Peel Ports’ Mark Whitworth praised for leading North West investment program
Peel Ports’ chief executive Mark Whitworth has been named as ‘Business Person of the Year’ at the Liverpool Echo Regional Business awards.
The business leader has been honored thanks to his role in facilitating more than £650 million worth of investment at the Port of Liverpool and the Manchester Ship Canal.
This includes the £300 million landmark Liverpool2 terminal, which will double the port’s container handling capacity. It is the company’s biggest single investment and the first phase will be fully operational in the autumn.
Whitworth joined Peel Ports in 2010 and has overseen the company’s profit from £119 million a year to in excess of £210 million a year.
He is in charge of Peel Port’s entire ports operation, including its major facilities at Port of Liverpool, the Manchester Ship Canal, Clydeport, London Medway, Heysham and Great Yarmouth, in addition to a shipping line, BG Freight Line turning over more than £70 million.
Under his guidance, Peel Ports has been instrumental in progressing the Northern Powerhouse agenda, helping the city of Liverpool become the gateway to the North and creating opportunities for importers, exporters and manufacturers in the region.
Peel Ports was also named as Business of the Year (250+ employees) in recognition of its ambitious development plans across the North West.
Judges praised the business for its progressive and innovative approach, as well as its commitment to jobs creation and skills development.
Over the past 12 months Peel Ports has undertaken a program of investment to enhance container warehousing facilities at Alexandra Dock and Port of Salford, as well as opening the U.K.’s first fully-automated steel terminal at the Port of Liverpool and building a £100 million biomass terminal to support the largest decarburization project in Europe.
The Echo Regional Business Awards, now in its 22nd year, is the biggest and most prestigious business awards in the Merseyside region. The ceremony was held in Liverpool’s impressive St George’s Hall venue in front of more than 500 of key influencers.
This year’s event took place against the backdrop of the International Festival for Business.