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MIB Awards judging panel to include Utility founder Dick Mawdsley

Dick Mawdsley, the man behind Liverpool success stories Utility and Coffee Union, is set to play a lead role in the inaugural Merseyside Independent Business Awards.

Mawdsley has agreed to join the panel of judges who will ultimately decide the winners in each of the 12 available categories, which include sectors as diverse as property, retail and technology, as well as awards for growth innovation and community engagement.

The awards, launched in association with Liverpool law firm Morecrofts, have attracted hundreds of applications from independent businesses. Interest has been so high that a new category, Best Start-up Business, was created by the judges.

A total of 36 finalists, three per category, will now vie for top spot and the award winners will be announced at a gala dinner at Secret Space on October 3.

Mawdsley’s contribution to Merseyside business began when he moved to Liverpool from London in 1998 and set up Coffee Union, a small independent coffee shop followed in November 1999 by the launch of Utility, a high-end gift boutique on Bold Street prioritising design and innovation.

By July 2010, the success of the store led to a third unit being opened in a premium location within Liverpool One. December 2011 saw a fourth store opening in London’s Kings Cross, establishing Utility as a serious player in British business.

Utility’s customer base, while modest, is loyal and at the cutting edge of fashion. The store caters to an educated, creative, and largely female audience that responds to the niche appeal of the store. Mawdsley believes that people matching is important, and that maintaining happy staff and happy suppliers will lead to happy customers.

Having displayed a clear entrepreneurial prowess throughout his time in Liverpool, he is a welcome addition to the MIB panel. With the retail category flooded with nominations, Mawdsley’s contribution to short listing the finalists will be invaluable.

The MIB awards have been launched by Morecrofts Solicitors in celebration of their 200th anniversary year, to both commemorate the past and invest in the future of Merseyside. The awards target a comprehensive range of businesses, both big and small, and will reward growth, innovation and investment into communities.

A limited number of tickets for the event remain available. Please contact 0151 236 8871 for further information.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Dan Minchin .