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2009 Sponsors

Principal Sponsors:

The Aberdeen Business School, at the Robert Gordon University is the principal sponsor of this year's Northern Star Business Awards. Professor Rita Marcella, Dean of the Aberdeen Business School said "I'm delighted that the School has had the opportunity to sponsor the Northern Star Business Awards again this year as they recognise innovativeness, entrepreneurship, drive and dynamic management, all of which are qualities we recognise the importance of and nurture in our students, who are a fairly dynamic bunch."

The Aberdeen Business School will also for the third year make an award for the best Placement host, where nominees will be selected on the basis of students' nominations. Professor Marcella said "This is an an excellent opportunity for our students to become more involved in the business community in the North East and allows the School to acknowledge our gratitude to the hundreds of local companies who provide excellent placements for our students and who have done so over many years.

Visit www.rgu.ac.uk/abs

Supporting Sponsors:

Petro-Canada is one of Canada's largest oil and gas companies, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, and operating in both the upstream and the downstream sectors of the industry in Canada and internationally.

Our International & Offshore business focuses on the North Sea, East Coast Canada, Libya, Syria and Trinidad and Tobago. Our strategy is to grow in four ways: improving the profitability of our base business; expanding and exploiting our current portfolio; targeting new growth opportunities in core areas; and building a balanced exploration programme.

Aberdeen is home to our North-West Europe region, with operations in the UK and Netherlands sectors of the North Sea, and exploration activities in these countries plus Norway.  We believe that the North Sea will continue to deliver strong production and financial results over the long-term. Our production is anticipated to be stable at 85,000 to 90,000 barrels of oil per day for the next five years.

We have developed a world-class execution capability as a sub-sea operator in the UK, where we are pursuing a strategy of "concentric growth" - phased development around our core production hubs of Triton, Telford and Buzzard. We are also investing in new fields and our development pipeline includes the 'Surprise' discovery on block 13/21b-7 and a number of non-operated discoveries in the Golden Eagle area.

Although generally considered a mature oil and gas province, the UK Continental Shelf still offers exciting opportunities for a competent, mid-size operator like us. The future of the oil and gas business in the region lies with nimble mid-size companies like Petro-Canada, who can deliver growth reliably, safely and quickly.

To find out more about Petro-Canada, visit our website at:

Visit www.petro-canada.com

Aberdeen Harbour is one of the UK's busiest ports, and the centre of activity for the energy industry's marine operations in North-east Europe. With trading links to more than 35 countries across the world, the port is a key regional resource and a vital part of Northern Scotland's infrastructure.

With a wide range of industry sectors contributing to record annual traffic figures, Aberdeen Harbour handles over 24 million gross tonnes of shipping and cargo exceeding 5 million tonnes, worth over £1.5 billion.

Following investment in excess of £200 million in maintenance and development over the last 20 years, the port continues to provide industry-leading facilities. More recently, the Harbour Board has implemented a £65 million development and maintenance strategy designed to upgrade and expand capacity. Rolled out over the next 5 years the developments will offer advanced and improved facilities, opening up the port to new opportunities.

Projects in 2009 include further development of the Point Peninsula and work commencing on a major redevelopment of the Torry Quays, providing more space and enhanced opportunities for users to make cost savings through sharing. The expansion of rail links to facilitate sea to rail traffic will enable the removal of freight from the region's roads.

Aberdeen Harbour also maintains a vital link between the UK mainland and the Northern Isles. Throughout 2008, over 130,000 passengers travelled between Aberdeen, Shetland and Orkney and 10 cruise vessels visited the port, linking the city to destinations such as Torshavn and Bergen.  A further 13 cruise calls are scheduled to arrive in Aberdeen throughout 2009.

Visit www.aberdeen-harbour.co.uk

Overall Business Category Sponsors:

Sponsors of the Overall Business Category for small, medium and large businesses

"We are delighted once again to be a sponsor to this prestigious, well established event and are pleased to be involved at a much higher level this year having thoroughly enjoyed last year's dinner" - John Sheran, Director

North East Reprographics is a locally owned Aberdeen and Dundee based company founded in 1995 to operate as a Xerox partner to support Xerox products and services within the North of Scotland.
In 2004 the company underwent a management buyout led by John Sheran and Alex Smith, who between them have 50 years experience in document, copy and print solutions. More recently NER have completed a deal which saw them acquire the majority shareholding in Inverness based company Solution X. This move now creates a one-stop shop for all Xerox customers from Tayside northwards.

