24 October 2022
Just a week until the big reveal of VIBES 2022 winners. Getting to the final stage of the VIBES awards is no easy task. All the finalists have submitted details of their achievements in the VIBES application form. However, it doesn’t stop there; finalists go through two other stages of judging: a site visit and through the Head Panel.
Businesses this year range from a small high street dry cleaner to a multinational construction company, innovative lighting services and a whisky distillery. The range of different business types is quite remarkable, and all have a story to tell. Learn a bit more about our 2022 finalists:
- Adelphi Distillery Ltd (Ardnamurchan Distillery), based in the middle of the Ardnamurchan peninsula, have committed to protecting and enhancing the environment by putting the local circular economy at the centre of their operations.
- Aqualution Systems Ltd, based in the Scottish Borders, manufacture and supply hypochlorous acid throughout the UK and internationally, also providing expert advice and solutions. They have now started manufacturing hydrogen as a by-product of this process to help support Scotland become the world leading hydrogen nation by 2045.
- Arran Dairies LTD based on the Isle of Arran, is a fourth-generation family run, food manufacturing, wholesale and distribution business. Taste of Arran business side provide sales, marketing, logistical and technical services to Arran based food and drink producers, coordinating the supply and
distribution of Arran produce to a wide base of customers in Scotland, the UK and internationally. - Balbeg Country Holidays, based just north of The Galloway Forest Park in South Ayrshire, is a holiday let and woodlands business with 400 acres of land. Balbeg aim to consider their impact on the environment in all their decision making to minimise impact and where possible have a positive impact through biodiversity, renewables and engaging guests.
- Beyond Green, based in Edinburgh, are a sustainability consultancy who are helping businesses make better choices by future-proofing their operations, protecting their profit margins, and building their values into their business.
- BlueGreen Glasgow, based in Govan, is a community interest company with a focus on restoring degraded, contaminated, or derelict urban areas into thriving ecosystems and community spaces through ecological restoration and strong community engagement with local groups and businesses.
- Borders College is a further and higher education institution based in the Scottish Borders. As part of their 2020-2025 Sustainability Strategy the college played a pivotal role in developing the Central & South of Scotland Colleges Partnership (CSoSP) which allowed smaller colleges (Borders, Forth Valley and West Lothian) to secure a ‘Sustainability Project Manager’, shared between the colleges, giving them direct support, experience and encouraging knowledge sharing in all aspects of sustainability.
- Bruichladdich Distillery Co Ltd are a whisky and gin distiller based on the Isle of Islay. A certified B corp who assess and monitor their environmental impacts across all aspects of their business
- Dunbia Highland Meats, based in in Saltcoats, is a meat processing site. As part of the wider Dunbia group they are working to continuously improve resource use, focusing on emissions, water, energy, waste and biodiversity.
- Dundee Rep and Scottish Dance Theatre Limited sits at the heart of Dundee, evidencing commitment to sustainability, through planning and putting in place various resource efficiency measures, as well as actions towards biodiversity and mental health support. Furthermore, they are a Lead partner in Creative Carbon Scotland’s Climate Beacon Initiative.
- Dunnet Bay Distillers Ltd is a family-run gin-distillery in Caithness, demonstrating commitment to sustainability in all aspects of business operations - from introducing refill pouches for their ceramic bottles, with freepost packaging returns, to having solar panels supplying a significant part of their energy needs, to sourcing ingredients ethically.
- Edinburgh International Festival
- Edinburgh Remakery is a Social Enterprise based in Scotland’s capital that specialise in Repair and Reuse education, and the sale of refurbished products. Circular economy principles are core to their business model, and they aim to inspire sustainable practices and challenge societal norms around consumer behaviour by advocating for items to be repaired and reused.
- EGG Lighting, based in Glasgow, is a B2B solutions provider in the field of energy and material efficiency, specialising in the project management of LED lighting and sensor projects, providing services from specification through to installation.
- Frasers of Balmaha, based in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, are a group of family run businesses incorporating an Inn, restaurant, bar and self-catering cottages, along with 3 speciality coffee shops, coffee roastery and ice cream parlour and a village shop. They have implemented an array of circular and sustainable initiatives during a period of sustained pressure on the hospitality
industry. - Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, based in Glasgow, is an independent membership organisation promoting commerce throughout the city and beyond. Plate up for Glasgow was Scotland’s first hospitality-led food waste campaign, designed to highlight the global issue of food waste and encourage hospitality businesses in Glasgow to act on reducing Scotland’s environmental impact.
- Green Action Trust, based in Shotts, is an environmental regeneration charity, working with a wide range of stakeholders including local authorities, regional partnerships, landowners, environmental groups and local communities.
- Green Clean Dunblane is a dry-cleaning business in Dunblane offering a service that is safe to the environment, improves the wellbeing and safety of staff, and demonstrates strong commitment to achieving business success in a sustainable way. They use state-of-the-art eco-friendly equipment, recyclable modified alcohol solvent and detergents with no added phosphates.
- Hickory, based in Edinburgh, are a corporate event and catering business based in Edinburgh, with the aim of being a socially responsible, sustainable and ethical catering company. Recently they invested in an online event planning hub to support their transformation to a digitally led organisation, reducing the impact of their business operations and their carbon footprint.
- Highland Council, based in Inverness, is a local authority working in partnership to develop the Hydro Ness project. They are utilising historical infrastructure from a disused hydro scheme and using the surrounding area to create renewable energy, a STEM learning hub and a destination for visitors, connecting to wider attractions in the city.
