Runners-Up @ Fife Business Awards

By Mike McPartlin (Scottish Enterprise Fife)

Eight of the Kingdom’s top companies were honoured last night (Friday, March 5) at a glittering ceremony held to celebrate the winners of the Fife Business Awards 2004.

Scothosts Limited missed out on the top award in the best performing business (under 25 employees) category, this award was won by Cameron Harris Design & Build, one of Scothosts longest standing clients.

The gala event, which attracted more than 300 guests, was held at the Rothes Halls in Glenrothes and hosted by TV presenter Jackie Bird. The awards, which are spearheaded by Scottish Enterprise (SE) Fife in conjunction with principal sponsors the Royal Bank of Scotland, are viewed by local organisations as the premier event in the calendar for recognising industry excellence.

During the evening dinner event, guests were addressed by Joe Noble, chief executive SE Fife, and Stephen Bremner, Commercial Banking Director, Royal Bank of Scotland, as well as Fred Bowden, chairman of SE Fife and Councillor Anne McGovern, Leader of Fife Council. Musical entertainment was provided by special surprise guests Tenors & Divas Incognito.

The Awards highlighted the various successes which Fife businesses, from a myriad of sectors, have achieved over the past 12 months. The eight companies who came top from a total of 23 shortlisted finalists from across the Kingdom were:-

• Best Performing Business (over 25 employees) - Raytheon Systems Ltd, Glenrothes
• Best Performing Business (25 employees or under) - Cameron Harris Design & Build Ltd, Dunfermline
• Customer Service Excellence - Morton of Pitmilly, St Andrews
• E-Business - The PSM Law Group, Dunfermline
• Excellence in Skills and Learning - St Andrews Bay Golf Resort & Spa, St Andrews
• Innovation and Technology - i-design multimedia ltd, Newport-on-Tay
• International Business - Silberline Ltd, Leven
• Most Entrepreneurial Young Company - Ten 47 Ltd, Kirkcaldy

As well as receiving a specially designed trophy, each award winner also picked up a £5,000 prize package, consisting of cash and intervention support from SE Fife. They also automatically qualify for entry to SE’s Enterprising Scotland Awards this June, which will showcase the best companies the country has to offer.

Joe Noble commented: “I’d like to congratulate each of the eight award winning companies, who have all demonstrated excellence in their own particular field by taking a dynamic approach over the past year and benefiting from their ingenuity.

“The quality of entries to this year’s Fife Business Awards was of an exceptionally high standard, which makes the winners’ achievements all the more impressive. I am thrilled these exemplar companies will now go on to fly the flag for Fife at the forthcoming Scottish Enterprise national business awards.

“Competitions such as the Fife Business Awards demonstrate not only the high quality of businesses which thrive in the Kingdom, but also the value of investing in the economy to nourish and grow the businesses of the future. Collectively, tonight’s winners and runners-up are a shining example of the best Fife has to offer.”

Stephen Bremner said: “We are proud to support these prestigious awards, and I would like to offer my congratulations to the worthy winners of each category. The achievements of these companies, operating in various sectors, have marked them out ahead of their peers and they are a credit to the positive economic activity which is taking place in Fife right now.”

The Fife Business Awards are also sponsored by Fife Chamber of Commerce, Business Gateway Fife, Job Centre Plus, the Institute of Business and Management, Fife Council, Diageo plc and the Fife Free Press.