27 April 2022
With more than 2,500 applications received since the awards began in 1999, the VIBES Scottish Environmental Business Awards has built its reputation, amongst other things, on a rigorous judging process. More than 270 Scottish businesses have been recognised since VIBES started. Here is what our winners told us were the top 5 benefits from entering VIBES:
- An independent assessment of your business
Going through the VIBES application process is a great exercise to stop and have a look at one’s business. This enables you to think about what your business has already been achieved and what extra actions can be undertaken.
Martin McCrimmon, Business Systems Director at CMS, oversees environmental sustainability for the company and said: “VIBES helps us maintain our focus on environmental sustainability and is an independent marker in the sand in terms of our performance.
“We won a VIBES award in 2009, then again in 2015 and 2019, so entering around every five years allows us to stay on track, network and learn from other pioneering businesses to improve even further. And our participation with VIBES helps to inspire confidence with our customer base through our openness to be independently assessed and scrutinised by experts in this field.”
- Free tailored advice
Applicants get assessed by experts from our partner organisations. All applicants from VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards receive free tailored feedback which highlights what the business is doing well and what improvements can be done. We signpost to free help from Government Agencies where appropriate.
Lucy Frankel Vegware’s Communications Director, Winners of the VIBES awards in 2010, 2013 and 2019, 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.”
- Free marketing
VIBES has been running for 23 years and has built a solid reputation around its rigorous three-stage judging process. This is a key strength of the scheme and helps ensure no “green washing”.
Finalists and winners are promoted through our PR team’s work and through winners’ written and video case studies. This all comes as free of cost to the businesses. Winners can use their video case study to further promote their sustainable achievements.
- Opens business opportunities
Winning an environmental business award enables you to have a green competitive advantage. Past winners have highlighted that winning a VIBES award has opened doors for them. Some have won contracts because of their recognition or met good contacts at our award ceremony, resulting in new business.
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 found it has opened up all sorts of avenues, that weren’t open to us before we won. We are talking to different customers now; different markets have become interested in our products. It really has been very beneficial”.
- Makes you a place where people want to work
Winning a business award is great for employee motivation, rewarding their hard work, but is also a great credential for attracting new talent. Current trends shows that job seekers are looking at companies’ sustainability credentials when seeking for a new job. Winning an environmental business award is a great validation of the environmental ethos of your company.
Have you applied for VIBES 2022 yet? The closing date is fast approaching so request your application pack now by emailing vibes at sepa.org.uk.
Entries closes on 29th April, 5 pm.