VIDEO footage of contending companies marked a change in this year’s Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards in Galashiels last Friday.
People from nearly 50 local companies attended the lunchtime celebration at the Scottish Borders Campus, and in a new development, all of the shortlisted firms gave a presentation about their businesses pre-filmed by St Boswells media company Shout.
Awards organiser, Scottish Borders Council’s (SBC) economic development officer, Matthew Farrell said: “There were seven categories and a strong field across the board. The judges highlighted the fact that they had some extremely difficult decisions to make, which is testament to the quality of submissions.”
The Tourism Business of the Year Award was won by Melrose’s Roulotte Retreat.
Co-owner Avril Berry said: “We are delighted to receive the award. We see it as recognition of all the hard work that goes into running the business.”
Co-owner Alan Fraser added: “We feel this award gives credibility to our operation and we are very grateful.”
The long-established A Hume Country Clothing in Kelso received the Retail and Town Centre Business of the Year Award.
Company director Karen Hume said: “It is fantastic recognition of the hard work and dedication our staff put into the business. The award reaffirms to the management that the plans and strategy in place for 2012 will allow the business to strengthen and grow further.”
And Scottish Borders Brewery at Chesters Estate won not one but two accolades – the Start Up/New Business of the Year and the Green Business of the Year Awards.
Estate and brewery owner John Henderson said: “We think it’s fantastic that we’ve won two awards. We are chuffed to bits.
“It’s the end of our first year and it’s a really nice bit of recognition of the hard work that everybody has put in. It’s been a long road getting here and it proves we’re not mad and that this is something worth doing.”
Other winners were: Technology/Innovation Business of the Year – Eildon Concrete Products Ltd; Marketing Campaign of the Year – Borders Vintage Automobile Club and Employer of the Year – Hawick Knitwear. Meanwhile among the runners-up were two Galashiels business neighbours jostling for top honours.
Technology and Innovation Award entrants Darren Bunker, MD Qube GB, a communications engineering and installation services provider and Richie Gray of Global Sports Innovation, which makes a rugby rucking machine, pictured right, are next door to each other in Gala Bank Business Park – and both were shortlisted for the award. Unfortunately both were beaten to the honour, but Mr Gray said: “We were delighted to be nominated.”