The Merseyside Women of the Year (MWOTY) awards will celebrate 15 years under the stewardship of founding director, Ellie Kerr, in 2025, with nominations opening today (13th January 2025) and the organisation launching a podcast and affiliated conference to mark the milestone.
The first episodes of The Crispy Ear Podcast, presented by MWOTY and recorded in the studios of Liverpool’s Big Condo Training Academy CIC, will be published in Spring 2025 and will feature guests from the awards’ extensive network discussing themes core to the MWOTY movement’s mission.
Founding director Ellie will also present a new and inspiring business conference in the spring, with a host of speaker panels and workshops exploring the essentials needed to allow anyone to improve approaches to business, while balancing the pressures of life.
Speaking of MWOTY’s 15th anniversary year, Ellie said:
“This is always an exciting part of the MWOTY calendar, as we wait to be inspired by the amazing stories and achievements of women from across the region.
“However, this year is even more exciting as it is marks 15 years since MWOTY became a completely women-led event.
“In the last two years we have really begun to realise the importance and impact of MWOTY and its alumni on the Liverpool City Region. It is more than a moment in time at an awards ceremony, it is a movement, and we are working hard to harness the power of our network and help it to impact more people through our new podcast and the business conference that I will be bringing to the city in April.
“Taking sole ownership of the event in 2022 was a huge step and MWOTY wouldn’t be where it is now without the support of our small, hardworking team, our fabulous alumni, network and sponsors, particularly our headline sponsor, FPC, who have committed to supporting us for a third consecutive year in 2025.
“I urge everyone to look at the women around them who deserve to be in the spotlight, whether they are business leaders, entrepreneurs, activists or charity leaders, and get nominating!”
The MWOTY awards alumni include a host of high-profile business and charity leaders, multi-award winners, recipients of the British Empire Medal and MBEs. It provides a platform for exceptional women from across the region to be seen, heard, and found.
It is renowned not just for shining a spotlight on those women who do not seek the limelight but also supporting them to personally grow and expand their work through year-round events, networking, training and mentorship. It welcomes each finalist into the “MWOTY Movement”, a powerful network that works together to help women to access four essentials to ensure success – a network, information, money and self-belief.
Returning headline sponsor FPC joins longstanding category sponsors the Institute of Directors (IoD) Liverpool, Neo Community & ADDvanced Solutions, the Community Foundation for Merseyside, Morecrofts, Investec Wealth & Investment (UK), part of the Rathbones Group Plc, Auteur Media and Rise Construction Framework.
Moira O’Shaughnessy, Managing Partner, FPC, commented:
“A third year as headline sponsor of MWOTY is truly a privilege, especially as these years have marked a period of remarkable growth and momentum for the movement – something we are proud to have supported. 2025 feels like a watershed moment, where the dedication and achievements of everyone involved have combined to elevate MWOTY to new heights. We have no doubt the nominations will be stellar as ever, leading to an awe-inspiring awards ceremony this summer.”
The final deadline for nominations is Friday 4th April 2025. The awards are open to anyone who identifies as a woman or non-binary, and there are a range of categories including Business Leader, Community Leader, Entrepreneur, Inspirational Women and Women of Courage.
The overall Merseyside Woman of the Year 2025 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. The coveted top prize will be presented by headline sponsor FPC.
The 2025 MWOTY awards will take place on Friday 27th June 2025 at the Crowne Plaza in Liverpool City Centre.
To learn more about The Crispy Ear Podcast, sign up to the MWOTY newsletter here.
And you can nominate here or purchase tickets here.
If you find it difficult to nominate using the online form, due to disability or other reason, please contact us at nominations@mwoty.co.uk or call 07966 308 405.
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