Star Award: Sponsors revealed as judging gets underway

Oct 1 2010 by Alison Lowson, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

AS the race for the prestigious Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business Star Awards 2010 begins, the nine category sponsors can now be revealed!

This year’s nine category sponsors are as follows:

Perthshire Advertiser Employee of the Year Award

Stagecoach New Business Award

Highland Spring Customer Service Award

A&J Stephen Training & Development Award

Symphony Hotels & Leisure Retail Award

Bank of Scotland Creative Award

Royal Bank of Scotland Tourism & Hospitality Award

A & S Properties Marketing Award

Clydesdale Bank Business in the Community Award

And we can also exclusively reveal that this year’s President’s Awards are sponsored by Perth College UHI.

Businesses from all over Perth and Kinross are vying for a record nine category accolades but with their eye firmly fixed on the coveted overall Business Of The Year 2010 title and trophy.

And all will be revealed at the Chamber’s glittering awards dinner at Crieff Hydro Hotel, Friday November, 26 hosted by Gary Robinson, Station Director with Radio Tay, with entertainment from R3 Tenors and an after party into the wee small hours.

As judges begin the task of whittling all the entries down to a “top three”, Chamber chief executive Vicki Unite said they faced an almost impossible task to select winners from the field of extremely high quality entrants.

“The range and quality of entrant for the awards is very impressive indeed,” she said. “We now have all the entries in and our panels of judges are compiling their shortlists. And then real hard work begins as the judges try to find one business in each category that stands out against the others.

“Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Star Awards are recognised as an indicator of business excellence and this year’s competition has attracted both urban and rural businesses, large and small, new and established,” added Ms Unite. “We’re looking forward to seeing who reaches their goal in November and rewarding their achievements.”

And this year the winners can look forward to securing a fabulous new handcrafted Star Awards trophy designed, created and gifted by glassware experts Caithness Glass.

Chamber President Paul Shields said they were looking forward to another celebration of “the best in the business”.

“The Star Awards celebrate those who’ve made the very most of opportunities they’ve spotted even in these difficult trading times,” he said. “The awards recognise and reward those with sound business skills, determination and drive. They spotlight the businesses that demonstrate how to succeed despite the pressures of the current economic climate.”

Ms Unite also paid tribute to the many businesses who have provided category and support sponsorship to help recognise the area’s outstanding professionals.

“Without the support of all our sponsors this outstanding event simply couldn’t happen,” she said. “The generosity of numerous businesses has allowed us to applaud the outstanding achievements of others in fitting style.”

Tickets are available from the Chamber office by calling 01738 450401 or emailing events@perthshirechamber.co.uk