Highlands and Islands Business awards 2006

The Highlands and Islands Business Awards will once again celebrate the wide range of achievement of businesses in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. The awards have been presented over the last twenty one years to some of the area's leading businesses, to small one-person businesses, to those who have been trading for many years and to those who have only just begun.

The main sponsors are Ernst and Young in the Highlands and Islands, The Press and Journal and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. An additional prize structure is sponsored by The Highland Council, BT Scotland, Highland Opportunity Limited and ASG Commercial.

One of the great strengths of the Highlands and Islands Business Awards is in the diversity and quality of entries that continue to be received. The sponsors look forward to this tradition continuing in 2006.

For the first time this year, we will welcome nominations of businesses whom the nominator considers to be a potential award winner.

Categories for  2006

The awards have three main categories:

• Highlands and Islands Business of the Year
• Smaller Business
• Most Promising Newcomer

These are complemented by a tourism award and a series of discretionary 'best' awards.

Highlands and Islands business of the year: Businesses with an annual turnover exceeding £3.0 million or more than, or around, 25 employees are eligible. The winner will receive an Ernst & Young 'Acorn', a brass plaque from The Press & Journal and a free, full-page company profile in all the newspaper's editions.

Smaller business: Businesses with an annual turnover of up to £3.0 million or up to, or around, 25 employees are eligible. The winner will receive an Ernst & Young 'Acorn', a brass plaque and valuable publicity from The Press & Journal, and an award of £1,500 sponsored by The Highland Council.

Most promising newcomer: This category is open to anyone who has started a business in the area since 1st January 2004. Turnover should not exceed £500,000 per annum. Prizes are a BT integrated fax, colour printer and scanner from BT Scotland and a special award, worth £750, sponsored by Highland Opportunity Limited.

Tourism award: This award is open to a business of any size involved in any aspect of tourism. The judges will be looking for a quality product or service and success in identifying, meeting and attracting target markets. The winner will receive an Ernst & Young 'Acorn', a brass plaque from the Press & Journal and a cash award of £1,500 sponsored by ASG Commercial.

Download further details and Awards entry form here.