Courier Business Awards
Entry deadline extended – Now closing on Wednesday, July 10
Apex Hotel Dundee – Saturday, October 26, 2019.
That’s it folks. The shortlist has been announced and we can’t wait to recognise and reward business and individuals from across Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perthshire; businesses and individuals with entrepreneurial flair, who are pushing the envelope in the pursuit of commercial success and who go that extra mile to serve their customers and put the community at the heart of everything they do. Congratulations to all our finalists.
There are 19 categories, plus the coveted Business of The Year, sponsored by our title partner MHA Henderson Loggie, that is awarded to a shortlisted company which stands out from the pack and exhibits determination to achieve excellence in their field and create wealth and opportunity along the way.
Widely recognised as the leading business awards for Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perthshire, our awards continue to grow year on year and have become the largest event of its kind in the area and a fixture on the commercial calendar of Courier Country. We are proud to be returning to the grounds of the Apex to ensure a very special night to remember. Book your place now and you could be joining us at our glittering awards this year. Here is a look at our amazing 2018 awards.
Key Dates
| 25 Apr 2019 | Entries open |
| 10 Jul 2019 | Entries close |
| 16 Aug 2019 | Shortlist announced |
| 26 Oct 2019 | The event |
Itinerary
| 18.15: | Drinks reception |
| 18.55: | Awards ceremony starts |
| 20.15: | Dinner |
| 22.00: | Awards ceremony continues |
| 23.00: | Entertainment/Networking |
| 02.00: | Carriages |
Shortlist
-
Apprentice of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Calum Love, Fife Council Building Services
- Declan McFarlane, Tayside Contracts
- Jamie Craig, Rossie Young People's Trust
- Lottie Reardon, DYW Dundee & Angus
Sponsored By:
Apprentice of the Year
Designed to commend an individual who has participated in an apprenticeship programme during 2019 and exceeded their employer’s expectations. Entries can be submitted by the provider or apprentice.
Key criteria:
Proof of significant contribution to the workplace
Performance excellence
Use of skills gained through apprenticeship programme
Commitment to personal development and progression
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- Calum Love
- Declan McFarlane
- Jamie Craig
- Lottie Reardon
-
Design and Innovation Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- ACE Aquatec
- NCR
- SP Technology
- Urban Foresight
Sponsored By:
Design and Innovation Business of the Year
Open to all companies that put design and the use of innovative technologies at the heart of their business.
Key criteria:
Ability to show out of the box thinking and problem solving
Demonstration of market disruptive behaviours
Embracing new technologies in product or service design
Commercial traction of a new product or service
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- ACE Aquatec
- NCR
- SP Technology
- Urban Foresight
-
Digital Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- GoRoadie
- Miconex
- Zudu
Sponsored By:
Digital Business of the Year
Open to cutting edge companies providing products and services on a digital platform operating within Courier Country.
Key criteria:
Ability to harness and develop digital platforms
Proof of market traction and growth
Evidence of service excellence
Commitment to local economy
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- GoRoadie
- Miconex
- Zudu
-
Enterprise in Education
Sponsored By:
- Fertility Genomics
- Konglomerate Games
- Pocket Sized Hands
- Take Your Marks
Sponsored By:
Enterprise in Education
Open to all companies formed out of research or ideas generated within the education sector, including student or staff start-ups, spin-out companies, or companies formed by recent graduates (graduated within the last two years).
Key criteria:
Ability to disrupt the market with new technology or services
Demonstrate business strategy for commercial success
Proof of market traction and growth
Focus on excellence in innovation
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- Fertility Genomics
- Konglomerate Games
- Pocket Sized Hands
- Take Your Marks
-
Entrepreneur of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Anne MacDonald, The Old Manse of Blair
- Dale Harris, ATL Turbine Services
- Kirsty Lunn, Molke
- Nathan Pyne-Carter, ACE Aquatec
Sponsored By:
Entrepreneur of the Year
Open to any individual or nominated person who has had a game-changing impact on a business operating within Courier Country.
Key criteria:
A track record of growing business ventures
Proof of market traction and growth
Clear business vision and investment in local operations
Inspiring attitude to others
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- Anne MacDonald
- Dale Harris
- Kirsty Lunn
- Nathan Pyne-Carter
-
Export Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- ATL Turbine Services
- Dover Fueling Solutions
- Halley Stevensons
Sponsored By:
Export Business of the Year
Open to any business based in Courier Country that completes a significant amount of its trade outwith Scotland.
