Birkenhead shipyard Cammell Laird has won a top honour at the ECHO Regional Business Awards.
The yard, which is now building the polar research ship named after Sir David Attenborough, was named the region's best big business at a ceremony in Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral.
Hundreds of city leaders gathered to see the ECHO honour the best businesses and business leaders in the region.
And they also heard from Liverpool FC chief executive Peter Moore, who took part in a Q&A session onstage with host Nicholas Owen.
The awards, now in their 24th year, are staged by the Liverpool ECHO and the Business Post magazine and are sponsored by Liverpool Business School at Liverpool John Moores University. Some 12 awards were presented in total, honouring achievements by businesses large and small from across the city region.
Cammell Laird won the Business of the Year (over 250 employees) award, sponsored by Merseyrail.
Sensor City, the flagship hi-tech development behind Lime Street station best known for its gold circuit board panelling, was named Knowledge Business of the Year.
The Liverpool BID Company Young Business Person of the Year award was won by Robert Byrne, of electric car charging specialist Franklin Energy.
Max Steinberg CBE, chairman of the International Business Festival - that is now taking place in Liverpool for the third time - was named Business Person of the Year.
Our judges said: "For more than a decade, there has hardly been a major business initiative in the city region that does not bear the mark of our Business Person of the Year - and his innovation, creativity, hard work and belief in our community."
Guests were welcomed by ECHO Editor in Chief Alastair Machray and Trinity Mirror North West and North Wales Managing Director Carl Wood.
Mr Machray said: "I am extraordinarily proud of the way this city continues to excel and innovate around culture. We put on festivals and experiences that are both bold and magnificent.
"The rhythm of our cultural drum beat is now being matched by that of business.
"Here we are in the middle of the International Business Festival. Here, in Liverpool, there are 55 events, 200 world-renowned speakers, 150 delegations from 90 countries. Thousands of delegates. Here, in Liverpool, they are doing major international deals. This is not in Manchester, or Birmingham. This is in in Liverpool.
"Culture, business, sport, regeneration, tourism.. We are winning."
Timothy Nichol, Dean of Liverpool Business School, said: "Congratulations to the many businesses who were nominated and shortlisted for the awards and, of course, the category winners.
"The standard of entrants was exceptionally strong across all sectors and the judging process was not an easy task. The awards were a great celebration of business success across the region."
A special event supplement celebrating the night in detail will be published in the ECHO on Thursday, June 28.
The full list of winners and the shortlist
New Business of the Year, sponsored by Liverpool Business School, John Moores University
WINNER: The Hive, Wirral Youth Zone
SHORTLISTED: In-House Legal Solutions; Silk Rd; LM6 Commercial Property
Corporate Social Responsibility Award, sponsored by Community Foundation for Merseyside
WINNER: MSB Solicitors
SHORTLISTED: Mashbo; Construction Impact Framework
Outstanding Charity Support, sponsored by BNY Mellon's Pershing
WINNER: Housing Maintenance Solutions
SHORTLISTED: Medicash; ShopDirect
Creative Impact Award, sponsored by Liverpool Business School, John Moores University
WINNER: hi-impact Consultancy
SHORTLISTED: Connect; Agent Marketing; Active Profile
Knowledge Business of the Year, sponsored by the Liverpool Echo
WINNER: Sensor City
SHORTLISTED: Liverpool Language Academy; Doris IT
Business of the Year (Up to 50 employees), sponsored by Liverpool John Lennon Airport
WINNER: Walton Flooring Centre
SHORTLISTED: d3t Ltd; hi-impact Consultancy; OPEN Media
Business of the Year (51 - 250 employees), sponsored by MSIF
WINNER: Travel Innovation Group
SHORTLISTED: B&M Waste Services; Sovereign Transport Services
Business of the Year (Over 250 employees), sponsored by Merseyrail
WINNER: Cammell Laird
SHORTLISTED: Curtins; The Contact Company
International Business of the Year, in partnership with Department for International Trade
WINNER: ATG Access
SHORTLISTED: Inciner8 International; Milexa Group
Young Business Person of the Year, sponsored by Liverpool BID Company
WINNER: Robert Byrne, Franklin Energy
SHORTLISTED: Mike Smith, OPEN Media; James Harper, Walton Flooring Centre; Anton Hanley, The Lead Agency; Anna Jenkins, Silky Bouquets
Judges' Choice Award
WINNER: Curtins
Business Person of the Year sponsored by Liverpool City Region Business Post
WINNER: Max Steinberg