Visit www.nerepro.co.uk/

Category Sponsors:

Sponsors of the Commitment to Research and Development Award

ITI Energy is committed to making brilliant ideas a commercial reality

Our extensive research of global markets identifies future commercial opportunities and drives the formation of innovative R&D programmes. These programmes design, develop and deliver platform technologies and enable the formation of new products and services to address emerging market opportunities.

The result is a portfolio of commercially valuable, cutting-edge intellectual assets, which are owned and exploited by ITI for the benefit of the Scottish economy. These assets are licensed to new and existing organisations and stimulate the formation of start-up and spin-out companies.

It is because of this commitment that ITI Energy is sponsoring the Commitment to Research and Development Award

Visit www.itienergy.com

Sponsors of the Rising Star Award

"AGR Petroleum Services delivers reservoir, well and integrated field management services to the upstream oil and gas industry. We add value to our customers through our expertise, innovation and commitment. Being a people based organisation, we do our utmost to attract, develop and reward highly talented professionals and we are delighted to support the Northern Star Awards again in 2009. With its UK headquarters at the prestigious Union Plaza development in Aberdeen, AGR Petroleum Services employes over 100 people locally and 1800 people globally. The company drilled 60 wells during 2008 worldwide."

Visit www.agr.com

Sponsors of the Sustainability award

One of the challenges of sustainability is to present it as a mainstream business concern; it is encouraging therefore that The Northern Star Business Awards has reintroduced an award for Sustainability.

Aberdeen City Council is pleased to sponsor this year's Sustainability Award and is keen to promote the message of sustainable economic growth. The concept of sustainability is more important than ever before and the Council wishes to recognise those companies that are leading by example.

Visit www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

Sponsors of the Socially Responsible Aaward

Discover a service style that’s unusually warm, caring and friendly, beside the golden sands of Scotland’s Silver City. Just a short drive from Union Street, Doubletree by Hilton Aberdeen City Centre provides easy access to major road, rail and ferry links, only 7 miles from Aberdeen Airport. Our first-class facilities and location make us the ideal choice for business or leisure.

Come and enjoy the Doubletree life that’s twice as nice:

• 168 spacious Guest Rooms and Suites

• The Sweet Dreams by Doubletree Sleep Experience

• 9 meeting rooms offering conference facilities for up to 150 people, with on-site parking

• One of the city’s largest gyms, large indoor pool and beauty spa

• A choice of delicious dining venues

For double the indulgence our Platinum Club offers NEW premium services for executives, including:

• Personalised check-in with complimentary drink on arrival

• Exclusive Club lounge providing free Wi-Fi

• Complimentary evening drink and canapés

• Business support services

• Shirt pressing service

• Free Get Fit For Business and Stress Buster personal training

Visit doubletree.hilton.co.uk/aberdeencity

Sponsors of the Woman of the Year Award

On the 29th October, Union Square will open its doors to Aberdeen, marking the start of a new shopping and leisure experience for the north east of Scotland.

The brand new, city centre development promises to deliver an exciting mix of retailers and restaurants, a new 10-screen Cineworld cinema and a 203 bedroom, three star plus, Jurys Inn hotel.

Top UK brands will sit side by side, including British favourite M&S, technology giant Apple, popular baby and maternity store Mamas & Papas, jewellery specialists Azendi and highstreet fashion brand Zara.

Providing much needed refreshments after all that retail therapy are the delicious eateries. Italian favourite Ask or Japanese style YO! Sushi will be perfect for a spot of lunch or an evening pre-cinema meal.

The scheme is also helping to deliver over 1,000 new jobs to the city across the retail and leisure industries.