Key criteria:
Ability to identify new market opportunities
Clearly defined export strategy
Traction in wider UK or overseas markets
Evidence of service excellence
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- ATL Turbine Services
- Dover Fueling Solutions
- Halley Stevensons
-
Family Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Blue Star St Andrews
- Cairnie Fruit Farm & Mega Maze
- Caltech Lifts
- Crieff Hydro
- Glendoick Garden Centre
- J&D Wilkie Group
- James Donaldson & Sons
- John James Roofing
- Mackie Motors
- Perthshire Caravans
- Powerwasher Services
- Scott Brothers Butchers
Sponsored By:
Family Business of the Year
Celebrating outstanding family owned and operated businesses which call Courier Country home. Open to any business from any sector which has one family member as CEO/MD with at least one other family member on the board. A family business from Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perthshire will receive a regional award and automatic entry into the Overall Family Business of the Year award.
Key criteria:
Evidence of family led operations
Proof of market traction and growth
Local procurement and service excellence
Commitment to developing workplace talent
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- Blue Star St Andrews
- Cairnie Fruit Farm & Mega Maze
- Caltech Lifts
- Crieff Hydro
- Glendoick Garden Centre
- J&D Wilkie Group
- James Donaldson & Sons
- John James Roofing
- Mackie Motors
- Perthshire Caravans
- Powerwasher Services
- Scott Brothers Butchers
-
Games Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Hyper Luminal Games
- Konglomerate Games
- Pocket Sized Hands
Sponsored By:
Games Business of the Year
Open to all businesses operating in the video gaming industry within Courier Country. From start-ups to established companies incorporating games design, mobile app and software developers and those operating in the augmented and virtual reality arena.
Key criteria:
Evidence of clear digital business strategy
Proof of commercial traction and growth
Demonstration of market disruptive behaviours
Investment in local operations
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- Hyper Luminal Games
- Konglomerate Games
- Pocket Sized Hands
-
Growth Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Balhousie Care Group
- Entrust Resource Solutions
- Journeycall Ltd
- St Andrews Brewing Company
Sponsored By:
Growth Business of the Year
Open to Courier Country companies that have achieved sustained growth over the last two years.
Key criteria:
Evidence of a clear business scale-up strategy
Adoption of innovative practices
Commitment to developing talent and investment in local operations
Growth of at least 50% over the most recent two year period
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- Balhousie Care Group
- Entrust Resource Solutions
- Journeycall Ltd
- St Andrews Brewing Company
-
Manufacturing Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Baker Hughes, a GE Company
- Dover Fueling Solutions
- J&D Wilkie Group
Sponsored By:
Manufacturing Business of the Year
Open to all manufacturing companies with a footprint in Courier Country.
Key criteria:
Evidence of manufacturing innovation
Demonstration of quality and safety standards
Proof of market traction and growth
Commitment to developing new talent and investment in local operations
Shortlist
- Baker Hughes, a GE Company
- Dover Fueling Solutions
- J&D Wilkie Group
-
Retail Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Assai Records
- Perthshire Caravans
- Scott Brothers Butchers
Sponsored By:
Retail Business of the Year
Open to any retail business operating within Courier Country, from independent traders to major high street outlets.
Key criteria:
Focus on customer service excellence
Market differentiation
Evidence of online retail strategy
Proof of commercial traction and growth
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- Assai Records
- Perthshire Caravans
- Scott Brothers Butchers
-
Science and Technology Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- ACE Aquatec
- Exscientia Ltd
- SP Technology
Sponsored By:
Science and Technology Business of the Year
Open to any business organisation operating within the sciences and technologies communities. It serves to commend specialist firms delivering innovative and commercially successful products.
Key criteria:
Research excellence and creation of new intellectual property/technology platform
Adoption of innovative practices
Proof of market traction and growth
Commitment to Courier Country
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- ACE Aquatec
- Exscientia Ltd
- SP Technology
-
Service Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- ATL Turbine Services
- Castle Water
- Journeycall Ltd
Sponsored By:
Service Business of the Year
Open to all companies operating within Courier Country providing B2B or B2C services.
Key criteria:
Clearly defined customer service objectives and strategy
Proof of market traction and growth
Evidence of service excellence
Commitment to developing new talent and investment in local operations
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- ATL Turbine Services
- Castle Water
- Journeycall Ltd
-
Small Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Elite Audio
- Jon Frullani Architect
- Tiger Lily Boutique
Sponsored By:
Small Business of the Year
Celebrating the small businesses that form the bedrock of our local economy in Courier Country. Open to any business with between 1 and 12 employees.
