A prize-giving held at last week’s Boating Business Show in Bournemouth saw more than 100 members of the marine industry gather for a celebration ceremony. The prizes were presented by Boating Business in association with the Marine Trades Association at BBEx.

The ‘Young Businessman of the Year’ award was won jointly by the directors of two hardware manufacturers and suppliers: Paul Botterill of Barton Marine and Andrew Simms of Cooney Marine. The award aims to recognise the businessman who has made the biggest impact on their company in terms of progressing ideas, innovating products and improving services.

Mark and Clive Johnson, the founders and owners of marine electronics company Tacktick, were named Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. The brothers were thrilled to receive the accolade, saying:

‘This award is a great honour for us and the young team at Tacktick who have driven forward such innovation over recent years and enabled us to take on some of the most experienced electronics companies in the sector.’

Hampshire-based RIB and inflatable specialist BHG Marine was named ‘Retailer of the Year’. Director Paul Martin, the third-generation of his family to run the company, said that the award was ‘appreciated as recognition that our approach is working.’