Scots businesses get seal of approval at SBC Awards

Scottish Business in the Community (SBC) unveiled the winners of its annual awards last night at a spectacular event at Edinburgh’s Prestonfield House.

Joe and Lucy Frankel of Vegware, who picked up the SME of the year award. Picture: Ian Rutherford

The awards, which have been supported by The Scotsman, celebrate companies of all sizes across all sectors that make Scotland a better place in which to live and work. They are seen as a unique opportunity for businesses to be recognised for their achievements by their peers, customers, employees and relevant stakeholders.

Last night’s celebration dinner was attended by the president of SBC, Prince Charles, the Duke of Rothesay. SBC is one of the prince’s charities. Winners included Asda, which received the large company of the year award and Vegware, which picked up the SME of the year accolade.

Jane Wood, chief executive of SBC, said: “This is the first year we’ve opened the awards to all businesses in Scotland and we’ve been thrilled with the quality of the applications.

“Picking a winner was very difficult but incredibly rewarding as the judging panel read about so many great examples of business embedding our core values of fairness, equality and sustainability into the heart of their operations.”

The awards also saw the announcement of the appointment of this year’s Prince’s Ambassador in Scotland. Mike Still, chair of the Business Emergency Recovery Group – an initiative of His Royal Highness – takes the baton from outgoing Ambassador Jayne-Anne Gadhia, chief executive of Virgin Money.

Still, managing director, client service, UK and Ireland, corporate business at Marsh, said: “Building sustainable and resilient communities is only possible when businesses both large and small, individuals, agencies and communities collaborate for the common good.”

The winners last night were: Large company of the year – Asda; SME of the year – Vegware; Volunteering company of the year – State Street; Volunteering team of the year – Scottish Widows (Lloyds Banking Group); Employee volunteer of the year – Emma Blaikie/John Lewis Partnership; Closing the education gap award – DWF; Environmental leadership – The Crown Estates and Elan Hair Design (joint award winners); and Working Better award – Enterprise Rent-A-Car.