Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce announces shortlist for Business Awards

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce has published the shortlisted companies who have made it through as finalists in the biggest ever Edinburgh Business Awards.

69 nominees have been chosen from record levels of entries across the 15 categories.

Liz McAreavey, Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Chamber (ECC) said: “The judges found this a challenging task, with very high quality entries for this year’s Awards demonstrating yet again the growing importance of these awards in the Edinburgh – and Scottish – business calendar. All of the judges were impressed with the quality of entries, which does credit to the city and its business community in all areas, from innovation to social responsibility.”

In the Best Performing Business category, AM Bid Services, AWS Recruitment, The Yard and Edinburgh Airport were among those who were recognised for their financial and operational successes and for their innovative approaches to expansion in their market.

The Edinburgh Chamber’s commitment to encouraging an equal society was reflected in their announcement of new category for 2018 – Inspiring Partnerships. Hibernian Football Club, The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, Cre8te Opportunities, The Kitchin and Grassmarket Community Project were nominated in this category, celebrating their strong and sustainable business-third sector relationships and the positive effect these have on their respective communities.

20/20 Productions, Doig & Smith and Steedman & Company are finalists in one of the most hotly-contested categories, Developing the Young Workforce, which recognises organisations who support young people into positive destinations.

Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce President Scott Black said today: “We had a huge number of submissions for the ECC Annual Business Awards this year. It’s great to see such a positive response, which highlights the excellent contribution our entrepreneurs and leaders, from all sectors, are making to the success of our capital city”

“With over 500 guests expected in February, we are looking forward to celebrating some of Edinburgh’s top business and third-sector achievements.”

The winners of the awards will be announced at the Awards Dinner at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on 8th February 2018. Colin Temple,
Managing Director at schuh and Sophie Dekkers, UK Country Director at EasyJet were recently announced as keynote speakers for the evening.

For more information and to buy tickets, please contact the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce – awards@edinburghchamber.co.uk or 0131 221 2999.

The full shortlist of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce 7th Annual
Business Awards is as follows:

Best Performing Business 1-10 sponsored by DJ Alexander

Heehaw

Heehaw is a team of creative specialists dedicated to the craft of filmmaking. They
combine video, animation and motion graphics with a knowledge of communication
trends to produce branded films that engage, inform and entertain. Using the power of film, Heehaw help clients connect with their audience to tell their story.

AM Bid Services

AM Bid Services is one of the most highly regarded bid consultancies in the UK. This reputation has been achieved through delivering winning bids for customers and a commitment to train, advise and coach business leaders to bid more effectively, to grow their own businesses.

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The Outcomes Partnership Ltd

The Outcomes Partnership (TOP) is an Edinburgh based SME, incorporated in July 2002. They offer information technology consultancy activities.

AWS Recruitment

AWS Recruitment work in partnership with registered charities throughout the United Kingdom and provide them with the highest calibre of candidates from entry level through to CEO’s. They provide quality service to both clients and candidates and genuinely care about the Third Sector.

Best Performing Business 11-50 sponsored by DJ Alexander

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Grassmarket Community Project

The Grassmarket Community Project offers a mixture of education programs, drop-in services, social enterprise and social integration activities. Though founded on work with those traditionally labelled ‘homeless,’ this project has been extended to adults have been marginalised by lack of opportunity, skills and aspiration.

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Pufferfish

Pufferfish use unique technology, software and content solutions to realise your creative vision. Pufferfish make digital real.

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The Yard

The Yard, is a charity providing adventure play experiences for disabled children and young people, alongside sibling and whole family support, in the east of Scotland.

· Workflo Solutions

Workflo Solutions (Scotland) Limited is a leading supplier
of document solutions including managed print services, multi-functional
photocopy, print and scan technology and electronic management software.

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Specialized Signs

Specialized Signs Edinburgh, the leading sign, print, graphic & wrapping supplier.

Best Performing Business 51+ sponsored by DJ Alexander

·
Mortgage Advice Bureau Network Partner Scotland

Mortgage Advice Bureau Network Partner Scotland search thousands of mortgages
to find the right deal for you.

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Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport is the fastest growing airport in the UK
for international passengers. Our strategy is to grow through choice – we
believe if we can offer our passengers choice at every part of their journey,
they choose how they want to travel and are ultimately happier.

