Supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Elevator Awards commend business excellence, entrepreneurial behaviour and outstanding community contributions made by top businesses in Aberdeen City and Shire. Winners announced represent a wide range of up-and-coming companies, innovative organisations and firms from sectors including energy, technology, sport, food and drink, beauty and professional services.
Mike Brown, a Founding Partner of Aberdeen-based Chartered Accountancy firm Anderson Anderson & Brown LLP (AAB), was presented with the accolade at the annual Elevator Awards. Recognised as the driving force behind much of the growth and diversification of AAB, Mike has been involved with the enterprise movement for many years, firstly with Aberdeen Enterprise Trust and then with the merged Enterprise North East Trust, now Elevator.
Meanwhile, the Entrepreneur of the Year Award was presented to Portlethen-based businessman Mike Loggie, owner of Saltire Energy, a leading rental specialist in oil and gas equipment to the global energy sector.
Most recently, he was named as the 2015 Entrepreneurial Scotland Entrepreneur of the Year, overall Ernst Young Scotland Entrepreneur of the Year 2015, and one of 13 business leaders named as UK Ernst Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2015.
Elevator Chief Executive Professor Gary McEwan commented on this year’s awards: “Year on year we are amazed by the number and quality of the applications we have and this is testament to the incredible businesses and entrepreneurs we have on our doorstep. This year has been outstanding, in the face of the current economic downturn we had a record number of entries and the awards ceremony sold out in record time. “
The evening opened with a speech from Royal Bank of Scotland’s Scottish board chairman, Malcolm Buchanan, who used the opportunity to tell the North East audience about the relevance of the area to the bank’s business future: “The Royal Bank of Scotland has supported the Elevator Awards for nearly 20 years and during that time the North East’s business landscape has changed significantly. But as the awards last night showed, one thing has remained consistent – the quality of the companies and entrepreneurs who call Aberdeen their home. The quality of the finalists was superb and the breadth and depth of the sectors in which they operate reflects the diverse business eco-system that exists here.”
The full list of winners of the Elevator Awards 2016 are as follows:
Lifetime Achievement Award 2016: Mike Brown, AAB
Entrepreneur of the Year: Mike Loggie, Saltire Energy
Most Promising New Business: Linton & Mac
Business Success Under 3 Years: Abersea Engineering Ltd
Business Success Over 3 Years: Mackies of Scotland
Grampian Award for Innovation: Churchill Drilling Tools
Employer of the Year: Richard Irvin Energy Solutions
The Alick Buchanan-Smith Enterprising Communities Award: Denis Law Legacy Trust – Streetsport
Spirit of Enterprise: Sheryl Newman - Appetite for Business
Entrepreneurial Supporter: Jai Aenugu of Entrepreneurs Scotland and AskJai.com
Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year: Barry Park of OEM Group
