Martin Lawlor, the Chief Executive of the Port of Blyth, has been awarded an OBE in the Birthday Honours list in recognition of his service to the Ports, Maritime and Offshore Energy industries.
Martin was appointed Chief Executive by the Blyth Harbour Commission in 2006 after serving as Deputy Chief Executive and Commercial & Operations Director. Under his leadership, the Port of Blyth has experienced substantial growth in both trade and customers, establishing itself as a leading UK offshore energy support base. This has culminated in the port and logistics group’s recent announcement of record financial results for the third consecutive year.
Martin has also been instrumental in the creation of a landmark skills initiative to help develop the clean offshore energy workforce of the future and inspire, train and provide pathways to employment for the local community. Energy Central Campus will open the doors to phase one of the project, the Energy Central Learning Hub, in September with Martin as its first Chair. This £30m+ initiative is set to serve as a blueprint for similar schemes nationwide.
In response to the award, Martin Lawlor said: “Receiving this OBE is not only a personal honour but also a recognition of the exceptional efforts and dedication of the entire team at the Port of Blyth and our partner organisations. It fills me with immense pride that together, we have put the Blyth Estuary at the forefront of innovation and development in the UK offshore renewable energy sector”.
As well as dedicating his career to the Port of Blyth for the last 30 years, Martin has also held previous commercial roles at PD Ports and has served across various boards in the industry. These include the British Ports Association, Port Skills and Safety, alongside several regional economic and strategic boards.
Image courtesy of Reach plc
