This year, Elevator is honouring Scotland’s entrepreneurial spirit as it presents its 20th Elevator Awards; an élite showcase of the exceptional range of talent across Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.
Hosted by Elevator with the support of principal sponsor, Royal Bank of Scotland, the prestigious awards celebrate business success, entrepreneurial excellence and outstanding community-driven initiatives.
As a social enterprise, Elevator reinvests surplus income from the awards back into a full programme of entrepreneurial initiatives including its flagship and academic accelerators, Elevator Challenge and its Making It Happen Festival.
Professor Gary McEwan, Elevator CEO, said: “The North-east is home to some of Scotland’s finest entrepreneurial spirit and business creativity, our awards are both a showcase and celebration of this.
“Year after year they present an unrivalled opportunity to recognise success and share the regions ground-breaking talent, a key part of Elevator’s mission and something which is arguably more important than ever.
“This is our 20th year as custodian of the awards, a testament to our contribution in supporting Scotland’s thriving business community - one which we hope to build on throughout 2019, and beyond.”
The 2018 awards saw more than 400 entrepreneurial professionals in attendance and winners included The Alexander Smokery for Most Promising New Business and Jeanette Forbes of PCL Group, who was recognised as Entrepreneur of the Year. Andy Willox OBE, former Scottish Policy Convenor of The Federation of Small Businesses, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award and Rebecca Carr took home the Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year accolade.
Russell Whyte, director of commercial banking at Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “We are exceptionally proud to be sponsoring the Elevator Awards for another year. Rewarding entrepreneurial spirit, growth in companies both large and small, and the significant contribution of business leaders of tomorrow, the awards give recognition to the superlative achievement of those who thrive to see the North-east flourish.
“This is what will maintain our economy well into the future, so it is vital that we foster this enthusiasm and recognise and celebrate the hard work that is happening right now.”
Entries from companies with headquarters in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire operating within any industry are now open.
The 2019 Elevator Award categories are:
- Most Promising New Business
- Business Success Under 3 Years
- Business Success Over 3 Years
- The Innovation Award
- Spirit of Enterprise
- Enterprising Communities
- Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
- Inspirational Mentor of the Year
- Entrepreneur of the Year
The awards are open for entries until Wednesday, March 20, with the black tie ceremony taking place at Ardoe House on Thursday, June 27, 2019. For further information and entry criteria, please visit www.elevatorawards.com