The VIBES Awards recognise businesses of all sizes and sectors which have shown commitment, action and achievement in their aims to:

• Improve environmental performance
• Enhance the competitiveness of their business
• Support the wider goals of sustainable development

This year’s launch will be celebrated with a free event in your area which will give potential VIBES candidates the chance to gain more information on the awards. You will also benefit from impartial advice from past winners of VIBES who have already been through the process as well as discover the benefits of becoming a VIBES winner. Members of the VIBES steering group will also be on hand to answer any questions you may have.
Entering the VIBES Awards is easy and businesses will be offered support to ensure the process is as simple as possible.

We would be delighted if you could join us for your local VIBES launch event:

Glasgow:

Tuesday 24th April—4-6pm. City Building, Construction Skills Academy, 99 Norfolk Street, Glasgow, G5 9EQ.  Our guest speaker will be a representative from City Building (VIBES Awards Energy Award Winner 2011).  Refreshments will be served.

Inverness:

Thursday 26th April—4-6pm. Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Cowan House, Inverness Retail and Business Park, Inverness, IV2 7GF.  Our guest speaker will be Steve Macfarlane, Glenuig Inn (VIBES Awards Energy Award Finalist 2011).  Refreshments will be served.

Borders:

Tuesday 8th May – 4-6pm. Mainetti (UK) Ltd, Oxnam Road, Jedburgh, TD8 6NN.  Our guest speaker will be a representative from Mainetti (UK) Ltd, a VIBES Changing Behaviour Award Finalist 2011.  Refreshments will be served.

Edinburgh: http://edinburghcentre.org/VIBES-Awards.html 

Thursday 10th May—4-6pm. Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation (ECCI), 15 South College Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9AA.  Our guest speaker will be Hazel Syme, Sales Manager, Rabbie’s Small Group Tours (VIBES Awards Changing Behaviour Winner 2011).  Refreshments will be served.

Fife:

Tuesday 15th May—4-6pm. Brand-Rex Ltd, Viewfield Industrial Estate, Glenrothes, Fife, KY6 2RS.  Our guest speaker will be Paul Lines, CEO, Brand-Rex Ltd (VIBES Awards Management Award: Large Business Category Winner 2011).  Refreshments will be served.

Aberdeen:  

Thursday 17th May – 4-6pm. Aberdeen City Council, 4th Floor West Conference Room, Marischal College, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1AB.  Our guest speaker will be Jenny Wink, Security, PR & Facilities Team Leader, TOTAL E&P UK Ltd.  Refreshments will be served.

If you would like to attend any of these events please RSVP to Eilidh Tait, VIBES Coordinator – vibes@thebusinesspartnership.org.uk by one week prior to your chosen event.

Two of Scotland’s most environmentally friendly organisations have been shortlisted for a prestigious Europe-wide environmental prize, after achieving success at The Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards.

Aquamarine Power and Robert Wiseman Dairies will compete with companies from across the continent for a European Business Award for the Environment (EBAE), which recognise outstanding, new or innovative contributions to sustainable development.

UK finalists at the biennial EBAE are selected from the winners of RSA-Accredited Award Schemes from the past two years. The VIBES Awards is the only award scheme in Scotland that feeds in to these prestigious awards.

The Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland Awards recognise the commitment, actions and achievements of Scottish companies in reducing their impact on the environment. 

Pioneering wave energy company Aquamarine Power is nominated in the Product category at the EBAE, after winning a special commendation at The VIBES Awards in 2010.

The company has developed its innovative Oyster wave power technology to capture energy in nearshore waves and convert it into clean sustainable electricity.

Oyster wave energy technology takes advantage of the world’s vast untapped wave energy resource to produce clean sustainable energy, providing the potential to replace a significant portion of current carbon intensive electricity generation.

Robert Wiseman Dairies is nominated in the Management category at the EBAE, after their Bellshill site won the Large Management Award at The VIBES Awards in 2009.

Robert Wiseman Dairies has demonstrated its commitment to the environment by aiming to use less energy and more sustainable raw materials. To support the strategy the company has also developed an Environmental Excellence Roadmap which is a framework for engaging with staff and highlighting behavioural changes.

The Scottish finalists will now go forward to the next stage of the EBAE Awards and will be assessed alongside the winners from other European countries by a jury who will meet in Copenhagen next month. The eventual winners of each EBAE category will be announced in Brussels during Green Week in June. 

Gillian Bruce, VIBES Chair, said: “We would like to congratulate Aquamarine Power and Robert Wiseman Dairies on gaining this excellent recognition and wish them the best of luck as they represent Scotland at the European Business Awards for the Environment.

“These companies impressed the VIBES judges with their innovation, dedication and support for sustainable practices while also protecting their bottom line. We hope that other Scottish businesses will follow their example, achieve their environmental goals, and gain Europe-wide recognition.”

Malcolm Aickin, Chair of the RSA Environment Awards Forum, said “This year’s UK Entrants represent the UK’s wide range of diverse and vibrant sustainable companies and they cover an impressively wide spread of environmental and sustainable issues. They all deserve recognition. EBAE has an expected 160 entrants from 23 countries so they cannot all be winners there, but strength in depth is a compelling reason for the UK’s consistent performance.”

Congratulations to all this year’s winners and shortlisted companies!

These companies impressed the judges with their innovation, dedication and support for sustainable practices while also protecting their bottom line. We hope that other Scottish businesses will follow their example and achieve their environmental goals.

This year’s event was a great success and an excellent way to celebrate and recognise Scotland’s most environmentally-friendly companies.

If you would like to learn about sponsorship opportunities for next year’s awards please get in touch.

We hope to see you all again next year!

Here is the full list of winners of the VIBES Awards 2011:

The winners are:

Management Award (Large Business Category)

Brand-Rex Ltd

Management Award (Medium Business Category)

Freshlink Foods

Management Award (Small Business Category)

FIS Chemicals

Changing Behaviour Award

Rabbie’s Small Group Tours

Energy Award

City Building

Environmental and Clean Technology Award

Tennant UK Cleaning Solutions Ltd

Transport Award

Calder Cabs Ltd

Waste and Resources Award

Keenan Recycling Ltd

Best Micro Business Award

Glenuig Inn Ltd

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Maitland Mackie

Commendations

In addition, the following four companies received special commendations for their work:

Management Award – Large Business Category

Amey

Management Award – Large Business Category

Robert Wiseman Dairies

Management Award – Small Business Category

M Bruce & Partners Ltd

Waste and Resources Award

CMS Enviro Systems Ltd

With the end of the judging visits, and the award ceremony planning well underway, the VIBES judging panel are proud to announce the shortlisted candidates for this year’s VIBES awards.

This year, 29 businesses  will be competing for nine awards.   All businesses with less than ten members of staff have also been shortlisted for the ‘Best Micro Business’ Award which recognises small firms making a big difference to their environmental impact.

Gillian Bruce, VIBES Chair said: “The VIBES Awards recognise companies which have taken significant steps to improve or reduce their impact on the environment. We are delighted at the diverse and high calibre range of entries we have received this year from businesses.

“Every year it becomes more challenging to make the shortlist with firms developing and implementing innovative new ways to reduce their impact on the environment, and often saving money as a result.

“Our shortlisted companies have impressed the judges with their sustainable practices and dedication to the environment and we look forward to celebrating each of them at the awards ceremony on 29th November.”

Find out who will be competing to be recognised for their green achievements this year here