Not every company can actually win but no one can lose by entering The Courier Business Awards, the main supporter and winners of last year’s event has declared.
David Smith, managing partner of Henderson Loggie, the Dundee chartered accountants and business advisers, and the 2014 winners met to reflect on their success and encourage the Class of 2015 to step forward.
They were unanimous in their view that entering the event to climax in a showpiece ceremony at the five-star Fairmont St Andrews Hotel on November 27 is a quest from which every company gains.
Taking part encourages every company to examine what they do and analyse how they can grow to find more success.
Entering also raises the profile of companies, bringing them to the attention of new customers, and raises the prospect of securing new business.
In the third year of his firm’s association with the awards, Mr Smith said: “It is an incredible, special event. It is like no other event in this area because it allows companies to showcase what they are doing.
“Companies are often insular and work away at their own business. No one sings about what they are doing but The Courier Business Awards allows them to raise their profile.
“It has been inspiring to speak to the winners of the 2014 awards today.
“Some of them are now thinking beyond Courier Country, and how they can develop their business way above and beyond what they imagined before they entered.
“The competition gives them a platform to show their wares, and I urge all businesses to take part. No one can lose.”
Henderson Loggie were very happy to continue to be associated with The Courier Business Awards because it fits well with their own story and ambition.
They were a Dundee firm which grew to become a national firm, Mr Smith said, and that is a journey which competition entrants can follow.
They also represent the whole spectrum of small to large firms in all sectors, reflecting all categories of the awards.
‘RAISES YOUR PROFILE AND HELPS YOUR BUSINESS’
the 2015 awards are headlined by the ultimate accolade of Business of the Year, an honour last year bestowed on jam and preserve makers Mackays.
Martin Grant, managing director of the Arbroath-based company, said: “To this region the awards are hugely important as it allows us to celebrate the fantastic businesses we have here.
“For Mackays it has been a huge endorsement for all the hard work by the company and staff.
“From a credibility point of view our staff have been proud that they work for a business that has been so successful.
“It has been a huge morale-boosting exercise.”
Gordon Anderson represented SP Technology in Dundee, manufacturers of bespoke automation systems and the Science and Technology Business of the Year in 2014.
“Our success has boosted the awareness of our company and was good for our profile,” he said.
“Most of our customers are far away from Dundee so we can’t really quantify our success in terms of local trade, but many more people know about us so it has really put us on the map.
“Any companies out there thinking about taking part should really go for it. You will learn a lot, it will raise your profile and help your business.”
Owen Hazel, partner in Jannettas Gelateria of St Andrews, the 2014 Retail Business of the Year, said: “Winning definitely raised our profile.
“Many local people have come up to congratulate us and are really delighted for our success.
“The competition is definitely worth entering. In our case we were nominated for two categories and won one of them.
“We met lots of interesting people in the process and it helped to focus us to work towards a goal and give us something to aim at.
“Even if you are not successful it allows you to look at your business in different ways. It helps you to implement changes for the better and to sharpen your act.”
The number of categories this year has been extended from 14 to 17.
New prizes are on offer for the Apprentice of the Year, Deal of the Year and the Local Matters Award.
The Agriculture Business of the Year category has been renamed Rural Business of the Year.
Courier editor Richard Neville said the awards promise to build on the success of the last two years and seek to unearth more stories of success.
He urged companies to find out more at www.thecourierbusinessawards.com and enter for their moment in the spotlight.