·
Lothian Buses

Lothian is Edinburgh’s principal bus operator and the UK’s
biggest municipal company. The company has a vision to deliver a safe,
efficient, sustainable and socially-inclusive transport service for all those
who visit, live, work, or study in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

·
Activpayroll

Activpayroll is a leading global professional service organisation,
providing integrated global payroll solutions, expatriate taxation services,
and online HR people management tools to over 1,000 companies in more than 140
countries worldwide.

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ESPC

ESPC is the largest property marketing organisation in east central Scotland, and they pride themselves in providing local expertise and continuous support to their clients and customers. ESPC offers the most comprehensive methods of reaching prospective home buyers across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife.

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SYKES

SYKES provides customer interaction management solutions, acting as the interface between a business and its customers. Each year, SYKES handles millions of transactions across multiple channels, including voice, email, chat and social media from customers around the world who never know they are calling SYKES.

Diversity in Business sponsored by Edinburgh Trams

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Dishoom

Dishoom pays loving homage to the Irani cafés that were once part of the fabric of life in Bombay. Opened early last century by Zoroastrian immigrants from Iran, there were almost four hundred of these cafés at their peak in the 1960s. Now fewer than thirty remain.

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The Yard

The Yard, is a charity providing adventure play experiences for disabled children and young people, alongside sibling and whole family support, in the east of Scotland.

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Cyrenians

For nearly 50 years, Cyrenians has served those on the edge, working with the homeless and vulnerable to transform their lives by beginning with their story, helping them believe that they can change their lives, and walking with them as they lead their own transformation.

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Grassmarket Community Project

Responsible Business sponsored by City of Edinburgh Council

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Anderson Strathern

Anderson Strathern provides a complete range of specialist legal services, driven by the needs of their clients and delivered by highly skilled professionals. Their varied client base includes private individuals, commercial businesses, social enterprises, charities and the public sector.

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Ogilvie Ross LLP

Ogilvie Ross LLP provides executive coaching and consultancy support to businesses across the UK, US and Europe. We work with senior executives to develop their commercial skills and business acumen.

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VegWare

Vegware makes compostable foodservice packaging. Vegware’s plant-based catering disposables are designed to break down with food waste in under 12 weeks in commercial composting. Vegware holds independent compostability certification and have conducted extensive trials in organics recycling facilities.

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Lothian Buses

Lothian is Edinburgh’s principal bus operator and the UK’s biggest municipal company. The company has a vision to deliver a safe, efficient, sustainable and socially-inclusive transport service for all those who visit, live, work, or study in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

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Business Fives Ltd

Business Fives has created a new, exciting atmosphere and network for professionals to meet new connections, whilst promoting active lifestyles through playing sport. They are Scotland’s national business five-a-side tournament, with over 2,000 professionals involved in 30 events.

Young Leader of the Year sponsored by Turcan Connell

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Alan Surgeon, AWS Recruitment

Alan Surgeon is Director and Co-owner at AWS Recruitment – a specialist boutique Recruitment Consultancy primarily working within the Not for Profit Sector throughout the UK.

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Sarah Singh, Edinburgh Trams

As Service Delivery Manager, Sarah is responsible for delivering a safe, efficient and reliable tram operation. She has the largest team with more than 80 colleagues which include Drivers, Controllers and Duty Managers.

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Martyn Murray, Click Netherfield

Martyn Murray (28), is Senior Project Manager world leading company in the international museum and heritage sector.

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Chris Kirk, Chisholm Hunter

Chris Kirk (26), Manager Designate at Chisholm Hunter Princes Street. Chris joined
the company in Glasgow 5 years ago as a Sales Assistant and has rapidly progressed to be Manager Designate in the Chisholm Hunter’s new flagship store on Princes Street, Edinburgh.

Inspiring Partnership sponsored by Essential Edinburgh

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The Kitchin with Citadel Youth Centre

The Kitchin has partnered with the Citadel Youth Centre to develop young people – training them in the kitchen and on how to serve and deliver a top quality experience for guests. The partnership led to two ‘Supper at Citadel’ events being hosted by the young people.

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Grassmarket Community Project with Sandemans New Europe Limited Tours

Two and a half years ago Sandemans New Europe Ltd Tours and Grassmarket Community Project established a partnership which was to be transformative and a total game-changer for both.

