Southport BID reveals Your Southport Stars 2022 winners as it sets out plans for year ahead

Southport BID officially launched its ‘Your Southport’ campaign as it hosted its first in-person event since the Covid pandemic began two years ago.

The BID welcomed local businesses who filled the room at Bliss Hotel with beautiful views across the lake at the Levy Payers Social Event on Tuesday (5th April).

The first ever Your Southport Awards winners were revealed, as Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald set out the organisation’s priorities for the next 12 months.

Victor Porter unveiled Southport BID’s revolutionary plans for Digitising Southport and giving businesses a huge commercial advantage.

Sefton Council Executive Director Stephen Watson gave his update on the multi-million projects being pursued through the Government’s £38.5million Town Deal investment into Southport, which will include the construction of a new Marine Lake Events Centre next to Marine Lake and the opening of a new Southport Enterprise Arcade on Eastbank Street.

Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said: “The night was a chance for members of the Southport business community to connect, for us to detail some of our priorities for the next 12 months, and to celebrate those nominated for our first Your Southport Stars Awards.

Guests enjoy the Southport BID Levy Payers Social Event at Bliss Hotel in Southport where they saw the official launch of the BID's Your Southport campaign. Photo by Kezia Griffiths Photography — Guests enjoy the Southport BID Levy Payers Social Event at Bliss Hotel in Southport where they saw the official launch of the BID’s Your Southport campaign. Photo by Kezia Griffiths Photography

“It was fantastic to see so many people representing Southport BID businesses in attendance.

“We took the opportunity to briefly introduce Your Southport, a new local campaign that will celebrate our town centre and tell the story of the people and businesses who make Southport special.

“We recognise the integral role that residents play in the future of our town, and going forward, this campaign will provide a platform for local people to engage and invest in Southport.

“We also presented our plans for digitising Southport. This ongoing project is ensuring Southport will seize the opportunity for a full-fibre network throughout the town centre, which will benefit existing businesses greatly, and accelerate Southport as a proposition for future investment.

“Thanks to Stephen Watson, Executive Director at Sefton Council, for providing BID businesses with a thorough insight into the progress of the Southport Town Deal and its associated projects.

“We then moved on to the Your Southport Stars awards which, due to an overwhelming response from the public, became a big focus of the night.

“Congratulations to all nominated, shortlisted, and winning businesses.”

Rachel Fitzgerald said Your Southport also contains an important message for people living in the town to support their local businesses if the town is to be successful.

She said: “We have started our Your Southport campaign to create a celebration of local businesses in Southport.

“The message is that the future of our town very much depends on local interaction and support from local residents.

“People in Southport need to invest in their town for it to truly thrive.”

Local residents were invited to nominate the businesses which had gone the extra mile during the past two years in a range of categories, and the BID was delighted by how many nominations it received.

Rachel Fitzgerald said: “There was an overwhelming response from the public, with hundreds of heartfelt nominations being received for a variety of different reasons.

“It was good of people to take the time to nominate so many local businesses.

“A big thank you to Bliss Hotel for accommodating us and our businesses.”