Key criteria:
Demonstrating innovation and service excellence
Commitment to developing workplace talent
Proof of market traction and growth
Commitment to local procurement and Courier Country
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- Elite Audio
- Jon Frullani Architect
- Tiger Lily Boutique
-
Social Impact Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Dundee Contemporary Arts
- GrowBiz
- Hillcrest Futures
- Perth Autism Support SCIO
- Rossie Young People's Trust
Sponsored By:
Social Impact Business of the Year
Designed to reward not for profit firms which put sustainability at the heart of their business and is open to any organisation from any sector.
Key criteria:
Significant contribution to the community or environment
Commitment to partnership working and social inclusion
Ability to influence customers and suppliers to adopt best environment, workplace and community practices
Commitment to fostering talent
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- Dundee Contemporary Arts
- GrowBiz
- Hillcrest Futures
- Perth Autism Support SCIO
- Rossie Young People's Trust
-
Tourism and Hospitality Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Carnoustie Golf Links
- Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre Limited
- Perthshire Caravans
- V&A Dundee
Sponsored By:
Tourism and Hospitality Business of the Year
Open to all businesses which provide the best leisure, food and drink, visitor experiences and accommodation within Courier Country; showcasing the region to the world.
Key criteria:
Evidence of service excellence
Market differentiation
Proof of commercial traction and growth
Commitment to adding value to the region
Click here to enter
Shortlist
- Carnoustie Golf Links
- Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre Limited
- Perthshire Caravans
- V&A Dundee
-
Young Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Alpha Projects
- Pocket Sized Hands
- Tour Tag Ltd
- TEXO Group
Sponsored By:
Young Business of the Year
Open to exciting and innovative new companies operating within Courier Country which started trading or launched a distinct new venture within the last two years.
Key criteria:
Evidence of clear business strategy
Innovation and commitment to service excellence
Proof of market traction
Commitment to local procurement
Click here to enter
Fantastic winners Prize:
Insights is delighted to offer you and your senior management team the opportunity to experience our flagship model, Insights Discovery*.
Insights Discovery helps people to better understand themselves and others. It begins with an easy to answer online evaluation that takes around 20 minutes to complete. The individual then receives an Insights Discovery Personal Profile that highlights their strengths and weaknesses, communication style, approach to problems and value to the team.
The Insights Discovery Personal Profile can be used for individual coaching sessions or as part of a team workshop experience. By providing learning that works for you and your team, we’ll help deliver personal breakthroughs that lead to business breakthroughs.
*Up to a maximum of 10 people. Offer must be used by 31 October 2019. For more information and additional terms and conditions, please contact: communications@insights.com
***
Shortlist
- Alpha Projects
- Pocket Sized Hands
- Tour Tag Ltd
- TEXO Group
-
Business of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Announced on the evening
Sponsored By:
Business of the Year
Awarded to a company which stands out from the pack and exhibits determination to achieve excellence in their field and create wealth and opportunity along the way. The winner will demonstrate a sound and flexible business model, turnover growth, plans to expand and a supportive attitude towards its workforce.
The winner will be chosen from all entries and named by The Courier Business Awards judging panel.
Shortlist
- Announced on the evening
-
Outstanding Contribution of the Year
Sponsored By:
- Announced on the evening
Sponsored By:
Outstanding Contribution of the Year
Shortlist
- Announced on the evening
2019 Partners
MHA Henderson Loggie has been serving Scotland and Scottish organisations for over a century now. We maintain a local presence with national coverage, with offices in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. We are proud to be part of the Courier Business Awards which provide a great ‘shop window’ to promote the talent that exists throughout the area. We work closely with businesses of all sizes and we see at first hand the effort that goes into making them a success. Recognising business achievement is, unquestionably, a positive thing to do – it sends out clear messages about the calibre of the organisations operating in this region and, via the Courier, it demonstrates to the wider public the vital role that local companies play as the backbone of the economy. The awards represent tangible recognition and reward for the hard work, ability, energy and determination of the workforces in the award categories and puts the spotlight on the challenges that companies face and how they develop innovative solutions to overcome them. In addition, the awards reflect the knowledge, skills and capability of those located in this part of Scotland and will reinforce the message that Courier Country is a desirable area in which to build and run companies, as the talent pool is here to help businesses succeed.
