October has been a month of success and celebration for MWOTY alumni and supporters with a host of national and regional award wins.
The 2025 Merseyside Independent Business Awards, which was founded by MWOTY Category Sponsor Morecrofts Solicitors, saw four wins from the MWOTY network.
Thrive CIC, which was founded by MWOTY 2014 overall Woman of the Year, Sara Lawton, won Community Interest Company of the Year, while Girls on the Go, which was founded by MWOTY 2025’s overall Woman of the Year, Steph Barney, won Best Start Up and Health & Wellbeing Business of the Year. Longstanding MWOTY supporter, Hope Street Hotel was awarded Culture & Tourism Business of the Year.
At the Liverpool Chamber Innovation in Business Awards 2025, Hayley Smallman, corporate partnerships manager at Woodlands Hospice and runner up at the MWOTY 2025 awards in the Women of Courage category, was awarded the Trailblazer prize by the judges.
Two future leaders were also recognised with the One To Watch award, won by Alex Keyter from Generative Minds, who this year spoke at the MWOTY-affiliated Do Business Better Category, and the Rising Star (Education Provider) award, was given to Alfie Fitzsimmons of Alfie’s Squad. Alfie’s mum, and 2023 alumni, Allison Furlong was also recognised at the EVAs for her work leading the charity.
Most recently, MWOTY 2025 Business Leader winner, Gillian Ashcroft, won the Sustainability Leadership Award at the Small Good Business Awards 2025, for her work with The Think Tank Academy.
Congratulations to you all – the whole MWOTY movement is so proud of you and behind you all the way!
