Share

SPRINGFIELD SCOOPS BUSINESS AWARD FROM MORAY CHAMBER

The Annual Corporate Dinner of Moray Chamber of Commerce takes place (today) on Friday 18th September at the Mansefield Hotel in Elgin, where the Chamber’s Business Award, sponsored by Moray Council, will be presented to Springfield Properties PLC.

This unique pagoda shaped award, handcrafted from copper by skilled coppersmiths from Forsyths Ltd of Rothes is awarded for investment in the Moray economy. The award will be presented by Deputy Convenor, Councillor Allan Wright and accepted on behalf of the company by Sandy Adam, chairman and grandson of the founder. Springfield was established in 1956 and has remained a family owned company, with it’s principal business in property development and construction. In 2005, Springfield was recognised by the Virgin Atlantic Sunday Times Fast Track List as Scotland’s fastest growing, profitable, private company. Earlier this year the company won three categories in the prestigious Scottish Homes Awards, Conversion of the Year, House of the Year and Apartment of the Year. The company have also recently completed one of their largest projects to date, The Glassgreen Centre, the north’s largest medical centre, a £7million facility at Southfield in Elgin.

The compere for the evening is Peter Mitchell, a well known face in the north east as he has been a journalist for 35 years. The after dinner entertainment is provided by John Htet-Khin, who was born in Burma or Myanmar as it is now called, and who is renowned for his unique after dinner speeches. Top table guests to be piped in to the dinner include Richard Lochhead MSP.

The Moray Chamber Awards for the Most Enterprising Primary School, sponsored by Rothes Windfarm Limited (a Fred Olsen Renewables Ltd related company) will be awarded to Anderson’s Primary School in Forres and the £500 prize accepted by head teacher Gail McIntosh. The Most Enterprising Secondary School, sponsored by The Baxter’s Foundation will be awarded to Forres Academy and the £1000 prize accepted by head teacher Laurence Findlay. These School Enterprise Awards are designed to recognise the commitment made by schools in Moray over the last academic year to the development and embedding of Enterprise in Education within the curriculum.

The Chamber is Moray’s leading business organisation representing, galvanising and supporting businesses of all sizes. Regular lectures, lunches, networking and communication have been taking place as part of an initiative supported by HIE to increase membership and to raise their profile and influence in the area. A key part of what is offered is pulling businesses together across sector and scale, enabling communication between blue-chip players like the banks and small businesses. There are now over 120 member companies from sole traders to some of the UK’s biggest brands including Baxters Food Group, Walkers Shortbread, Johnstons, Chivas, Diageo and the Edrington Group.

President Ron Taylor said, “The Annual Dinner is the highlight of the business year in Moray and is extremely well attended. A fund raising raffle will take place at the end of the evening and this year two local charities have been chosen by the directors to benefit from the proceeds. These are The ARCHIE Foundation and the Moray Group of the Riding for the Disabled.” Prizes have been donated from Kenneth Green Associates, Johnstons, River Isla Design, Bespoke Jewellery by Linda, Walkers Shortbread, CFINE and Home Bakery, Buckie. All guests on the evening will receive a “goody”bag with gifts donated by Kenneth Green Associates, Glen Grant Distillery, Harper Macleod, Ledingham Chalmers and Walkers Shortbread.

An auction will also take place to raise funds for Moray Chamber to be used to run events for the benefit of the local business community. An original oil painting has been donated by John Lowrie Morrison (Jolomo) – “Mooonlight Reflections, cove Sea, Skerries Light”, The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa has donated A Marcliffe Malt Weekend, Eastern Airways have donated return flights for 2 to Norway flying from Aberdeen and Gordon & MacPhail have donated an Exclusive Edition Glen Grant 1965 Whisky which will never be available for retail sale and has been specially bottled to celebrate being awarded “The Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade” and has been signed by the 4 family directors and the Lord Lieutenant.

Although the dinner is sold out any individuals wishing to place a bid for the auction items should e mail info@moraychamber.co.uk or contact Lesley Ann Parker, Marketing & Events Manager on 01340 881226, or direct to the hotel on the evening on 01343 540883.