We were delighted to host our Annual Awards Lunch in Elgin on Tuesday. Please see Jonny Clark's (The Northern Scot) article below.
FOUR local businesses were crowned winners at Moray Chamber of Commerce's Annual Awards Lunch.
The lunch, held at the Laichmoray Hotel in Elgin on Tuesday, April 19, saw R-evolution For Good, Duffus Estate, Mackenzie and Cruickshank and Brightwork named as award winners.
Almost 60 business guests were present for the event, which was sponsored by Highland and Islands Enterprise.
Sarah Medcraf, chief executive officer at Moray Chamber of Commerce, said: "All four were very worthy winners.
"I know the judges had a really difficult decision narrowing it down and picking the winners but I'm delighted with the results and hope the winners are, too.
"Everybody has had a difficult couple of years, so to come back fighting and be able to give awards of this calibre has been excellent.
"We hope this is just the start of the bounceback from Covid."
The winners were all delighted to be recognised for two years of hard work during the coronavirus pandemic.
Mackenzie and Cruickshank Garden Centre in Forres was named as Small to Medium Enterprise of the Year.
Director Peter Wilson said: "From starting the business 20 years ago with nothing to winning this award in your own county, voted by judges who know the whole county, is just great.
"I'm very surprised. It's a huge honour, but it's the team that the award is for."
The Resilience Award was won by Duffus Estate, run by Caroline and Ed Dunbar.
Caroline said: "We are absolutely delighted. When lockdown hit we had to close all of our cottages.
"We were reeling but we got over the shock and decided to focus on what we could do to come back fighting."
The Most Promising Enterprise was won by newly-launched training and development charity R-evolution For Good.
The business' profits all go straight to its charitable purpose of ending child poverty.
Founder Debi Weir said: "As an organisation that was founded right at the beginning of the pandemic, it's been really tough but worth it.
"We have grown from one employee to 23 in two years so it's going from strength to strength. I'm just delighted for the team, this is going to mean the world to them."
The Corporate Social Responsibility Award was won by Brightwork's Elgin Office.
Director Shan Saba said: "We are a business that believes doing the right thing is the right thing to do.
"Having morals and ethics in the recruitment industry is important and to be recognised for this has such a big impact on us.
"Our success is down to the relationships we have in the community."
