27 June 2016
#1: Going through the application Process: a good business assessment
All entries go through a rigorous judging process and receive tailored feedback that underlines what the business is doing well, and provides advice on further environmental improvement, which includes signposting to free Government assistance.
Lucy Frankel Vegware’s Communications Director, Winners of the VIBES awards in 2010 and 2013, said: “VIBES is a great way to assess the work your business does. We found it beneficial to go through the rigorous application and judging process. The feedback is very informative and helped us to improve our work as an environmental business.”
Sarah Wilson, Marketing Manager at CMS Window Systems, Winners of the VIBES Management SME Award in 2015, said: “The VIBES application process is a great way to assess the environmental, economic and social sustainability of your business. We think applying every 3-5 years enables us to check that we are still on the right track”
Errin Todd, Sea-E-O and Founder of Lobster Pod, Winners of VIBES Micro Business 2015, said: “As a start-up business, the VIBES application process was very useful to identify what information and environmental processes we could put in place. It has been a great opportunity for us to showcase our product in Scotland but also the chance to present at a European level with the EBAE.”
#2: Winning a VIBES Award: opens up business opportunities
Businesses gain recognition of their good environmental practices as we do our best to promote our winner through media, case studies and other means.
John Bathgate, SHEQ Manager at Emtelle UK Ltd., Winners of VIBES Management Large Award 2015, said: “Emtelle is delighted to have won this VIBES award. It is a real reflection of the commitment from our staff and their attitude towards reducing our environmental impact. We continue to enter these awards as they provide stiff competition and to win one means that our performance is at the benchmark level in Scotland.”
Nick Montgomery, Scientific Liaison Officer at Bridge Biotechnology, winners of VIBES Hydro Nation Award in 2015, said: “We won the Hydro-Nation award at the VIBES event at the end of 2015. We find it has opened up all sorts of avenues, that weren’t open to us before we won it. We are talking to different customers now; different markets have become interested in our products. It really has been very beneficial”.
Malcolm Wood, Director of Peel Tech Ltd, Winner of the Hydro Nation Award in 2014, said: “Being a VIBES Award Winner has been a great business opportunity for us. It has enabled us to present our product and extend its utility to other markets.”
#3: Applying for a VIBES Award: Great Networking opportunity
Applying to VIBES is free, with a guaranteed invitation to attend the award ceremony, which is a great opportunity to network with other businesses that have similar environmental credentials.
#4: Winning a VIBES Award: A chance to represent the UK at the European Business Award for the Environment
VIBES award winners are eligible to enter the European Business Awards for the Environment – giving the cream of Scotland’s green businesses a further opportunity to show how good environmental practice is working for Scotland, and raising their profile in new international markets.
Interested? Apply for VIBES2016