Delighted Renfrewshire businesses and community organisations are celebrating after being named winners at this year's ROCCO awards.
The ROCCOs - the Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce's annual business awards ceremony - was back with a bang on Friday at the Normandy Hotel in Renfrew.
After guests were piped into the 17th edition of the event by St Columba's School Pipe Band, 17 gongs were presented to firms and charities deemed to have gone above and beyond in the past year.
Glasgow Airport scooped two trophies winning the environmental sustainability award and the innovation and technology prize.
Rolls-Royce was also at the double taking home awards for excellence in manufacturing and developing the young workforce.
And charity I Am Me Scotland scored two accolades as it was named Renfrewshire's favourite business and community champion of the year.
Other successful companies included Plush Plans, Wholesale Domestic Equipment Company, J.G.B Steelcraft (UK), Open Road Scotland, Squared Insurance Brokers, Right Way Credit Union, Carli's Kindergarten and Volantes Technical Recruitment.
Andrew O'Brien from J.G.B Steelcraft was named Young Business Person of the Year while Eddie Hawthorne, chief executive and group managing director of Arnold Clark, won Business Leader of the Year.
Host Fred MacAuley had the audience in fits of laughter all night while the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) choir hit the high notes in a warmly-received performance.
Bob Grant, Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive, said: "Friday’s event marked a crucial step on the road to normality for our business community.
"The board and team at Renfrewshire felt it was crucial to run ROCCO 2021 this year and plant a flag to mark the resilience and recovery underway. We witnessed a fantastic response from all our sponsors, companies entering and our guests on the night.
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"Thank you to the entire chamber team for all their work before and on the night to ensure our 400 guests had a great time.
"Special thanks to principle sponsor Paisley.is, Diageo who supplied our drinks reception, Cameron Presentations and Gap TV for all the audio and visual, the Printbrokers for the program, Gary and Jan from NS Design for the excellent social media coverage and the Normandy Hotel for the superb meal and service. Thanks also to St Columba’s School Pipe Band who welcomed guests in such style and to the NHSGGC choir.
"Planning for Rocco 2022 is already underway, and we hope to see you enter and attend next year.”
The ROCCO raffle raised £9,000 for St Vincent’s Hospice and Kidney Research UK in memory of chamber director Elaine Sherlock from the Ingliston Country Club and Hotel.
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson added: “I was delighted to be able to attend the ROCCO awards, which are always such a special occasion.
“These have been uniquely challenging times for everyone and the resilience shown by our business community has been remarkable.
"During the pandemic our teams worked tirelessly to approve and award £53 million in grants at a time of crisis and now major investment is progressing at pace as we lead from the front in supporting Renfrewshire’s economic, social and green recovery.
"I congratulate all the winners and shortlisted businesses."
FULL LIST OF WINNERS
ROCCO Award for Environmental Sustainability - Sponsored by Paisley Is.
Winner: Glasgow Airport
ROCCO Award for Developing the Young Workforce sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce (West)
Winner: Rolls-Royce plc
ROCCO Award for Innovation & Technology - Sponsored by Creation IP.
Winner: Glasgow Airport
ROCCO Award for Excellence in Manufacturing - Sponsored by the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland.
Winner: Rolls-Royce plc
ROCCO Award for International Trade - Sponsored by Glasgow Airport.
Winner: Volantes Technical Recruitment Ltd
ROCCO Award for Excellence in Business Resilience - Sponsored by Invest In Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire Council
Winner: Right Way Credit Union
ROCCO Award for Most Promising New Business 2021 - Sponsored by Renfrewshire Council
Winner: Squared Insurance Brokers Limited
ROCCO Award for Renfrewshire's Favourite Business - Sponsored by Paisley Daily Express
Winner: I Am Me Scotland
ROCCO Award for Resilience in Tourism - Sponsored by Paisley Is
Winner: Open Road Scotland
ROCCO Award for Family Business of the Year – Sponsored by The Malcolm Group
Winner: Carli’s Kindergarten Ltd
ROCCO Award for Young Business Person of the Year – sponsored by Rolls-Royce plc
Winner: Andrew O'Brien J.G.B Steelcraft (UK) Limited
ROCCO Award for Employer of the Year – sponsored by West College Scotland
Winner: Arnold Clark
ROCCO Award for Community Champion of the Year - sponsored by Engage Renfrewshire & The Royal Bank of Scotland
Winner: I Am Me Scotland
ROCCO Award for Outstanding Performing Business less than five employees – sponsored by Braehead
Winner: Plush Plans Ltd
ROCCO Award For Outstanding Performing Business five to 25 employees – sponsored by The University of the West of Scotland
Winner: J.G.B Steelcraft (UK) Limited
ROCCO Award for Outstanding Performing Business more than 25 employees – sponsored by Doosan Babcock
Winner: Wholesale Domestic Equipment Company Ltd
ROCCO Award for Business Leader of the Year – sponsored by Diageo
Winner: Eddie Hawthorne, Chief Executive & Group MD, Arnold Clark
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