Ayrshire Business Awards are a big success.

Oct 28 2011 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

SOME of the finest business brains in the county got together to celebrate their wealth of achievements.

And the Ayrshire Business Awards were a roaring success.

The glittering ceremony was the climax of weeks of anticipation.

The Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, who organised the awards at the Gailes Hotel in Irvine, say the quality of entrants was extremely high and the shortlisted nominees reflects the sheer breadth of business success throughout the county – from small start-ups and individual entrepreneurs to long-established businesses.

Host Kaye Adams unveiled the winners.

Val Russell, deputy chief executive of the Ayrshire Chamber, said: “I would like to congratulate everyone who entered not just the finalists and winners.

“The Chamber is proud to be associated with such outstanding companies.

“To have more than double the number of entries this year is wonderful and emphasises the reason we re-introduced the Ayrshire Awards – to recognise the range and quality of businesses we are fortunate to have here in Ayrshire.”

Val continued: “Special thanks must go to the judges who I know had a really tough job and to all our sponsors in particular principal sponsor Business Gateway; their support is integral to the success of this event.

“The Ayrshire Awards is part of the Chambers Business Week which again has seen increased engagement from the business community and we thank everyone for their continued support and look forward to 2012.”

Colin Naismith of Principal Sponsor Business Gateway added “It is heartening to see so many Ayrshire companies doing so well despite the current economic conditions. We congratulate not only the winners and finalists but all the companies that entered the Ayrshire Business Awards.”

WINNERS

Outstanding Performing Business < 25 Employees (Sponsored by Business Gateway In Partnership with Ayrshire Local Authorities)

l A & I Accessory Ltd

Outstanding Performing Business > 25 Employees (Sponsored by Scottish Power Renewables)

lMackenzie Hall Group

Most Promising New Business (Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline)

lTasteee Catering Services

Best Environmental Performance (Sponsored by Nestle)

lDundonald Links

Excellence in Customer Service (Sponsored by The William Tracey Group)

lSercon Support Services Ltd

Tourism Award (Sponsored by EDF Energy)

lThe Cook School Scotland

Ayrshire Family Business of the Year (Sponsored by Bank of Scotland)

lSimpsInns Ltd

Investors in Education (Sponsored by Ayrshire Business in the Community)

lAuchrannie Resort

Rural Enterprise Award (Sponsored by Ayrshire LEADER)

lCraft Town Scotland

lYipworld.com

Health at Work (Sponsored by NHS Healthy Working Lives)

lEDF Energy Nuclear Generation Limited