Case Study - May 2006 - Windsave

Scottish Company Wins Major European Environment Business Award

Previous VIBES Award winner Windsave Limited, is celebrating European success after being named a joint winner of the prestigious European Business Awards for the Environment 2006 (EBAE), it was announced today (2 June 2006) during Green Week.

The Glasgow-based wind turbine company was one of three European finalists, the others from Spain and Austria to win the best environmental product category. Windsave entered the European Business Awards after winning a VIBES (Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland) Award in 2004. VIBES winners are eligible for entry into the European Business Awards for the Environment.

Windsave was formed in January 2002 to develop a commercial and domestic small wind turbine generator system using low wind speeds to create electricity. It has developed a supplementary micro-turbine electricity generator using its innovative “Plug'n'Save™” system to deliver electricity directly into the ring mains supply.

Campbell Gemmell, Chief Executive of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) said: “This is an excellent example of an innovative and small scale solution that will help us reduce our CO2 emissions and our environmental impacts. Having already recognised Windsave's efforts through VIBES, we are delighted that they have gone on to win in Europe. This gives further opportunity to raise the profile of their actions as exemplars for others."

Graham Reed, Sales Director of Windsave said: “To have won the best environmental product category is a tremendous accolade for an ambitious Scottish company with global aspirations and we are tremendously excited about the result, which secures jobs for Scottish suppliers."

Businesses from any sector or any type located in Scotland are now being encouraged to apply for a VIBES 2006 award. There are three categories: Businesses with more than 250 employees (large); businesses with between 50 and 250 employees (medium) and businesses with less than 50 employees (small)

The VIBES competition is supported and managed by a partnership of organisations in Scotland: CBI Scotland; Envirowise; Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland; Forward Scotland; Highlands and Islands Enterprise; National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection (NSCA); Scottish Enterprise; Scottish Environment Protection Agency; Scottish Executive and Scottish Water.

VIBES Awards are sponsored by Rolls-Royce Inchinnan and Allied Distillers, Dumbarton.

For further information about how your business can benefit from entering VIBES, contact VIBES coordinator Linsey McGillivray on 01896 754797 or log on to www.vibes.org.uk. Applications should be completed by 30 June 2006.