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Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home with Edinburgh Trams

The strategy for this partnership was ensure a mutually-beneficial relationship. The aim was to raise awareness of the Home’s work to rescue; to raise much-needed funds for the care of these animals; to generate publicity from the partnership and
highlight the work of both Edinburgh Trams and Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home; and to provide a rewarding team-building experience for Edinburgh Trams’ staff.

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Cre8te Opportunities Ltd

Digital Skills Academy started as a partnership between Cre8te, City of Edinburgh Council and Department of Work and Pensions, with Cre8te driving the delivery methodology and the 2 other partners providing funding and access to learners who were unemployed and needed digital literacy skills to help them find and retain work.

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Hibernian F.C. – GameChanger initiative

Hibernian F.C. through its involvement with the GameChanger public social partnership – is forging some inspiring and sustainable partnerships with a number of third sector and public sector service providers, harnessing the power of football to deliver positive social outcomes.

Creative Marketing sponsored by Cameron Presentations

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Lothian Buses

Lothian is Edinburgh’s principal bus operator and the UK’s biggest municipal company. The company has a vision to deliver a safe, efficient, sustainable and socially-inclusive transport service for all those who visit, live, work, or study in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

·
Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home

Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has been part of the fabric of our city since 1883, working in partnership with the council and Police services by welcoming lost or abandoned pets from all corners of Edinburgh and the Lothians.

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Marketing Edinburgh

Marketing Edinburgh is the organisation dedicated to promoting Edinburgh to the world. They promote and champion Scotland’s capital city locally, nationally and internationally. Working with members, partners and stakeholders, Marketing Edinburgh maintain the profile of Edinburgh as a world-class destination to visit, invest, live, work and study.

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Represent

Represent is an Edinburgh-based digital communications agency specialising in public relations, SEO, content marketing, social media marketing and stakeholder engagement.

High Growth sponsored by Edinburgh Airport

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Best Western Braid Hills Hotel

Braid Hills Hotel has stood proudly overlooking Braidburn Valley Park since 1886 and is a true Edinburgh landmark. All 71 hotel bedrooms, 1886 Restaurant and event space was fully refurbished with our final bedrooms completed in May 2017.

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BSC Edinburgh

BSC Edinburgh (formerly known as Edinburgh Language Centre) was established in 2002 and offers a range of high quality programmes for adults and teenagers who wish to learn English in Scotland.

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AM Bid Services

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Farrpoint

FarrPoint was formed in 2007 and is wholly owned by the Directors and senior management. They provide completely independent advice and support on planning, procuring and implementing digital technology solutions and offer independent digital transformation consultancy in support of technology change across the public and private sectors.

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Royal College of Surgeons

Formed following the 500th anniversary of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd), the College’s Commercial Enterprises (RCSEd CE) commenced in 2006.

The task was to market and sell the available space in the impressive buildings, and the Hotel, with the profits then being invested back into the College.

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Mortgage Advice Bureau Network Partner Scotland

Mortgage Advice Bureau Network Partner Scotland search thousands of mortgages
to find the right deal for you.

International Trade sponsored by Regus

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Heehaw

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Click Netherfield

With over thirty years’ experience of bespoke showcase manufacturing, driven by innovative design and engineering; ClickNetherfield is a world leading company in the museum and heritage sector based in Livingston and their clients are positioned worldwide.

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Edinburgh Airport

Edinburgh Airport is the fastest growing airport in the UK for international passengers. Their strategy is to grow through choice – they believe if they can offer passengers choice at every part of their journey, they choose how they want to travel and are ultimately happier.

Excellence in Health and Safety

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SP Energy Networks

SP Energy Networks own and operate the electricity transmission and distribution network in the south of Scotland and the distribution network in Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales.

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Edinburgh Airport

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Edinburgh Trams

Edinburgh Trams is the award winning operator of the city’s tramway with a vision to be an integral part of the future success of Edinburgh and the Lothians by providing world-class, environmentally-friendly and socially-inclusive transport.

Director of the Year sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland

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Lea Harrison, Edinburgh Trams

Lea, Managing Director at Edinburgh Tram, is committed to seeing Edinburgh Trams becoming an even more successful operator and gain the highest possible recognition for service.

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Scott Mitchell, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh Commercial Enterprises

In February 2010, Scott Mitchell commenced as Commercial Director of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Scott attended the University of Dundee and received an MA in Hotel and Catering Management. He came to the College with over 25 years’ experience in the hotel industry.

