Highlighting the very best in business

Judging for the awards took place last Thursday (13 August).

On the panel were Brian Stormont. regional editor, Alloa Advertiser; George Thomson, CEO, Volunteer Scotland; and George Stevenson, chairman, Scottish Family Business Association.

The huge number of entries were whittled down to a shortlist of three in each category.

The finalists are: Most Promising New Business - Party People Wedding & Party Hire, InnPac Limited and Inglewood House Ltd.

High Street Business of the Year - Smart Specs, Crown Inn and Cala Beauty.

Outstanding Performing Business Award - MRM, Kidz World Soft Play and Nursery and Prowd Enterprise Ltd.

Not for Profit Organisation of the Year - Alloa Round Table, The Gate Charity and Scottish Autism.

Food Drink and Hospitality Award - Wyvis Bed & Breakfast, Cafe des Fleurs and The Bridge Street Kitchen.

Green Business of the Year Award - SV24-7 Vending - (Stirlingshire Vending (Scotland) Ltd), RMD Power & Cooling UK Ltd and Ace Recycling.

The awards will be presented at a glittering ceremony at Alloa Town Hall on Thursday 3 September.

Most Promising New Business Party People Wedding & Party Hire An event decor and equipment hire business, Party People Wedding & Party Hire was started by John McClelland when he was 23. Now, three years on, the Alloa based business has grown to include eight employees and works all over Scotland. They supply hundreds of weddings every year. Their business also helps to support other local businesses, including a laundrette, florist, carpet cleaner, confectionary suppliers, sign writers and blacksmith.

InnPac Limited InnPac designs and supplies clever cardboard packaging for the Scottish food and drink and retail sectors. It has changed the way packaging is being used by introducing innovative ideas and concepts. They have recently increased their staff to assist growth; with its budget having increased for the last three years in a row. All InnPac products are recyclable and bio-degradable and the company is BRC Packaging certified.

Inglewood House Ltd Local businessman Ewan Campbell purchased Inglewood House last year and is transforming the beautiful mansion house into a boutique hotel and spa. He is working hard to maintain all of the original features, including the conservatory that was needing significant restoration. This new hotel in Clackmannanshire will provide over 50 local jobs to the area, further dining options and holiday accommodation for visitors to the area.

High Street Business of the Year Smart Specs Smart Specs provides the same high quality frames and lenses as any high street optician, but at a fraction of the price. They keep costs low by not employing opticians in its store and passing the saving to customers in low cost spectacles. Anne Marie Macklin offers a personal, friendly, welcoming and efficient service to customers. The retailer was awarded a ‘Buy With Confidence’ award from Trading Standards and has been steadily growing its customer base over the last three years.

Crown Inn The Crown Inn prides itself in strengthening local links through customer involvement and by giving back to the local and wider community. It is a family-run business, which is a focal point in the community and they are committed to raising funds for local charities/groups in a safe and friendly environment. Scottish Community Pub of the Year 2014, the proprietors have recently invested in the business through an extensive major refurbishment programme using only local companies/tradesmen in the process.

Cala Beauty Cala Beauty is situated in the centre of Alloa town centre offering a wide range of treatments for both women and men of all ages. The staff at Cala Beauty understand their customers and offer personalised bespoke treatments for every occasion. They are dedicated to offering high quality, tailored treatments to ensure that all clients leave the salon having received excellent customer service and a beauty treatment that they are proud of.

Outstanding Performing Business Award MRM MRM help big brands support customers and distributors with bespoke marketing materials. Their sales have increased by 65 per cent this year and they are on track to hit £1 million by the end of the year. Using entrepreneurial spirit, MRM adapted its business model and moved into a new market which dramatically increased the company’s sales and profit. MRM also launched its first app for one of its existing customers and has recently received an order from a global brewer for a second app.

Kidz World Soft Play and Nursery Now in the eighth year of trading, between Kidz World Soft Play and Kidz World Nursery more than 25 staff are employed. It is a valuable local resource providing physical play and recreation for children. The nursery and after school club have achieved a very good rating from the Care Inspectorate and it has become an integral part of the local community child care provision. It provides much needed after school care for primary schools throughout Alloa and Tullibody, growing from a 30 place provision to a 60 place provision in five years.

