Astounding businesses hand judges a hard task

Talent pool: Start-ups and established local companies come under scrutiny as judging begins for the Courier Business Awards 2016

The toughest of tasks.

That was the conclusion of our expert judging panel as they set about whittling down the record number of entries for The Courier Business Awards 2016.

After a hotly-debated judging session at the awards’ new home at Apex City Quay Hotel in Dundee, the first element of the judging process is now complete and today we reveal the excellent local firms that have made it through to the next stage of the 2016 competition.

Each of our outstanding shortlisted companies will now receive a site visit in the coming weeks to further scrutinise their credentials to be named among the best businesses in Courier Country.

Returning judging panel chairman Jim Pettigrew said he had been amazed and delighted at the depth of business talent in Tayside and Fife.

Mr Pettigrew – the Dundee born chairman of Clydesdale Bank – said he and his fellow judges faced a hugely difficult task in cutting the submissions down in the 17 award categories.

“What I find fascinating about the Courier Business Awards is the mix of entries we get,” Mr Pettigrew said.

“We have everything from really young businesses to businesses that I remember from growing up in Dundee that have had to change and innovate to survive.

“As with last year, we have had fantastic people putting forward some fantastic businesses.

“The real problem we have – and it is a nice problem – is choosing a company to shortlist when we have other entries that are almost as good.”

Judge David Smith, managing partner with principal award supporter Henderson Loggie, said the diverse range of entrants in 2016 gave him heart about the state of the economy locally.

“There are some traditional businesses in here that have probably been fighting quite a hard battle but are doing really well,” Mr Smith said. “I found that quite exciting to see. “The other thing I found interesting is that whatever the category, the focus on customer service shone through.”

Entrepreneur Jackie Waring caught a red-eye transatlantic flight to take her seat at the judging table.

She said: “Hard though it is to believe, the quality of entrants has got even better since last year.”

“We have had fantastic people putting forward some fantastic businesses. JIM PETTIGREW, JUDGING PANEL CHAIRMAN