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Jonathan Rayner, Edinburgh Airport

Jonathan is the Aviation Director at Edinburgh Airport. His experience and expertise in the aviation industry as well as his drive and dedication has been a key driver in the phenomenal growth that Edinburgh Airport has seen over the past few years.

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Andrew Morrison, AM Bid Services

Andrew Morrison, Founder and Managing Director of AM Bid Services, has built one of Scotland’s fastest growing businesses. Now an established industry leading bid specialist, AM Bid Services has won over £1bn worth of contracts for its clients.

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Dominic Taddei, Mortgage Advice Bureau Network Partner Scotland

In 2004 in the Scottish Borders, Dominic and Claire Taddei set up Clear Mortgage Solutions (CMS) creating what is today, one of Scotland’s leading mortgage and protection brokers. The impressive growth of the company is no doubt testament to Managing Director Dominic’s courage.

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Angus MacFadyen, Pufferfish Ltd

Since joining at Pufferfish in 2016, Angus has taken the company through an exciting new phase, reinvigorating Pufferfish, its technology, its mission, its messaging and, more importantly, its people and starting to propel Pufferfish towards fulfilling its potential to be as successful as it has been innovative.

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Michael Field, Workflo Solutions Scotland Limited

The business was established in 2007, by Michael Field who remains the sole director of the company today. The business was founded with no external funding and all growth to date has been organic and driven directly by Michael and his hands on approach to both sales and customer service.

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Celine Sinclair, The Yard

As a parent of a child with autism and The Yard user, Celine joined their Board before being appointed Chief Executive in 2006. Since then, she has spearheaded an enormous transformation to create the sustainable model of whole family support that is The Yard now. Celine has greatly increased the long-term sustainability of The Yard by implementing an ambitious, well planned and resourced growth strategy.

Best New Start Up sponsored by Business Gateway

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Projeckt42

They are a new organisation that brings a variety of activities to the community in Leith, Edinburgh. Projket 42s aim is to work with the community to help build resilience and encourage positive change in people. They aim through delivering a variety of mental health, fitness and yoga classes to help children and adults see and understand the connection between their mind and their body, and appreciate the need to take care of both.

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Business Fives Ltd

Founded in April 2016, Edinburgh based Business Fives has
created a new, exciting atmosphere and network for professionals to meet new
connections, whilst promoting active lifestyles through playing sport.

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Ergo Law Ltd

Ergo Law was set up to bring law firms into the 21st Century. Law is one of the most traditional sectors and they believe that it needs modernising. Our boutique firm specialises in employment law.

Developing the Young Workforce sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce

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Company Net

The IT industry is facing a significant skills shortage.

Technology is an exciting, innovative, and thriving sector with a rock-solid future, yet talented workers are difficult to find.

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Bluebird Care

Bluebird Care provide care at home for older and disabled adults in Edinburgh. Assisting them with daily tasks to enable them to live independently at home for as long as possible.

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Steedman & Company Ltd

Steedman and Company are one of the UK’s leading independent accountants, tax consultants and business advice firms. They have a unique team of qualified accountants; ex-HMRC tax advisors; exbanking and investment professionals; business development specialists and an exceptionally strong business support team.

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20/20 Productions

For more than 27 years, 20/20 productions been providing creative solutions for some of the world’s leading organisations

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Doig & Smith Ltd

Doig+Smith Ltd are Chartered Surveyors, founded in 1936, provide Cost Consultancy, Project Management and Building Surveying Services to the Construction Industry throughout the UK with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Aberdeen and London.

Innovation in Business sponsored by Forth Ports

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Cre8te Opportunities Ltd

Cre8te Opportunities is a successful social enterprise that delivers award-winning services that help to regenerate local communities. Established in 1990, they were awarded Local Enterprise Status in 2003.

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Games without Frontiers

Games without Frontiers’ highly adaptable learning platform has the promise to change the way we learn, educate and teach. Its greater purpose is to introduce this method into UK education thereby providing a solution more compatible with future working environments.

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The Outcomes Partnership Ltd

The Outcomes Partnership (TOP) is an Edinburgh based SME which provides information technology consultancy activities.

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20/20 Productions

For more than 27 years, 20/20 productions been providing creative
solutions for some of the world’s leading organisations.