Liverpool headquartered law firm Hill Dickinson has been revealed as the new headline sponsor for the Merseyside Women of the Year Awards (MWOTY) 2022, with nominations for this year’s ceremony now officially open.
Hill Dickinson is a full service international law firm specialising in all aspects of commercial law across a wide range of industry sectors. The firm has offices in mainland Europe, Asia and across the UK, including in St Paul’s Square in Liverpool City Centre.
The MWOTY awards, a much-loved celebration of exceptional women from across the region, will return to the Crowne Plaza in Liverpool City Centre on Friday 1st July, following a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Renowned for shining a spotlight on those women who do not seek the limelight or push themselves to the front, but instead work to make a difference to the people, sectors and communities they serve, the awards have grown in popularity and impact since Founding Director and inaugural ‘Woman of the Year’, Ellie Kerr, took over their organisation in 2010.
Ellie said: “We have waited a long time to come back together and this year’s awards are set to be the most eagerly-anticipated and spectacular yet. Over the past two years we have seen some truly incredible women doing amazing work to support their communities, keep businesses afloat and people employed through unprecedented times of difficulty – these awards will be when we honour them.
“It will also be an opportunity to celebrate our own missed milestones, such as our 10th anniversary, which passed in 2020. We are absolutely overjoyed and proud to welcome Hill Dickinson as our headline sponsor for this very special year.
“The firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, in particular its work to improve gender balance in the workplace, improving access to the legal profession for people of all backgrounds and ages, and facilitating a safe and inclusive environment that provides opportunities for all is incredibly aligned with our values.”
Speaking on behalf of Hill Dickinson, Partner, Kerstie Skeaping, said: “The Merseyside Women of the Year Awards celebrate the tremendous achievements and positive difference that women make in business and their local communities.
“As a leading law firm employing 850 people, we are committed to being an inclusive employer that women – and men – want to work for, and our recent Returners Campaign is very closely aligned with the sentiment of these awards – that women in business can help achieve greatness.
“These awards have earned their place as one of the highlights of the awards calendar and we are proud to lend our name to them as headline sponsor.”
Nominations for the annual independent awards ceremony are now open, with a range of categories including Arts & Culture, Business Leader, Community Change, Entrepreneur, Inspirational, Social Impact, Women’s Group, Business Start-Up, Women Making a Difference, Rising Star and Young Female Apprentice.
The overall Merseyside Woman of the Year 2022 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 Hill Dickinson.
Category sponsors so far for 2022 include Community Foundation for Merseyside, Courage & Sparkle, Everton FC and Financial Planning Corporation, with opportunities to sponsor categories still available.
The final deadline for nominations is Sunday 24th April. You can nominate online or via email. If you find it difficult to nominate in this way due to disability or other reason, please contact us at nominations@merseysidewomenoftheyear.co.uk or call 07966 308 405.
To nominate, book tickets, learn about category sponsorship or find out more, visit: https://merseysidewomenoftheyear.co.uk/