VIBES on the hunt for the best green businesses in Glasgow

Applications are now open for the 16th annual VIBES Awards and businesses throughout Glasgow are encouraged to enter!

Article Source: VIBES Awards
Last Updated: 15 May 2015 11:47

The search is on for Scotland's green business champions. Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) is Scotland’s leading environmental awards scheme, recognising and rewarding businesses that contribute to Scotland’s sustainable development through improving processes or developing new products and services. The awards are free to enter and applications can be submitted until 5pm on Monday 13th July.

Open to businesses of all sizes and sectors, VIBES aims to encourage efficient use of resources, enhance business competitiveness, improve environmental performance and support wider sustainable development goals.

There are seven award categories open for entry this year including; Management Large, Management SME, Environmental Product or Service, Transport, Co-operation, Hydro-Nation and Circular Economy. In addition to this, the Micro Business Award will be presented to the best entry to any category from a company with less than 10 employees.

Last year’s awards saw 10 businesses take the coveted green title, including Glasgow based BAE Systems Naval Ships, Jessie Mac’s B&B in Perthshire, Fife HARCA Ltd. and Peel Tech Ltd. from Fife, Keenan Recycling Ltd. in Aberdeenshire, IRT Surveys Ltd in Dundee and Soilutions Ltd and Wind & Cloud Travel Ltd both in Edinburgh. GRAHAM Construction and Celtic Renewables Ltd. also received commendations.

Over the years Glasgow has achieved great success in the awards with previous winners including; Freshlink Foods, GRAHAM Construction and City Building.

Gillian Bruce, chair of the VIBES Awards, said: “Sustainable practices are becoming absolutely crucial to businesses of every kind and through VIBES we want to encourage the fantastic work being done by so many businesses that are working hard to make Scotland more environmentally aware.

“Over the years we have seen some fantastic ideas from a range of different sectors and we’re looking forward to seeing the work of Scotland’s businesses as we celebrate our sixteenth year of the VIBES Awards. We’d encourage businesses in Glasgow to enter for their chance to join the city’s growing list of sustainable VIBES champions.”

VIBES is also offering businesses the opportunity to hear from former winners at a series of free events across the country. The events will provide businesses with more information on the awards as well as offering an opportunity to pick up helpful tips from previous sustainable champions.

Gillian continued: “The events will be a great way for businesses to find out more information on the awards and the opportunities they present without feeling obliged to commit to anything. As well as hearing from a number of previous winners, each event also provides great networking opportunities for like-minded businesses. In addition to these events, we will also host sessions designed to help businesses complete their application forms.”

Sponsoring the awards this year are Scottish Government, ScottishPower, Zero Waste Scotland, Brand-Rex and The University of Stirling Management School.

VIBES is a strategic partnership between Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Scottish Water, Scottish Enterprise, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Zero Waste Scotland, Energy Saving Trust and Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group. The Awards are further supported by CBI Scotland, the Institute of Directors, the Federation of Small Businesses and Bright Green Business.

The Awards are accredited by the RSA Environment Awards Accreditation Scheme (www.rsaaccreditation.org).

For more information on VIBES or to obtain an application from, please visit www.vibes.org.uk. To request your attendance at one of the events, please register through Eventbrite www.vibesawards.eventbrite.co.uk or email: vibes@sepa.org.uk