Glittering ceremony honours businesses
after experiencing the robust judging process.
He continued: “It is a considerable accolade to achieve recognition from such a cross-section of respected business leaders,” he said.
Blairgowrie-based Castle Water, which lifted the Beyond Scotland category award, was named runnerup to the Business of the Year.
Judges agreed that, despite being relatively new to the area, the country’s leading independent water retailer has created “an incredible impact” and supported a large number of jobs.
Elsewhere on the night, the chamber again decided to present an Outstanding Achievement Award.
This year the honour went to Lucinda Russell. The Kinross-shire trainer’s One for Arthur became the first Scottish winner of the Grand National for nearly 20 years and put the area firmly in the sporting spotlight.
Meanwhile, a new category introduced this year saw Athole McDonald, co-founder of Kilmac, crowned Most Inspirational Business Leader.
The company founded in 2004 now has a 100-plus workforce and a £20 million turnover, with the Kilmac Foundation supporting community interests across the region. The award reflects Athole’s “vision, drive and inspirational leadership”.
In total, 17 new Business Stars shone at the 2017 showcase, recognising and rewarding outstanding contributions across the whole spectrum of local business – from tourism, food and drink production and independent retailing to e-commerce, sustainability and business growth.
Leading legal and estate agency firm, Thorntons, was crowned Employer of the Year.
Debbie Fellows, a partner at Thorntons in Perth, said: “We were delighted to be in the running and honoured to take home the title. Winning this award is testament to our commitment to our people across the firm and in Perth.”
Other success stories on the glittering evening included Perthachievement based sustainable accreditation business Green Tourism, which won the Contribution to Sustainability Award in what is the firm’s 20th year.
Managing director Andrea Nicholas commented: “We are honoured to be recognised in this way and feel that it is testament to the incredible work we, and our members, are doing for sustainable tourism in the area.”
Chamber chief executive Vicki Unite said this year’s event - sponsored by Binn Group - had proved “an outstanding celebration of business excellence”.
“Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business Star Awards repeatedly delivers a tremendous celebration of the vibrant business community in this area,” she added.
“It’s wonderful to be able to give them a platform on which to shine and to showcase the amazing quality of businesses based here.”
• See pages 14 and 15 of today’s PA for more pictures by Graeme Hart of Perthshire Picture Agency.