Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards:

Winners announced at Awards Ceremony at Borders Campus

Business Awaords Pic

At lunch time on Friday 19th March, over 100 business and community leaders and representatives came together for the inaugural Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards Ceremony at the new Scottish Borders Campus in Galashiels.

Speaking as Executive Member for Economic Development at the lunchtime event, Cllr Vicky Davidson, said: “Given the difficult operating environment over the last year these awards have been a welcome reminder that the Borders is home to many great innovative businesses that are adapting and responding despite the economic climate. It is fantastic to see and we will be doing our up most to make sure it continues by assisting and supporting all businesses in any way we can.”

Judges faced some very difficult decisions when selecting the winner for each of the seven categories which is a great testament to the quality of all the businesses who submitted entries, with the day itself providing a great platform to showcase some of the outstanding achievements of the Scottish Borders business community over the last year.

TRI Cap member Tom Hart took part in the judging panel and presented the New Business of the Year Award to the Main Street Trading Company. He said “This is a well deserved award for an enterprising and forward thinking business.  TRI Cap is delighted to be part of acknowledging the excellence of the businesses taking part in these awards.” 

Kevin Lamb of Purves Chartered Accountants, who assisted in the judging of the Growth Business of the Year category, remarked “There were several strong applicants in this section and all three finalists have done extremely well in what has been a trying economic backdrop. That said Spark Energy have clearly demonstrated that with the appropriate ambition to think big and strong leadership a plan can be delivered at speed even in a highly competitive sector”.

The full list of winners, finalists and sponsors of each category are:

  • New business of the year, sponsored by TRI Cap, Tweed Renaissance Investors Capital

Category winner:

The Main Street Trading Company www.mainstreetbooks.co.uk

The Main Street Trading Company is the largest independent bookshop in the Borders focusing on children’s books, fiction, cookery and country pursuits. The shop also has a café and a gifts section that local artists and crafts people to exhibit and sell their work.

Category finalists:

  • International trader of the year, sponsored by Business Gateway in association with Scottish Development International and the Scottish Borders Exporters Association

Category winner:

Universal Fibre Optics specifies, manufactures and installs fibre optic lighting in both domestic and commercial properties. It is one of only three companies globally (and the only UK company) who are drawing glass fibre used to make fibre optic lighting cable.

Category finalists:

  • Employer of the year, sponsored by Skills Development Scotland

Category winner:

  • Cherrytrees Children’s Nurseries Ltd

Cherrytrees Childrens Nurseries Ltd opened in 2002 and has grown to be a group of four nurseries in Melrose, Dunbar, Hawick and Edinburgh. They provide professional, comprehensive childcare within homely, stimulating and fun environments with staff development being seen as a key element to their ongoing success.

Category finalists:

  • Independent retailer of the year, in association with the Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses.

Category winner:

A Hume Outfitters Ltd is a traditional country clothing retail business based in Kelso and is owner managed by the third generation of the Hume family. They offer classic and contemporary bespoke brands through a blend of locally sourced Scottish tweeds, tartans and knitwear mixed with quality brands available from the UK and Europe.

Category finalists:

Competition was so fierce in the Independent retail category that the judges decided to short list five companies and as well as the overall winner made a special commendation to Yetholm Village Shop

  • Innovation of the year, sponsored by Prostrakan, in association with Scottish Enterprise

Category winner:

H2Ology Ltd has designed, developed and patented their own filtration unit called the ATS (Advanced Treatment Station) which decontaminates the water which runs-off roads. To date the company has installed ATS Technologies for Scottish Borders Council, Midlothian Council and Highland Council with further orders in the pipeline including one south of the border.

Category finalists:

  • Growth business of the year, sponsored by Purves Chartered Accountants

Category winner:

Spark Energy Ltd is one of 14 Ofgem licensed and accredited suppliers of gas and power to the UK domestic market. They focus purely on the residential tenancy market where a niche has developed since the development of the by-to-let marketplace.

Category finalists:

  • Homecoming Scotland 2009 initiative, sponsored by Homecoming Scotland, a special award to recognise an outstanding contribution to the local economy during the Year of Homecoming.

Category winner:

  • The Buccleuch Heritage Trust’s Clan Scott Gathering at Bowhill  www.bowhill.org

For Homecoming Scotland 2009, The Buccleuch Heritage Trust celebrated Clan/family history in the Scottish Borders over a five day event at Bowhill, showcasing the Scottish Borders to the clans and families from all over the world. 

Category finalists:

Scottish Borders Council would like to thank all the sponsors and partners who contributed to the success of the inaugural Business Excellence Awards, including TRI Cap (Tweed Renaissance Investors Capital), Business Gateway, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Borders Chambers of Commerce, Federation of Small Businesses, Prostrakan, Purves Chartered Accountants, Homecoming Scotland and the Southern Reporter. Thanks are also extended to team at SBC Hospitality and Scottish Borders Campus who played host to the lunchtime event.

Notes to Editors

  • Photographs of the event and sponsors and winners will be provided directly by Jason Baxter 01896 833033 / 07724 779919 jason@jasonbaxter.net

  • Tweed Renaissance Investors Capital (TRI Cap) is a business angel syndicate based in the Scottish Borders, with the intention of investing in growth businesses in the Borders and beyond. Its founders include some of the Borders’ leading business people who, between them, have many years’ experience of building and investing in enterprises in the Borders and further afield.  The syndicate has invested in a number of companies including Syntropharma, Lab901 and Novabiotics. Visit www.tricapital.co.uk for further information.

  • Base in Melrose, Purves Chartered Accountants (Purves CA) has grown both organically and through acquisition and in recent years has worked closely with Business Gateway on its growth and development programme. Despite the recent economic downturn the firm continues to expand. Motivated to provide commercially astute and realistic advice which in turn helps their clients and contacts move forward in business and the Purves team strongly believe in supporting local enterprise and recognise there are still many growth opportunities within the Borders for well managed and forward thinking companies. For further information visit www.purvesca.co.uk

 

END

March 2010

Issued on behalf of TRI Cap by Eileen Prior, PR Consultant.
For further information contact Eileen Prior on 07802 180 412, or email eileen.prior@priorpr.co.uk

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