Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise 2009
Business Success Celebrated as Winners of Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise 2009 Announced
The north east business community gathered on Thursday 22 October 2009 for the tenth Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise. The ceremony celebrated the business achievements and entrepreneurship of companies and individuals in the north east of Scotland. A diverse range of organisations shared the limelight at this year's event from oil and gas, food and childcare to pole dancing.
The annual Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise are organised by Enterprise North East Trust (Enterprise) and sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council. Held at the Mercure Ardoe House Hotel, Dr Frank Dick OBE, former coach of Olympic gold medal winners Daley Thompson and Denise Lewis delivered the keynote address.
The category winners in the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise 2009 were:
- Promising New Business Award: offshore caterers Entier Limited, Aberdeen
- Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Sian Ajose, Soul-POLE, a pole dancing and fitness school based in Aberdeen
- The Alick Buchanan Smith Spirit of Enterprise Award: ITF (Industry Technology Facilitator), an Aberdeen-based promoter of offshore technology
- Employer of the Year Award; AquaTerra Solutions, an Aberdeen-based provider of work at height and complex access services
- Business Success under 3 Years Award: Abbeyfield Lodge Children's Unit, Fraserburgh which is a provider of residential care for young people aged eight to 18
- Business Success over 3 Years Award: energy efficient ventilation system installers, Active Sustainable Energy Systems Limited from Aberdeen
- Wood Group Award for Innovation: pipe project consultants, flexlife Limited, Aberdeen
- Entrepreneur of the Year Award: Alfie Cheyne of hydraulic winch designers and manufacturers ACE Winches, Banff
- Entrepreneurial Supporter of the Year Award Bob Keiller, director of PSN based in Dyce
- Special commendation was given to Grant Keenan of Keenan Recycling Ltd, Turriff, a finalist in the Entrepreneur of the Year category.
Gary McEwan, chief executive of Enterprise says, "Supporting entrepreneurial spirit is our key objective. The Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise is the perfect platform to celebrate talented individuals and businesses that are making their mark on the north east economy. This year's winners couldn't be more different, however, they share the same ingredients required to be successful in business - tenacity, enthusiasm, commitment and innovation. It is this winning combination that will help to lead the economy out of recession."
Mark Gall, regional director business & commercial banking, north of Scotland for The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) the main sponsor of the event, says, "We were extremely impressed by the lengths that some of our finalists have gone to, to make their business dreams become reality. They are truly an inspiration to us all and clearly show that even in difficult times there are opportunities to be seized."
The Winners