Why a competition,

Businesses in Scotland are taking significant steps to improve or reduce their impact on the environment, saving money in the process. VIBES 2010 is being held to recognise and showcase best practice.

The main aims of the awards are to:

• encourage the efficient use of resources
• enhance the competitiveness of businesses
• improve environmental performance
• support the wider goals of sustainable development including social benefits through community and staff involvement

The Awards will be given at a high profile ceremony in November 2010.

VIBES provides a valuable opportunity to have the success of your business widely recognised. The VIBES Awards are RSA accredited, which means that VIBES winners are considered for the prestigious European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE) that are held every two years.

The EBAE Awards play a crucial role in demonstrating progress on environmental and sustainability issues worldwide.

What are the judging criteria?

Entrants will be assessed against the following criteria:

• COMMITMENT
  Is the business committed to good environmental practice and sustainable development and is it part of policy and future plans?
  
• ACTION and ACHIEVEMENT
  Have actions to improve environmental performance and sustainable development been taken and what has been achieved as a result?
  

Who can apply?

The VIBES awards are open to any Scottish based business that contributes to the sustainable development of Scotland in some way. If you have taken an effective approach to environmental improvement and sustainable development, either across the whole of your business or by focussing on only one of your activities, you could be eligible for a VIBES award.

How are the winners selected?

Site visits will be used to select winners from the short-listed candidates. The overall winners will be elected by a judging panel.