Prowd Enterprise Ltd Prowd Enterprises began life when they opened Dollar’s Delicatessen seven years ago. Having sold this business, they are using the cash released to branch out into other areas. They have opened the Bridge Street Kitchen in Dollar, serving the superyacht business through Prow Provisions and they are also developing a healthy hot dog using prime cuts of meat which they hope will be another winner. They won the High Street Business of the Year last year and were shortlisted Outstanding Performing Business 2014.

Not for Profit Organisation of the Year Alloa Round Table The Round Table contributes to the local community by raising money which is then reinvested back into worthwhile causes in Clackmannanshire. Examples include, Funding the Sauchie Foodbank, supplying and delivering over 200 Christmas presents for local children, organising the OAP Christmas Party, support local sports clubs and support for the Alloa Academy school trip to New York. The Table also organises the 5th November Fireworks, the Alloa Half Marathon and the Burns Supper.

The Gate Charity The Gate Charity was set up towards the end of 2011. It has been at the helm of a number of projects and campaigns to help support those most in need within the community; the crisis foodbank, starter packs, the soup kitchen and, most recently, a school uniform bank. In 2014, the charity opened its very own hub, The Gate Centre, which is situated within the former North Church building on Tullibody Road. They won Her Majesty The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service earlier this year.

Scottish Autism Scottish Autism is dedicated to enriching the lives of people with autism. It is the largest provider of autism-specific services in Scotland, providing a wide range of innovative support for children and adults. They maintain a focus on improving quality of life and central to this is recognising that each person has a unique set of needs. Employing 299 people, within Clackmannanshire Scottish Autism has a range of services including vocational services, day services, supported living and education at New Struan School.

Food Drink and Hospitality Award Wyvis Bed & Breakfast The former Victorian mill worker’s cottage which dates back to around 1845 is a Five Star Gold bed & breakfast with spacious quality bedrooms furnished with a mixture of modern and antique furnishings. Wyvis B&B strives to provide quality and comfort for its guests with a warm Scottish welcome, good Scottish food and traditional Scottish hospitality. Nestled beneath the Ochil Hills, visitors can relax and enjoy an afternoon tea, read in peace, play board games, watch television, surf the net, or take a scenic trip around the Wee County.

Cafe des Fleurs Cafe des Fleurs has been a staple of the Dollar community for the last eight years and remains a popular meeting place for locals and groups for social and business purposes. Serving freshly-prepared food, all made on the premises using local suppliers wherever possible, the cafe is renowned for excellent customer service and outstanding home baking.

The Bridge Street Kitchen Kerry and Alistair Prow purchased the Vanilla Pod in Dollar last year. The restaurant had sadly failed, but they set about creating a new and exciting venue. They have a brilliant local chef, source local artisan producers whenever they can. Bridge Street Kitchen (BSK as it is fondly known) serves tapas style sharing dishes (not restricted to any nationality) where customers order together and discuss, enjoy, share each others dishes.

Green Business of the Year Award SV24-7 Vending - (Stirlingshire Vending (Scotland) Ltd) SV24-7 is committed to reducing waste and pollutants, conserving resources and recycling materials at every stage of their operating business. They actively participate in educating the public about environmental conservation and this is included in their sales presentations and customer visits. They continually assess the impact of their facilities and products on the environment and the communities where we live, and operate with a goal of continuous improvement.

RMD Power & Cooling UK Ltd Whether you are looking to save money or save the environment, no business can afford to waste energy. Data centres can be incredibly energy intensive but there are strategies and systems that can be put in place to reduce inefficiencies and RMD is committed to eliminating energy wastage. RMD is also proud to offer power and cooling audits to new, existing and prospective customers to help ensure they get the most out of their systems.

Ace Recycling From humble beginnings, Ace Recycling is now arguably the most successful community recycling business in Scotland, employing over 40 people and diverting over 19000 tons of waste from being sent for landfill last year. With the help of a £1000 Small Business Grant and one employee, Alloa Community Enterprises Ltd (ACE) was launched in 1984. The first venture of the organisation was to establish a furniture reuse project. This project has grown and changed over the years and they now provide new and second hand furniture packs to over 250 homes every year.