A young Oldmeldrum based company, is celebrating today after winning the award for New Business at the sixth annual Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise held last night (Thursday 9 June 2005).

Poseidon Engineering was honoured in front of an audience of 430 north east business men and women at the awards ceremony held at Ardoe House Hotel. Karren Brady, Managing Director Birmingham City Football Club, and Gordon Merrylees, Head of Regional Operations Scotland for The Royal Bank of Scotland, delivered keynote addresses at the prestigious event.

The New Business award recognises businesses that have been trading for less than one year and have shown potential to be a key business in the future.

Poseidon Engineering was established in December 2004 to provide a precision waterjet cutting service to the north east of Scotland. The company has installed one of the most technologically advanced machines available today and the only one of its kind in the UK. It uses high velocity water and garnet to erode material precisely and can cut any material from ornate granite, glass and ceramics to 10 inch steel for engineering and fabrication use. It has seen business soar since it was established, bringing fresh revenue and employment opportunities to the Grampian area.

The Awards recognise business achievement in the north east for companies of all sizes and enterprising individuals and are organised by Enterprise North East Trust and sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland and Business Gateway (in association with Scottish Enterprise Grampian).

Chris Travis, chief executive of Enterprise, says, "There was an overwhelming response to the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise this year with a 65% increase in entries. This speaks volumes about the quality and enterprising spirit of new and existing businesses in the north east of Scotland and the diverse range of industries that are thriving in the area. It was easy to see how the north east earned its reputation as a centre for business formation when judging the entries, which proved to be an extremely difficult task."

Gordon Merrylees, Head of Regional Operations Scotland for The Royal Bank of Scotland, delivered a keynote address at the event. "The Royal Bank of Scotland pays tribute to the winners and to all those who were short listed. We have sponsored this event for four consecutive years and this was a truly impressive shortlist of finalists. All are bright and exciting businesses and they provide strong evidence of the entrepreneurial culture and thriving business diversity in the Grampian region. Each finalist represents the success that can be enjoyed from hard work, innovation and inspiration."

All finalists received a certificate with category winners picking up a unique enterprise award and a cheque for up to £5, 000. The awards are run by Enterprise North East Trust, the leading north east business support company.

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