Best of the Highlands celebrated at online SCDI awards
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A hotelier who has brought five-star service to the Highland capital has been named the north's outstanding business leader of the year at the SCDI Highlands and Islands Business Excellence Awards.
Tony Story, chief executive of Kingsmills Hotel Group, was named winner of the award by the host of the online event, comedian and impressionist Alistair McGowan.
Mr Story had seen that Inverness lacked a five-star standard hotel offering, and had met that need by opening the Ness Walk in 2019, Mr McGowan told the online audience.
Accepting the award, Mr Story said the success was not just down to him alone, but the 300 plus members of staff.
"Any strategy is only as good as the people who deliver it," he said.
He went on to appeal to the virtual audience to support the hospitality sector's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
"Hospitality is in for a very rough ride," he said.
"We still have a long way to go and any support you can give is very much appreciated."
Commenting later, Mr Story added: "I am delighted to receive the outstanding business leader award. However, I would highlight that no matter the vision or strategy it takes a team to deliver it. Our industry is all about people, and Kingsmills and Ness Walk truly have some of the best.”
Food wholesaler Williamson Foodservice claimed another title for Inverness as winner of the Highland Council Award for Highland Spirit and Resilience.
Councillor Trish Robertson, who chairs the authority's infrastructure, environment and economy committee, praised the family business for its response to the Covid crisis.
Despite losing 85 per cent of its custom as hospitality and catering customers were forced to close at the start of lockdown, Williamson's turned its attention to providing essential supplies for the area and in the first five months of the crisis, delivered the equivalent of 49,000 meals free of charge.
"They served vulnerable communities as national retailers withdrew their services," she said.
"They brought groceries to rural households who had no other option, helping to maintain resilience, confidence and spirit in these areas."
Wiliamson's marketing manager Simon Stewart responded by thanking the judges, staff and customers and added: "We are so proud to have been able to serve the community in different ways and we look forward to working with you all again in the future."
The 2021 Awards saw winners from across the Highlands and Islands, from the best SME winner, software developer Mesomorphic in Shetland, to the marine innovation title winner, independent marine science group SAMS in Oban, and the Cullen Hotel, which won the Crown Estate Scotland Award for outstanding supporter of coastal communities.
Other winners included employee-owned Alness fish processor Aquascot, which won the people development award while fellow aquaculture firm MOWI won the excellence in international business title.
Ben Hadfield, MOWI Scotland's chief operating officer, said: "The last 18 months have been tough for everybody in the Scottish salmon industry. I know how hard the team here at Mowi has worked, especially to overcome the challenges posed by Brexit so it is great to see this acknowledged by the SCDI through this award."
AES Solar of Forres won the award for excellence in upskilling, reskilling and emerging leaders, with Sutherland social enterprise Plastic@bay the winner of the natural capital, climate change and sustainable communities award.
The final award, the SCDI Highlands and Islands Chair’s Award for outstanding business achievement, saw Caithness gin-maker Dunnet Bay Distillers chosen by outgoing chairwoman Jane Cumming.
She described the firm founded by married couple Martin and Claire Murray as a hugely impressive business which exemplified the best of the region.
"Their location is an asset, not an obstacle and they are flexible and innovative in their approach," she said. "This has put them at the forefront of gin production in a region more usually associated with Scotch whisky and I am delighted to honour them with the Chair’s Award for Outstanding Business Achievement.”
SCDI chief executive Sara Thiam commented: “We are delighted to recognise the people who have kept the Highlands and Islands economy going through the hardest of years. Not only have many continued to provide much needed products and services to communities, many have transformed their businesses for the better.
"The ability to work across public, private and third sectors marks SCDI members out and their commitment to people and planet will ensure that they will continue to create prosperity in the Highlands and Islands for many years to come."
SCDI Highlands and Islands Business Excellence Awards winners for 2021:
SCDI Highlands and Islands Chair’s Award for outstanding business achievement: Dunnet Bay Distillers
Alvance Aluminium Award for outstanding business leader: Tony Story, Kingsmills Hotel Group
Benromach Award for excellence in international business: MOWI
Ocean Winds Award for Excellence in marine innovation and growing the blue economy: SAMS
SCDI Award for excellence in people development: Aquascot
The Crown Estate Scotland Award for outstanding supporter of coastal communities: Cullen Bay Hotel
The Harper Macleod Award for excellence in natural capital, climate change and sustainable communities: Plastic@bay
The Highland Council Award for Highland spirit and resilience: Williamson Foodservice
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise Award for excellence in upskilling, reskilling and emerging leaders: AES Solar
The Open University in Scotland Award for SME enterprise of the year: Mesomorphic
