North-east firms are being urged to follow the example of one of last year’s prizewinners and enter the Elevator Awards.
The entry deadline is looming for this year’s event – applications must be in by Friday, March 11 – and companies around the region have 10 categories to choose from.
Whoever wins the most promising new business accolade will take heart from the 2015 winner, Aberdeen venture Bagels & Stuff, which is thriving after just 15 months in business.
Louise Divarquez and Laura Poppe were over the moon when they scooped their gong last year.
Ms Divarquez, who worked her way up in hospitality from waitress, hospitality manager, food and beverage manager to general manager in a range of jobs in Glasgow, Italy and aboard five star cruise ships before ending up in the north-east, where she met Laura, said: “We knew we had a strong case but we were still very surprised to win. It was a great night.
“The feedback we have had from customers over the past year has been really positive, both verbally and on our social media pages.”
“We believe the brand of Bagels & Stuff and the offer we have is strong enough to hold its own in any major city in the UK and hope that within the next five years that will be the case.”
The Elevator Awards, formerly known as the Grampian Awards for Business Excellence, are organised by business support group Elevator and supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council.
Winners will be unveiled at a black-tie event at the Mercure Ardoe House Hotel and Spa, near Aberdeen, on June 30.