A LEADING light in the North-east’s cultural and creative arts sector has been honoured with a lifetime achievement award at tonight’s Northern Star Business Awards for her outstanding contribution to the region.
Jane Spiers, chief executive of Aberdeen Performing Arts, received tributes from her peers, colleagues and actor Elaine C Smith during the glittering black tie ceremony at P&J Live.
Organised by Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce and now in their 16th year, the Northern Star Business Awards recognise companies in the North-east for their exceptional accomplishments across a range of fields from energy and innovation to people development, customer service and environmental action.
39 finalists joined the 600 guests at the new world class events complex, all eager to find out who would lift the award in each of the 13 award categories.
It was a stellar night for Aberdeen Performing Arts (APA) with the organisation also scooping the Business of the Year award in recognition of its work to create a vibrant cultural hub at the heart of city life, contributing to a diverse, resilient, inclusive economy through a unique arts and cultural offering.
One of the largest arts organisations in Scotland, APA runs His Majesty’s Theatre, The Lemon Tree and the recently transformed Music Hall; as well as providing a box office service for more than 25 venues in Aberdeen and producing the Granite Noir, True North and Light the Blue festivals. With a strong focus on the next generation, APA has raised millions of pounds to support projects which improve the life changes of children and young people from all walks of life.
Chief executive of the Chamber Russell Borthwick said: “The role of the Chamber is to help businesses to be better today while creating the economic conditions that will ensure the future success and prosperity of this region we all love. At the very heart of this success are our people. The Northern Star Business Awards show the diversity, excellence, commitment, innovation and passion of people from across all of our sectors and geographies, and the great strength that we have, when we work together.
“We congratulate the winners and finalists who have once again raised the bar across a whole range of sectors and encourage organisations to draw inspiration from these businesses in order to redouble our efforts to create the economic conditions that will ensure the long-term success of the North-east.”
The winners in the 13 categories were as follows:
- Inspiring Futures
- Score Group and Mintlaw Academy
- Student Placement
- BW Offshore
- Rising Star
- Lee Forsyth, Aberdeen Football Club
- Staff Matter
- Sport Aberdeen
- Marketing Magic
- VisitAberdeenshire
- Inspiration from Innovation
- Balmoral
- Customer First
- Caber Coffee Ltd
- Eco Hero
- Mackie’s of Scotland
- Lifetime Achievement
- Jane Spiers, Aberdeen Performing Arts
- Making the Difference
- Aberdeen Sports Village
- Family Business
- KR Group Scotland
- Going Global
- Motive Offshore Group
- Business of the Year
- Aberdeen Performing Arts
Northern Star Business Awards