Laurencekirk Firm Secures Spot in Final of Prestigious Awards

A company that has grown from 30 staff to over 80 in a year has been named as a finalist in the business growth category of the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise 2007. Laurencekirk based Journeycall provides customer support services for the public transport sector. The awards are organised by Enterprise North East Trust (ENET), which delivers Business Gateway services in the north-east on behalf of Scottish Enterprise Grampian, sponsors of the event along with The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).Winners of each of the five categories will receive a unique handcrafted trophy and a cash prize.

Journeycall, whose clients include Stagecoach Group and Transport for London, operates its own train and bus information service for the general public and is licensed by train operating companies to sell rail tickets. Journeycall has experienced rapid growth since launching with just 2 people in 2003 and expect staff numbers to increase to over 100 in the next twelve months. This month they opened a second contact centre at Brechin.

Business Growth Award finalists will be judged on a number of criteria including evidence of profitable growth of the business, commercial success, and an organisational culture that encourages employee development, creativity and empowerment.

Lesley Stewart, the company's business development director, says "Our success in securing a major contract from Transport for London proves we can compete with much bigger companies and win. Successes like this are largely down to our enthusiasm, team-working and 'can-do' attitude.

"We are committed to staff development and strive to allow staff to reach their full potential. Thanks to a policy of promoting from within whenever possible, directors, managers and supervisors have all progressed to their positions from more junior roles. We consider ourselves a responsible employer, and recognise staff achievements through incentives, bonuses and promotion.

"The entire Journeycall team has worked hard to take the business to its current position. It would be particularly gratifying for me if their efforts in developing the firm were recognised with the Business Growth Award at this year's ceremony."

Journeycall will compete with two representatives of the food and drink industry for the coveted Business Growth Award, in a shortlist made up entirely of rural based businesses. The other finalists are, Huntly's Duncan Taylor & Co Ltd, a rare whisky merchant, and Inverurie based family bakery and fresh food business, JG Ross (Bakers) Ltd.

Stuart Heslop, director of commercial banking Aberdeen, RBS, says: "I consider the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise to act as a barometer on the status of the north east's business development and dynamism. The finalists in this category represent rural businesses that are committed to contributing to the community in which they operate and also show that rural businesses can compete well against the larger city based companies."

Winners will be announced at a black tie awards ceremony on 7 June at Ardoe House Hotel by Aberdeen. Simon Woodroffe, founder of YO! Sushi and one of Britain's highest profile entrepreneurs, will be the keynote speaker. All finalists will receive a certificate with category winners picking up a coveted enterprise award and a cheque for up to £5,000.

Tickets cost £80 per guest (plus VAT) or £800 (plus VAT) for a table of ten and can be booked by calling 01467 672535, emailing Karen.clark@enetrust.com or completing a booking form online at www.grampianawards.com.

For more information on the Business Gateway service in Aberdeen telephone 01224 289725 or visit www.bgateway.com.

Ends

Picture caption: Lesley Stewart, business development director and Quentin Macfarlane, managing director of Journeycall. The Laurencekirk company is through to the final of the Business Growth category at this year's Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise.

For further information contact:

John McIntosh

Tricker PR

9 Victoria Street

Aberdeen

Tel: 01224 646491

Mobile: 07795 522 011

Email: jmcintosh@trickerpr.com