Visit Henderson Loggie website
MHA Henderson Loggie has been serving Scotland and Scottish organisations for over a century now. We maintain a local presence with national coverage, with offices in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow. We are proud to be part of the Courier Business Awards which provide a great ‘shop window’ to promote the talent that exists throughout the area. We work closely with businesses of all sizes and we see at first hand the effort that goes into making them a success. Recognising business achievement is, unquestionably, a positive thing to do – it sends out clear messages about the calibre of the organisations operating in this region and, via the Courier, it demonstrates to the wider public the vital role that local companies play as the backbone of the economy. The awards represent tangible recognition and reward for the hard work, ability, energy and determination of the workforces in the award categories and puts the spotlight on the challenges that companies face and how they develop innovative solutions to overcome them. In addition, the awards reflect the knowledge, skills and capability of those located in this part of Scotland and will reinforce the message that Courier Country is a desirable area in which to build and run companies, as the talent pool is here to help businesses succeed.
Visit Henderson Loggie websiteAmazon.co.uk opened its virtual doors in October 1998 and is part of the Amazon group which strives to be the world’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online. Amazon is proud to be a part of the Fife community and we are delighted that we now offer behind the scenes tours of our Dunfermline fulfilment centre twice a day, Monday to Friday. Register at www.amazon.co.uk/fctours to see first-hand the magic that happens when you click buy on the Amazon website.
Visit Amazon websiteApex Hotels is one of the UK’s leading independent operators of four-star contemporary hotels. Headquartered in Edinburgh, the family-owned group operates 10 hotels in Dundee, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bath. Known for its signature warmer welcome, the Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa is ideally suited for both leisure and business travellers. Situated within the heart of Dundee city, the hotel and spa provides a modern, premium four-star experience, no matter the occasion.
Visit Apex City Quay Hotel and Spa websiteBlackadders provide a comprehensive range of legal services to individuals and businesses. We are a long established law firm with offices in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth. Our ability to adapt to our clients’ changing needs and to anticipate how circumstances may change has helped us in our delivery of quality legal services and has contributed to our diverse, loyal and growing client base.
Our lawyers collaborate across various disciplines to give our clients the all-round perspective and results they require. Our commitment to training and development ensures that our experts have the professional knowledge and skills to deal with the most complex cases. Our clients include private individuals, SMEs, FTSE 100 companies and high-growth, high-tech start-ups and professional partnerships. We offer our expertise nationally and, as part of the Legus international network, we can ensure a seamless service even when our clients’ interests lie further afield.
Visit Blackadders websiteWe are an award-winning digital agency that combines visionary thinking with reliable technical delivery. Our services include website design & development, digital marketing, and App & software development. Our team is passionate about all things digital and we strive to develop innovative solutions to improve the way our clients do business. Having been crowned Digital Business of the Year at the 2015 Courier Business Awards, we know how important and impactful these awards are. We are proud to sponsor and support the awards once again this year.
Visit Blue2 websiteBrewin Dolphin has been helping people to meet their financial goals and fulfil their aspirations for over 250 years. Founded in 1762 we are one of the UK’s largest wealth managers offering personalised financial planning and investment management advice to individuals, charities, trusts, institutions and financial intermediaries. With 30 offices across the UK, Channel Islands and the Republic of Ireland, whatever your plans for life we can help you achieve them. Generating an income, funding a personal passion, planning for retirement: our first investment will always be in understanding your priorities and building a personal relationship with you.
Visit Brewin Dolphin website
With more 5-star Trustpilot ratings than all other retailers combined, more organisations across the UK are switching to Castle Water for their business water supplies.
One of the UK’s fastest growing utilities, Castle Water is the UK’s leading independent retailer. We are licensed by Ofwat and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland and serve over 550,000 businesses, charities and public bodies nationally from our offices in Blairgowrie, Ayr, Leeds, London and Portsmouth.
We are the leading business membership organisation in Dundee & Angus and part of the worldwide long-established Chamber of Commerce brand. We have over 750 business members who between them employ over 50,000 people. We work hard to help provide members with the business connections and opportunities they need to flourish.
We represent our members’ views and use our collective voice to influence opinion makers. We are passionate about Dundee and Angus and promote it as a world class destination, helping the local business community to thrive. As the fastest growing chamber in the British Chambers of Commerce network, we are proud to work with a strong & ambitious local business community.
Dundee and Angus College has three campus sites in Dundee and Arbroath with more than 12,000 students and offers a wide range of full and part-time courses. Its mission is to generate regional economic growth and social wellbeing through the provision of skills and education for individuals, employers and the wider community. Through its Future Talent initiative, it is moving away from traditional thinking and focussing much more on ‘careers not courses’. This is tied closely into detailed labour market analysis so that learners can identify job opportunities and employers can benefit from a pipeline of new talent.
Visit Dundee and Angus College websiteForth Ports is intrinsically connected to the success of the local and national economies in which they operate. They own and operate eight ports in the UK – Tilbury (London), Grangemouth, Dundee, Leith, Rosyth, Methil, Burntisland and Kirkcaldy. All of the commodities which they handle, export, import or distribute allow the economy to thrive and trade, and enhance the quality of life of many people in the UK and countries around the world. The business strategy is to invest in supply chain solutions, infrastructure and technology to deliver an excellent service to customers across a wide range of key sectors.
Visit Forth Ports Scotland websiteFounded almost 30 years ago in Dundee, Scotland, Insights provides people development solutions that help companies all over the world get the very best from their people.
We use a simple and accessible model of personality type based on the work of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung and a broad range of psychometric models of increasing depth.
Insights creates more effective teams by helping people better understand themselves and others, communicate with impact and tackle pressing business challenges.
Our work is founded in the notion that personal breakthroughs lead to business breakthroughs, enabling increased innovation, creativity and productivity.
Visit Insights websiteNCR is a global leader in self-service technology for the banking, retail and travel industries. Every day 700 million consumer transactions are powered by NCR solutions globally. NCR designed and built its first ATM in Dundee more than 40 years ago. This development started us on our journey to global ATM leadership and since then over 1.7 million NCR ATMs have been shipped globally, all of them designed in Dundee. NCR employ over 500 people in our Dundee Research and Development Centre of Excellence focused on bringing innovative solutions to market for banks in 180 countries all over the world.
Visit NCR websiteNinja Kiwi is a computer game developer with offices in Dundee and Auckland. Founded as Digital Goldfish in 2005 by two graduates from Abertay University the company went on to be acquired in 2012 by New Zealand based Ninja Kiwi. They have accumulated over 100 million downloads on the AppStores.
Visit Ninja Kiwi websiteWith clear, commercially focused advice Thorntons helps you take your business further. Our Business Law teams help businesses of every size. If you’re starting out in business, you need to get practical advice from the beginning. Thorntons can make sure your contracts are fit for purpose and protect valuable business ideas and your brand. If you are growing, again you need advice and support you can trust. Whether it’s managing your estates or your people, getting the right advice is invaluable. Thorntons are there to guide you and can also help with debt management, commercial disputes and succession planning. Our Business Law teams are all specialists, so you can be assured you’re getting the advice you need.
Visit Thorntons websiteWe are Scotland’s most innovative University*. Our researchers share knowledge, build partnerships and make impact beyond the learning and teaching environment. This world-leading research has social, cultural and economic impact across the globe and feeds into our overarching mission – to transform lives, locally and globally through the creation, sharing and application of knowledge. We encourage industry engagement through licensing, consulting, knowledge transfer and collaborative R&D. Our Research & Innovation Services team provide professional support for external research activities. We collaborate with businesses in Scotland and across the world and have over 20 spinout companies contributing to the local economy.
*Reuters 2017
Visit University of Dundee website
Business Gateway is a publicly funded service contributing to the economic wellbeing of Scotland by providing access to free business support services. We give assistance and impartial advice to people starting or growing their business through a combination of:-
A programme of fully funded local workshops and events held throughout Scotland.
Advice to suit specific business needs through a network of experienced business advisers.
Online support – a comprehensive website with practical information and useful guides.
Business information – a dedicated team providing information and support on all aspects of starting and growing a business.
Visit Business Gateway Tayside websiteEstablished in 1984 Fairways Recruitment, with offices in Perth and Dundee, has continued to diversify and grow organically. Fairways provides pragmatic value for money services throughout the employment journey – from recruitment solutions to training and development, HR consultancy and employment law advice to exit strategies, the full 3600 employment solutions service.
Visit Fairways Recruitment website3 Session Street is Dundee’s newest late-night jazz inspired cocktail lounge serving up classic cocktails with a contemporary twist along with boutique spirits and craft beers until the wee hours of 2am (Tuesday – Sunday). The venue is mid-century modern in design offering a unique space, great for casual drinks, celebrations, corporate get-togethers with options to personalise your night-out with specialised masterclasses and tastings. A casual dining offering launches September 2018 featuring locally sourced produce displaying our favourite sharing dishes and small plates from around the world.
Visit 3 Session Street websiteThe School of Business at the University of Dundee delivers an extensive range of business research and degree programmes across the areas of accounting, management, marketing, finance, international business, entrepreneurship and economics.
Visit Dundee Uni Business School websiteThe Rookery has made Carnoustie a destination for locals and visitors looking to experience dining with a point of difference. With stunning views across the course to the sea, this stylish and comfortable restaurant showcases the best produce Scotland has to offer. The Rookery is family friendly and open for everyone to enjoy, serving seasonal lunch, dinner and drinks menus throughout the year. The restaurant offers a relaxing eating space with wonderful service and a sweeping outlook over the world famous Championship Golf Course.
Visit The Rookery websiteLiz Hobbs Group (LHG) is renowned for its highly successful business model of combining music and sport; a concept pioneered by its CEO, Liz Doogan-Hobbs MBE, and is a market leader in the events industry both as producer and promoter of a range of outdoor music concerts and tours, indoor gigs and bespoke events UK wide.
LHG are delighted to have staged a number of concerts in Slessor Gardens to audiences in excess of 70,000 and we remain committed in working in partnership with key stakeholders to maximise the economic and social impacts cultural programmes can bring to the city.
Visit Liz Hobbs Group Limited websiteOpened in July 2018, Hotel Indigo Dundee has transformed a formerly abandoned mill into one of Scotland’s most exciting new hotels. Named as 2018’s Top Scottish Hotel by The Sunday Times, and designed to reflect the vibrant neighbourhood of Dundee, guests can learn about the city’s heritage thanks to lobby decorated with icons ranging from marmalade to computer games. Bedrooms are similarly themed to reflect the city, with custom artwork and accessories hand-picked from locally-educated designers. In addition to luxury accommodations, the hotel is host to Daisy Tasker – their 2 AA Rosette restaurant. Serving a locally inspired menu, the restaurant is open for breakfast well into the night, serving diners delicious dishes in chic surroundings.
Visit Hotel Indigo website
From the moment you arrive down the mile-long drive you experience the magic of Glamis Castle framed against the backdrop of the Angus Glens.
Glamis Castle has been the ancestral seat to the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne since 1372. It was the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, birthplace of HRH The Princess Margaret and inspiration for Shakespeare’s, Macbeth.
Step inside this fascinating and historic building and explore 1000 years of history in the heart of Angus. A visit to Glamis Castle will remain a treasured memory for you, your friends and family long after you leave.”
Visit Glamis Castle websiteGillies was founded in 1895 by James Gillies, moving to Broughty Ferry in 1906 as cabinetmakers, upholsterers and removal contractors before finally opening on the current site as ‘House Furnishers’ in 1939. Since then Gillies has grown the flagship Broughty Ferry showroom to 45,000 sq.ft and added stores in Aberdeen, Inverness, Montrose and Perth.
Over 120 years since the company’s founding, Gillies continues to be family run, and to provide the North East of Scotland with the highest quality home furnishings, carpets and flooring, backed up with the same philosophy of excellent service, innovation and value for money established 5 generations ago.
Visit Gillies of Broughty Ferry websiteEY Scotland employs more than 1,000 people dedicated to supporting the country’s ambitious business community from entrepreneurs to large corporate groups. We think global and act local, meaning we can help your business access world-leading insight, delivered by Scottish teams who understand your market. Our annual programmes, including EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and tools such as Velocity and EY Absolute, provide access to influential networks, create focused growth strategies, and automate complex business analytics to help you outpace your competition.
Visit EY websiteIn 1874 when James Aitken became a wine merchant in Dundee, he could not have imagined how the world of wine would change, or, that over 145 years later the business would still be providing customers with the same dependable Aitken Wines service from WSET trained staff. Aitken’s meet with wine and spirit makers from all over the world to help find the right bottle for their customer, whether it’s a wedding for 200 or a quiet night in for 2!
In 2015, the business used their expertise to establish The Wine Press – a friendly and thriving wine bar in the heart of Dundee’s waterfront regeneration. Now in it’s 5th year, the bar offers an extensive range of wines, local beers, and food as well as the opportunity to use the only Enomatic wine preserving and dispensing equipment in the region.
