The Alick Buchanan Smith Spirit of Enterprise Award

The “Spirit of Enterprise” is awarded in memory of the former MP for Kincardine & Deeside, the late Alick Buchanan Smith, who was committed to enterprise and the small businesses of his local constituency.

This award is for businesses that started trading before 1st June 2002; it is open to companies and organisations which can demonstrate commitment to the community in which they operate, for example through initiatives which promote community development, staff volunteering, or growth of a business which contributes significantly to the local economy.

The Award also encourages applications from Social Enterprise organisations and their contribution to the local community.

The judges are looking for evidence of:

• a clearly-defined understanding of the community and its economic needs;
• the activities implemented to satisfy that need;
• the effective measurement of the benefits of these activities to both the organisation, its customers, employees and the community

Finalists are:

• C&M Group Limited
• JG Ross (Bakers) Ltd
• Macphie of Glenbervie

Mitchells winners of 2006 Spirit of Enterprise Award:

Keith Whyte, Mitchell's General Manager, looks back at the positive effect of last year’s win. "We were very pleased, and quite humbled by the win. We can appreciate that it was the whole business that won it, and the fact that we were considered for the award, made it to the final, and ultimately won the award, is testament to the effort that everyone has put in.

"In terms of the positive effect it had, it gave us fantastic PR, and good press coverage. Some of our customers and suppliers even sent us some very nice letters congratulating us on the award, which was much appreciated, but which also shows the range of exposure that the awards get in the press. We invested the cash prize back into the business and this opened new avenues that would allow us to further develop the business."