- Highlands Rewilding Ltd, based in Drumnadrochit, is a company aiming to help rewild and re-people the Scottish Highlands by increasing carbon sequestration, growing biodiversity, creating new green jobs and generating sustainable profit for purpose.
- Hydrowheel Ltd, based in Aboyne, developed an inflatable waterwheel that generates clean energy, is easy to install even in isolated areas, and has minimal footprint on streams, rivers and riverbanks.
- Innovatium Group, based in Glasgow, is a micro business developing technology solutions to meet the challenges of industrial decarbonisation, energy security and energy resilience. Their primary project is PRISMA which is a liquid air battery that integrates energy storage and compressed air for industrial use.
- Kenoteq, based in Edinburgh, are a supplier of low carbon closed loop circular building materials. They have created the closed loop K-briq® which contains over 90% recycled construction and demolition waste, uses 1/10 of the energy in its production compared to a traditional brick and has a 90% lower carbon footprint.
- KR Group (Scotland) Ltd, based in Aberdeenshire, is a provider of Steel and Cladding services in Scotland. They follow the ethos of lean construction to minimise waste by continually reviewing waste generated and energy used from business operations.
- Logitech Limited, based in Glasgow are an SME providing semiconductor materials processing, shaping and surface finishing technology solutions. They design and manufacture precision lapping and polishing systems that deliver high specification surface finish and precise geometric accuracy to meet customer sustainable and societal needs.
- Move On Wood Recycling, based in Edinburgh, is a social enterprise re-using waste wood from the construction and events industries. They collect waste wood and sell quality timber and upcycled wooden products, offering an alternative waste wood collection service across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
- Multiplex Construction Europe, based in Glasgow, is an international construction company who recently completed construction on the Advanced Research Centre for the University of Glasgow.
- OMSI (Omexom Morgan Sindall Infrastructure JV), based in Inverness, is an unincorporated joint venture who are contracted to deliver a project for Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks Transmission reinforcing the existing 275kV overhead line connecting the substations at Blackhillock, Keith, Kintore, and Peterhead, enabling operation at an increased voltage of 400kV.
- ReBlade, based in Glasgow, are the first specialist turbine blade and nacelle decommissioning service in the UK. The focus is on non-destructive, non-landfill management of blade waste thus providing sustainable and environmentally responsible windfarm decommissioning.
- Recyke-a-bike, based in Stirling, are a cycling and training charity focused on repairing bikes and selling them. Through promoting cycling, they aim to relieve poverty within their community, also supporting improvements in health, education and the environment.
- Renfrewshire Council, based in Paisley, is a local authority constructing an innovative low-carbon energy network to provide a cost-effective route to sustainable energy; whilst demonstrating its wider potential, and setting the standard of using low-carbon energy.
- Saltire Roofing & Building Ltd, based in Edinburgh, is a multi-trade company committed to minimising their environmental impacts, cutting their carbon footprint and putting the community at the heart of the business. Over the years, they have been making significant sustainable improvements to their operations.
- SAMS Enterprise - Seaweed Academy, based near Oban, is a marine environmental consultancy. They have created The Seaweed Academy - the UK’s only single-point service for supporting the expansion and skills development of the seaweed sector.
- SAMS Enterprise – SIMBA, based near Oban, is a marine environmental consultancy manufacturing novel autonomous devices (SIMBA) measuring snow and ice thickness, movement, and temperature profiles. The devices can be used to produce high quality environmental data in sea ice and snow environments.
- SRUC Elmwood Golf, based in Stratheden, is an 18-hole golf course and golf education centre which aims to use innovative greenkeeping practices to create a high-quality golf course which is also rich in biodiversity.
- The Leith Collective CIC, Based in Edinburgh, and with shops also in Glasgow and London, is a sustainable and supportive retail concept that allows arts and crafts makers, and other makers, to generate income and thrive without any initial investment in shop space. They offer one-to-one mentorship, business guidance and mental health support, encourage sustainability and the use
of materials that would otherwise be going to waste, and have a policy of no single-use plastics across the shops and in their operations. - ThermaFY Eco, based in Kelso, are a thermal analysis software and data company. ThermaFY identify ways to maximise energy efficiency of homes, reducing carbon emissions and excessive use of energy.
- Trade Right International - Redeem Exchange, based in Greenock, offer an innovative, cost-saving and environmentally friendly solution to reduce plastic waste going to landfill through a simple collect, wash, refill, and return service for plastic hand sanitiser bottles. By introducing a circular economy approach, they can extend the life cycle of plastic bottles by up to 50 times.
- University of Strathclyde, based in Glasgow is a university and centre of excellence in innovation, applied teaching and research in engineering, science, business, and humanities and social sciences. The University has developed an innovative and ambitious vision to create 'Climate Neutral Districts' using a whole system approach and collaborating strongly with partners.
- Verlume, based in Aberdeen is a specialist in intelligent energy management and storage technologies for the energy industry. They offer a suite of products and services across the underwater, offshore and onshore sectors, helping clients to reduce their carbon footprint and decarbonise operations.
- Wood Recyclability, based in Pitmedden, are a small social enterprise providing practical work experience for people with additional support needs through working with waste wood.
- Woodlands Glencoe, close to Fort William in the Scottish Highlands, is a family run tourism business that provide getaway experiences in their luxury hot tub lodges, award-winning golf course and activity centre. Stewardship of the 60-acre natural environment, and moving quickly towards a net-zero future, is core to the ethos of the company both at management level and throughout the 35 strong team.
- YES Recycling Fife and Ecosheet, based in Glenrothes, design, build and operate systems to recycle a range of complex polymer waste-streams.
Interested to be part of our Awards Ceremony on 1st November 2022? Register for our online broadcasting: