Search for Scotland's greenest construction firms begins
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The race to find Scotland’s most environmentally-aware construction firms begins as the Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland Awards (VIBES) opens for the fourteenth year.
VIBES is Scotland’s leading environmental awards scheme. It aims to recognise businesses of all sizes and sectors employing environmental best practice in their day-to-day activity to cut down on resource use, increase sustainability, improve reputation and benefit the company’s bottom-line.
For more than a decade, the free-to-enter awards have produced winners from across Scotland, drawn from a range of sectors including: manufacturing; food and drink; transport; oil and gas; environmental services and leisure.
Perthshire-based building and civil engineering contractors Castle Group Scotland Ltd won the VIBES Management (SME) Award in 2012.
Karen Ogilvy, director, Castle Group Scotland Ltd said: “Castle Group was delighted to have won a VIBES Award last year. It gave recognition to everyone in the company for the time and effort they put into the development and continued operation of our environmental systems.
“Sustained commitment and our desire to improve the way we do things has strengthened our business and lessened the impact we have on the environment, especially regarding waste, pollution and carbon emissions.”
“Construction is a challenging industry but by encouraging the whole company to take small steps we have found it is possible to change how things are done if you keep working at it!”
Gillian Bruce, VIBES chair explains: “The aim of VIBES is to recognise businesses operating in Scotland that are trying to help make the country more environmentally aware and that are working towards Scotland’s 2020 carbon reduction targets.
“All our awards are judged on set criteria which focus on commitment and innovation as well as environmental and economic benefit.
“Last year the competition was of a very high standard with many deserving entrants and we hope that even more of Scotland’s leading businesses will enter this year to be in with a chance of gaining recognition for their sustainable practices.”
There will be a total of ten awards this year, including two new categories: the Hydro Nation Award and the Circular Economy Award. