3 1DG

www.projectfoursafety.com

 

 

April 2026

December 2025

Liverpool’s Year of Reading launch this weekend will be the city’s literacy event of the year

The Liverpool Year of Reading launches this Saturday with commentators in the city maintaining it will be the city’s literacy event of the year.

Joel Jelen, founder of Ubiquity PR and head of communications for the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, will launch the event and he says “It promises to be a lively afternoon featuring writers, readers, families, publishers, performers and community organisations all coming together to celebrate books, creativity and the power of storytelling.”

Being held from 12pm – 3pm at Central Library in William Brown Street, the inclusive launch will also welcome lifelong book lovers, aspiring writers, parents looking for a lovely day out, and those simply curious about what Liverpool’s reading scene has to offer.

Spearheaded by The Lord Mayor Of Liverpool Cllr Barbara Murray and Liverpool Literacy Cycle, the event represents a vibrant, welcoming space where people can discover new voices, meet local talent, and take part in activities that celebrate reading in all its forms.

Activities include: 

  • Authors and writers sharing their work and experiences
  • Book readings to enjoy live storytelling and powerful extracts
  • Books for sale, perfect for finding your next favourite read
  • Panel discussions exploring ideas, writing, literature and community
  • Reading activities for all ages and abilities

  • Storytelling sessions that bring books to life

  • Shared reading, encouraging connection through words and conversation

  • Poetry performances, featuring spoken word and live readings

  • Publishers and creative organisations showcasing opportunities

  • Book and literacy stalls offering resources, recommendations and inspiration

  • Family-friendly activities, making it a great day out for children too

  • Workshops for those who want to get involved and develop their skills

As the Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Barbara Murray enthused: “The 2026 Year of Reading is part of the wider Liverpool Literacy Cycle 2020–2026, with the launch event set to be a major moment for the city. It will bring together libraries, schools, universities, community groups, festivals, literacy organisations and local creatives who all share the same goal: helping Liverpool fall in love with reading all over again. The launch is a chance to discover the real depth of Liverpool’s literacy community. This includes the many emerging voices and independent publishers to the long-established organisations working to make books and reading accessible to everyone.

“It’s going to be a brilliant afternoon with the broader emphasis of the event fitting perfectly with my skills acquisition-themed fundraising* campaign. In all my years of serving on Liverpool City Council and working in education, what has shone out most is the power of literacy in helping people of all ages develop the powers of self-confidence and personal development as well as enhance their career and job prospects. The launch is going to be a fantastic experience for everybody concerned.”

More details about the event, including free tickets, can be found at:

https://ubiquitycollective.co.uk/a-humongous-and-free-literacy-event-the-year-of-reading-launches-this-saturday-in-liverpool/

Pictured with the Lord Mayor are head of fundraising Sylvia Lewis and Liverpool zeitgeist Peter Schriewersmann 

MWOTY 2026 nominations open as new headline sponsor announced

Merseyside Women of the Year Awards (MWOTY) has revealed Rathbones as its new headline sponsor, as nominations for the 2026 event open.

The partnership draws together the firm’s long-standing heritage in the city and commitment to championing local communities and playing its part in helping them to thrive.

Founded in Liverpool in 1742 as a family-run timber merchant, Rathbones evolved over the centuries and by 1912 its business focused solely on managing its clients’ wealth. Today it stands as one of the UK’s leading wealth and asset managers, overseeing more than £100bn in assets and employing 3,500 people across over 20 offices in the UK and Channel Islands.

While 2026 will mark Rathbones’ first year as headline sponsor, the business is already a familiar supporter of MWOTY, having sponsored the ‘Entrepreneur’ category for the past two years, underpinning its commitment to supporting founders and business owners across the region.

Marion Reilly, Senior Director – Wealth Planning, said: “We are delighted to announce that Rathbones is the headline sponsor of the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards. These awards play a vital role in celebrating the remarkable achievements of women who inspire change and make a lasting impact in our communities. At Rathbones, we are passionate about championing diversity, leadership, and opportunity. This partnership reflects our commitment to recognising and supporting women whose contributions shape a better future for all.”

The firm will present the coveted overall “Merseyside Woman of the Year” award at the glittering 2026 event which will take place at the Crowne Plaza Liverpool, on Friday 26th June, with nominations now open.

The longest-running women’s awards on Merseyside, MWOTY provides a platform for exceptional women from across the region to be seen, heard, and found. Renowned for shining a spotlight on changemaking women the region who do not seek the limelight, the awards pride themselves on being “a movement not a moment”, supporting winners and finalists to personally grow and expand their work through year-round events, networking, training and mentorship.

Its alumni include a host of high-profile business and charity leaders, multi-award winners, as well as recipients both the Kings Award for Voluntary Service and Enterprise, British Empire Medal and MBEs.

MWOTY founding director, Ellie Kerr, said, “Rathbones has been an incredible and supportive partner to MWOTY as category sponsor over the past two years, and senior director Marion Reilly is nothing short of an MWOTY veteran, having been a supporter since 2012, so we are over the moon to be welcoming the firm as our headline sponsor for 2026! Rathbones is a business rooted in our city and deeply committed to our communities, working to foster growth, support entrepreneurs and helping the region to thrive, which aligns with MWOTY’s vision and aims. We’re excited to see our partnership grow and support those mutual aims, and we can’t wait to see what this year’s nominations hold for us – so if there’s a woman you think deserves to be seen, heard and found, get nominating!”

Headline sponsor Rathbones joins returning category sponsors, the Community Foundation for Merseyside, FPC, McIver Scott Recruitment, Morecrofts, Auteur Media and Rise Construction Framework, as well as new additions The City of Liverpool College and Brownlow Health.

The final deadline for nominations is midnight on Monday 30th March 2026. There are a range of categories including Business Leader, Women Making a Difference, Community Leader, Young Entrepreneur, Social Impact, Inspirational Women and Women of Courage.

The awards are open to anyone who identifies as a woman or non-binary.

The overall Merseyside Woman of the Year 2026 will be selected from all finalists, following a public vote (contributing 50% of the overall score) and being marked by the organisation’s judging panel against its criteria, which can be viewed here, contributing the remaining 50% of the final score.

Nominations can be submitted here: https://merseysidewomenoftheyear.co.uk/nominate/

The 2026 MWOTY awards will take place on Friday 26th June 2026 at the Crowne Plaza in Liverpool City Centre.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available for 2026, please contact ellie@mwoty.co.uk for details.

To find out more about the event, visit: ​https://merseysidewomenoftheyear.co.uk

Photograph: Marion Reilly from Rathbones presenting 2025 MWOTY entrepreneur winner Katie Bowater with her award at last year’s ceremony
photo credit: Ray Farley.