Aberdeenshire Company Leading the Way for Entries to the 2007 Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise

An Aberdeenshire based company is heading up the herd in entries for the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise 2007. Kirkston Tiling, in Inverurie, has made the first entry in the Young Business category. The Awards, which celebrate entrepreneurial spirit and business excellence in companies of all sizes across the north east of Scotland, are organised by Enterprise North East Trust (ENET) and were launched on Monday 5 February 2007. They are sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland and Scottish Enterprise Grampian.

Scott Miskelly is the owner of Kirkston Tiling, a company providing a ceramic wall and floor tiling service for individual customers and larger house builders. "Since its inception in April last year, the company has gone from strength to strength, and established an excellent name with help only from business contacts and word of mouth," he explains. "Within six months of trading I have secured a large contract with a successful house builder and have also acquired a new vehicle. I have entered the Young Business category of the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise because I am confident that with my continued hard work and initiative, the company can continue to exceed projected figures for success."

Chief Executive of ENET, Chris Travis, comments: "We are very pleased to welcome the first entrant to this year's Grampian Awards. Kirkston Tiling was established following help from the Business Gateway, and the company has subsequently been a regular customer of the services provided. The awards recognise businesses which will be key to the future economic wealth of the north east."

Director of Commercial Banking at the Royal Bank of Scotland Aberdeen, Stuart Heslop, adds: "These awards represent a fantastic opportunity for businesses in the north east region to demonstrate their passion and commitment to the enterprising spirit that is so obviously alive and well in the area. We are very pleased to be playing a role in highlighting the business flair the region has to offer."

Entries can be submitted in the following categories:

• New Business Award
• Young Business Award
• Business Growth Award
• The Alick Buchanan Smith Spirit of Enterprise Award
• Sir Ian Wood Award for Innovation

The winner of the Sir Ian Wood award will receive a cheque of £5000 while the winners of the other categories will each receive a cheque of £2000. The cash prizes and the associated unique handcrafted trophy will be presented at the black tie awards dinner which takes place at Ardoe House Hotel, near Aberdeen on Thursday 7 June 2007.

Each award category has its own criteria and businesses can enter more than one.

More information about entering the awards can be found at www.grampianawards.com. Entry information can be collected from Business Gateway outlets and from Enterprise North East Trust business centres and offices.

Application forms are available online at www.grampianawards.com and by calling Enterprise North East Trust on 01467 672500.

The deadline for first stage applications is Friday 23 February 2007 and the shortlist of finalists will be announced on 16 April 2007. The awards ceremony will take place on 7^th June at Ardoe House Hotel, by Aberdeen.

The Business Gateway service in Grampian is delivered on behalf of Scottish Enterprise Grampian by Enterprise North East Trust. For more information telephone 01224 289725 or visit www.bgateway.com.

Chris Travis, chief executive of Enterprise North East Trust: "The Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise recognise businesses which will be key to the future economic wealth of the north east."

For further information contact:

Sally Wallis

Tricker PR

9 Victoria Street

Aberdeen

Telephone 01224 646491

Mobile 07780 680751

Email swallis@trickerpr.com