For more information on Aberdeen’s newest and largest shopping experience, log on to www.unionsquareaberdeen.com

Visit www.unionsquareaberdeen.com

Sponsors of the People Development Award

Aberdeenshire Council works hard to create and sustain the best quality of life for the 230,000 people in Aberdeenshire through the development of happy, healthy and confident people, safe, friendly and lively communities, an enterprising and adaptable economy and a diverse culture.

The Council aims to provide excellent services for all by involving, responding and enabling, finding new and more efficient ways of doing things, providing elected leadership for its area, working with its partners in the North East and beyond and always looking to the future.

Visit www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk

Sponsors of the Achievment in Internationalisation Award

Confiance Employment Services Limited is a Guernsey company specialising in employment services for the offshore energy, marine and related industries. You may already have been aware of Offshore Employment Services (Guernsey) Limited prior to our change of name. Due to our success and continuous growth during the past couple of years we felt that the time was now right to further strengthen our corporate identity with our parent Group Confiance Holdings www.confiance.gg as they undertook a rebranding exercise.

With a Management team that can boast in excess of 60 years involvement in personnel and payroll management specifically in an offshore environment, Confiance Employment Services Limited are probably the most experienced company in their field. There is also a strong personal link with the UK within our ranks, with three members of the management team originating from north of the border and a fourth having stayed in Aberdeen for 12 years before relocating to Guernsey.

Visit www.cesguernsey.com

Sponsors of the Excellence in Customer Service Award

Since their establishment in 1995, Fergus and Glover have led the way in the field of dental surgery in Aberdeen. Today they remain Aberdeen's leading aesthetic and restorative dental practice with a strong emphasis on client care and service. The cohesive team of 28 professionals, who're spearheaded by respected dental surgeons Jacqueline Fergus and George Glover, are wholly committed to delivering excellence, investing in new skills development, and bringing new techniques to the north east of Scotland. Clients are guaranteed to experience cutting-edge treatments tailored to their own personal requirements.

Visit www.fergusandglover.co.uk

Sponsors of the Renewable Energy Award

Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group and its members are at the cutting edge of the global race to build a sustainable energy footprint, having had the foresight to recognise the potential of this burgeoning market almost ten years ago.

This pioneering private-public partnership acts as a catalyst for the transfer and application of over three decades of upstream oil and gas expertise into the renewables industry. Its members are a testament to Aberdeen's energy capital status by working at the forefront of all forms of renewable and clean energy markets around the world.

AREG’s commitment to harnessing the benefits of renewable energy for Scotland and the UK is further underlined by its flagship projects - the Aberdeen Offshore Wind Test Centre and the Energy Futures Centre, both designed to anchor local skills and provide opportunities for continued energy innovation well into the future.

Visit www.aberdeenrenewables.com

Associated Sponsors:

Acergy are a seabed-to-surface engineering and construction contractor to the offshore oil and gas industry worldwide.

We provide integrated services, and we plan, design and deliver complex projects in harsh and challenging environments.

We have a clear vision for Acergy:

To be acknowledged by our clients, our people and our shareholders as the leader in seabed-to-surface engineering and construction.

Safety

Integrity

Innovation

Financial discipline

One Acergy

Visit www.acergy-group.com

Jurys Inn Aberdeen, Opening its doors in September 2009 will be Aberdeen's first purpose built city centre hotel in many years. With 203 guest bedrooms, 4 dedicated meeting rooms, Restaurant, Bar and Coffee Bar, it boasts an ideal location as part of the Union Square Shopping Centre, adjacent to the Railway and Bus Stations.

Jurys Inns Aberdeen Hotel boasts spacious and comfortable rooms all of which are en-suite and can accommodate three adults, 2 people or just one person in complete comfort, making Jurys Inn Aberdeen the perfect hotel for a business trip or a city break. Jurys Inn Aberdeen will be a completely non smoking hotel. In Room Facilities Include
• Flat Screen TV with Freeview Channels
• 24-hour news and sports channels
• Air Conditioning in all rooms
• Comfortable bedrooms with duvets
• Hairdryer
• Tea/coffee making facilities
• Voice Mail
• High Speed Internet Access
Jurys Inns Group are delighted to be opening an Hotel in Aberdeen. Jurys Inn Hotels operate in key cities throughout the UK & Ireland, with Jurys Inn Prague due to open later this year. All Jurys Inns are ideally located for sight seeing, shopping and business, and all of our hotels have spacious comfortable bedrooms to relax in. Jurys Inns, really is "Inn the heart of it all!!"

bmi regional, the UK's most punctual airline is part of the wider award winning bmi group and operates an all jet fleet from regional airports including Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and East Midlands to over 14 destinations.