Visit Aitken Wines websiteJudges
-
Richard Neville
Head of Newspapers, DC Thomson Media
-
David Smith
Managing Partner, MHA Henderson Loggie
-
Catriona MacIness
Editor, The Courier
-
Liz Cameron, OBE
Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce
-
Chris van der Kuyl
Chairman and co-Founder, 4J Studios
-
Gayle Mann
Chief Operating Officer, Entrepreneurial Spark
-
Mike Soutar
Advisor to Lord Sugar, BBC’s The Apprentice
Why enter?
“We are very excited to have won. We have invested a lot of time and energy on bringing the best to the market and our success is really all down to the work of our customers.”
“It’s a fantastic occasion and it’s a great achievement. It has really been a wonderful night.”
“I am just so pleased for all the workforce. It highlights all the hard work they have put in over the past year.”
“We are delighted to win this award. I think it represents all the hard work of our 1500 members of staff.”
“I am ecstatic to have won this award. We did not expect to win at all and to win the digital business awards, which is exactly what our business is all about, is just fantastic, it means so much to us.”
“It’s fantastic to be recognised for a huge amount of hard work. We just didn’t expect everything tonight.Winning the Business of the Year award, and the others we have been given tonight, has just been completely unexpected. This is a huge honour and the whole evening has been a great experience. Everyone at Castle Water is delighted to have been involved. There is a real buzz about our offices at the moment and this award will take pride of place, it will help us take things further. We have big plans for the next twelve months. We will look to continue to expand our business across the country, with some significant growth plans in place. I think Tayside in the past has been lacking in a bit of self-confidence, but things are certainly looking forward. Events like the Courier Business Awards are important, they allow businesses of all sizes from across Courier Country to be recognised for the work they do and earn the recognition they deserve.”
“We are super excited to have won. We are only in our second year and this is our second award, it is wonderful to be recognised locally for the work we are doing to try and change the world.”
“We are very excited to be hear and pretty surprised to have won, to be honest. We were nominated last year so absolutely delighted to win this year. This is testament to the people and groups who we work with and have done throughout the last year.”
“A great thank you to all our staff on a fantastic achievement.”
“We are delighted, we never thought would win to be honest. Both of our sons are involved with the company and our four grandchildren might join too, which would be lovely.”
“I am delighted to have won. These awards are a credit to the area and Tayside and Courier Country is a wonderful place to build a business. I have worked and set up businesses across the world but I have never been in such a good area to do business in.”
“Most people who know me know I’m not speechless very often but I am this time. I just didn’t expect it at all. I came here 21 years ago thinking I would be here for five years but Dundee just got in my blood and now I would not leave it for the world. Let’s not make bones about it – Dundee two decades ago was for some people not the best of cities. But I wanted to try and get ourselves to believe that we could be the best little city ever. We’re getting there now. The recently retired city planner added: “In some ways I’m sad that I’m not going to be there to lead it but there’s so much more to come.”
“We didn’t expect it but we are absolutely delighted. We have been a big part of the community in Dundee for many years and we are so pleased to be recognised.”
“We have been a family-run business for 82 years and it is very exciting to be recognised like this. Who would have thought we would win two awards in one evening, I am delighted”
“Incredibly humbled to have won this award. It has been a very good year for us at Pocket Sized Hands, we have had tremendous support from Abertay University. To be in a room filled with so many fantastic industry leaders, there is such a buzz in Dundee at the moment and it is so exciting to be a part of it.”
“This win was so unexpected, I am really happy to have won. Just being nominated was a surprise and an honour. I am delighted to have won.”
“We entered in 2015 but this is the first year since. Over the last year we have been trying to get our name out there and that’s why we entered again. It’s a bit of a surprise but we’re really pleased.”
“I can’t believe we have won a Courier Business Award for a second year in a row. It was so unexpected, we were just delighted to have been nominated for this year’s award. We used last year’s win as a benchmark, to see how we have improved over the year. We have a terrific team of volunteers and staff who do such a great job, without whom we wouldn’t be where we are.”
“It is absolutely amazing to have won this award. What we are trying to achieve with the business is a fresh and new approach to butchery, so Young Business of the Year award is perfect.”
“Our team have worked really hard this year and recently we have been nominated for quite a few awards. Some we have won but some we haven’t but it’s a complete surprise to win this. We have just opened our office in Dundee too.”