Lee Peck Media has been recognised for playing a pivotal role in delivering the first ever Maritime UK Awards.
Working to Solent LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and Maritime UK, the agency’s key deliverables included media relations and securing sponsorship, together with project and event management. Crucially Lee Peck Media had to win the hearts and minds of the industry’s leaders and secure the attendance of the Minister for Maritime. Equally vital tasks included hiring the AV company, designing the staging, working with the venue, briefing journalists, Government offices, devising the running order and ensuring the event – a glittering ceremony attended by 350 of the industry’s finest – ran smoothly on the night.
Solent LEP was instrumental in ensuring the inaugural event took place at the heart of the region in Southampton, to reflect the Solent’s importance as one of the UK’s leading centres for the maritime sector. The LEP also wanted to use the awards to announce the formation of Maritime UK Solent, which aims to build on the region’s strengths in maritime.
In the Solent the maritime sector represents 20 per cent of the economy, supports 120,000 jobs and facilities trade worth a huge £77.5bn.
Kevin George, Solent LEP Business Director, said the event has put the Solent’s prosperous maritime sector firmly in the spotlight and that the effects will be felt for many years to come.
He added: “From the world’s largest container and cruise ships relying on the infrastructure and connectivity of Southampton, to the Royal Navy’s most complex and largest warship in history being based here in Portsmouth, the Solent region truly is at the heart of UK maritime.
“The awards provided the perfect platform for us to showcase just what the Solent has to offer on the national stage. Guests from all over the UK – including the Maritime Minister, were all able to see first-hand the sheer strength and innovation of the sector here.”
Vitally important was appointing an agency that could not only deliver a turnkey solution but act as a fulcrum for a range of suppliers and agents, themselves providing an array for services for the event.
Ben Murray director of Maritime UK said: “As this was the very first awards, we needed an agency with credibility and gravitas. Key players in the industry had to be persuaded to support our cause and then we had to deliver. I’m delighted to report that everyone was thrilled with the outcome with the inaugural Maritime UK Awards being celebrated as a great success. Without doubt Lee Peck Media played a pivotal role in supporting both ourselves and Solent LEP, who themselves deserve huge credit for staging this landmark event. The awards will now be held in Plymouth next year and the bar has been set incredibly high!”
Lee Peck said: “It was a huge accolade to be entrusted with this important event and all the hard work was hugely rewarding. Each and every member of the team played a blinder. One of the most satisfying aspects of this project was being called upon to deploy our full range of services. It was also brilliant being part of an extended team of professionals at both Maritime UK and Solent LEP working towards a common goal.”