First Round Finalists Announced

The list of first round finalists for the 2006 Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise was announced today, Saturday 11 March 2006.  Once again the awards have attracted entries from a diverse range of industries including the oil and gas industry as well as cheese producers, training and recruitment companies and an outdoor activity centre.

There has been a 27% increase in entries for the 2006 Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise compared with the entry levels for 2005.  Organised by Enterprise North East Trust (Enterprise) and sponsored by The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Business Gateway (supported by SE Grampian), the awards, which are in their seventh year, recognise entrepreneurial sprit and identifies businesses which will play key roles in the future prosperity of Grampian. 

Chris Travis, chief executive, of Enterprise comments, “The calibre of entries which were received for the 2006 Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise was extremely high and is a testament to the drive, determination and innovation that has become synonymous with new and growing businesses in the north east of Scotland.  The thirty six companies which have made it through to the second round have demonstrated a high level of business flair and dynamism.  They must now prepare a more detailed submission which will be judged by an expert panel who will decide which companies will make it through to the final round.”

Stuart Heslop, director of commercial banking, Aberdeen, for RBS adds, “RBS is delighted to once again be supporting the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise 2006.  The event recognises the value that businesses are adding to the North East and provides these organisations with the opportunity to make their achievements known to the whole of Grampian.”

Director of finance and competitive business at Scottish Enterprise Grampian, Colin Donald says, “The Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise always receive high quality entries from businesses across the north east of Scotland.  It is rewarding to see both new and established businesses once again making the most of the opportunity to gain recognition from their peers for their business achievements.”

The first round Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise finalists are:

New Business Award Finalists (£3000 prize) are:
BIGFISH (Aberdeen) Mobile digital advertising and promotions
Capture Imaging (Aberdeen)  Photocopying and printing solutions
Maia Systems Ltd (Inverurie) Machinery and structural asset optimisation products and services
Summit Climbing Walls (Ellon)  Mobile climbing wall
The Craigmyle Cheese Company   handmade, organic cheese making
(Torphins)
TLG Builders of Natural Stone (Turriff) Traditional stone walling; stone building conversions and restorations

Young Business Award Finalists (£3 000) are:
Earthwise Scotland Ltd (Kemnay) design, supply and install Renewable Energy heating systems
NDARG Limited (Aberdeen) IT Solutions focused on Health, Safety, Environment, Quality and Social Responsibility
NovaBiotics Ltd (Aberdeen)  Drug Discovery Biotechnology company
Red Spider Technology Ltd  (Westhill) Downhole tool company
TS Marine (Contracting) Ltd (Aberdeen) Marine and subsea operations support services provider
White Spark Promotions Ltd (Aberdeen) Online print specialists

Business Growth Award Finalists (£3 000) are:
C&M Group Ltd (Aberdeen) Multi disciplined electrical engineering business
Caledonian Petroleum Services  Engineering service company
(Aberdeen)
impROV Ltd (Aberdeen) Design and manufacture subsea remote intervention tooling packages
NOLAN SEAFOODS (UK) LTD (Aberdeen) Fish Processing
The Big Picture (Aberdeen) Integrated creative marketing and communications agency
Wounds UK Limited (Aberdeen)  Wounds communication company

Alick Buchanan Smith Spirit of Enterprise Award finalists (£3 000 prize) are:
Buchan Technical Services (Inverurie) Rental equipment and day rate personnel to support the oil and gas industry
Evolve Training (Aberdeen) Training and consultancy services
Lochter Fishery Ltd (Oldmeldrum) Outdoor activity centre with conference facilities
Millstream Associates Ltd (Aberdeen) Public Procurement services
Mitchells (Inverurie) Milk Producers/Retailers with a grocers and restaurant business
Williamsons Garden & Machinery   Garden and machinery centre;
Centre (Turriff)    Restaurant and Outdoor play facility

Sir Ian Wood Award for Innovation finalists (£5 000 prize) are:
Enovate Systems Ltd (Aberdeen) Solution innovator for subsea well intervention
Gray & Adams Ltd (Fraserburgh) Refrigerated vehicle manufacturer
Insensys Ltd (Inverurie) Performance, reliability and profitability improvement through fibre optic monitoring techniques
Keenan Recycling Ltd (Turriff) Composts all green waste for north east Councils (Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City & Moray; also provides on site shredding and screening services for Highland Council)
NovaBiotics Ltd (Aberdeen)  Drug Discovery Biotechnology company
Read Well Services Ltd (Aberdeen) Provider of downhole technology to the upstream oil & gas industry

Ian Davidson Award for Entrepreneurship finalists (£3 000 prize) are:
Beverley Riach; B.E.V. Recruitment (Aberdeen)
David Priestley; Source People (Aberdeen)
James Cummings Heavenly Pizzas (Aberdeen)
Grant Keenan; Keenan Recycling Ltd (Turriff)
Richard McLaughlin; McLaughlin Agencies (Aberdeen)
Stuart Ebdy; White Spark Promotions (Aberdeen)

Second-round finalists will be announced in late March and will be invited to attend a black tie awards dinner, to be held at Ardoe House Hotel near Aberdeen on 8th June 2006, to see if they have won one of the coveted awards.

More information about the awards can be found at www.enetrust.com.  The deadline for first stage applications was 28th February 2006 and the shortlist of finalists will be announced end March; winners will be selected on 13th April 2006 and the awards ceremony will take place on 8th June at Ardoe House Hotel, by Aberdeen.

Ends

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