Unlike our competitors, travelling with bmi regional offers you a choice of benefits both on the ground and in the air.

• The UK's most punctual airline - bmi regional was awarded the most punctual airline in 2008, for the fourth consecutive year
• All jet fleet - bmi regional operate a fleet of Embraer 135 and 145 aircraft
• Choice of Business or Economy - take advantage of the benefits of travelling Business with bmi regional
• Complimentary in-flight food and drink - enjoy food and drink relevant to the time of day
• Lounge access - lounge access for Business and Diamond Club Silver and Gold passengers
• Host of check in options - why not check in online or self check-in at the airport
• Valet baggage service - leave your hand luggage at the side of the aircraft for easy stowage

Visit www.flybmi.com

Source was founded in 2004 to meet demand in the recruitment market place that was not being satisfied. Bridging the gap between executive search firms and the upper end of recruitment companies we are a proactive and responsive company providing innovative and professional recruitment solutions in the skilled disciplines; Finance & Accountancy; Legal & Contracts; Technical & Engineering and Human Resources.

Visit www.source-people.com

Derek Tucker, editor of The Press and Journal, said: "We are delighted to be the media partner for the Northern Star Business Awards. It is one of the highlights of the North-east business calendar, recognising the brightest and the best. The 2008 event was the biggest in the five-year history of the awards and we are looking forward to another memorable evening this September."

Situated in the heart of Aberdeen's West End, Malmaison combines old and new to striking effect in a brand new 80 bedroom luxury hotel, Brasserie and Spa. Since opening in 2008 the unique décor – what might be described as 'tartan with a twist' – incorporating traditional features of the Grade II listed original building with the imposing four-storey extension to the back, has proved a hit with both locals and visitors alike. Bedrooms include four Executive and Terrace suites with stunning panoramas over the city towards the North Sea. Whether you're having a quick steak at the Josper Grill, in for a business lunch from the 'Homegrown & Local' menu, or sitting down for a leisurely four-course affair from our a la carte (accompanied, of course, by a bottle carefully selected by our Sommelier), dining in the Brasserie is sure to be an unforgettable experience.

www.malmaisonaberdeen.com

For 25 years, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) have provided a professional, friendly service in a world-class venue. There have been international congresses, trade and public exhibitions, rock and pop concerts, comedy shows, live sporting events, award dinners, corporate dinner dances, small meetings… the works.

They all have one thing in common, whatever event you’re planning, whatever show you’re attending, AECC know your experience will be shaped by the people you deal with.

All catering at AECC is provided by our award winning in-house catering team who can create everything from small informal buffets to five-course banquets for over a thousand people. We are proud to use the best Scottish resources and support local producers.

The AECC hope you enjoy the delicious culinary expertise of our in house catering team this evening, and we look forward to welcoming you to future events at the AECC.

www.aecc.co.uk

Award-winning Northsound Radio is proud to have served Aberdeen and the North-east for almost 30 years.

Northsound 1 (96.9FM) plays contemporary music and its sister station Northsound 2 (1035MW) broadcasts music from the 1960s to today, with both stations offering a valuable information service through local news, travel, weather, sport and what’s on listings.

Northsound gives back to the community through its Cash for Kids charity, events such as concerts and Aberdeen's Hogmanay celebrations and its pivotal role in the local business community, including the annual Northsound Business Dinner, the Northsound 1 Energy Schools Challenge which aims to raise awareness of the oil and gas sector and address industry skills shortages, and partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce.

The station is owned and operated by Bauer Media.

www.northsound.co.uk

www.carsbybooth.co.uk

www.xic.com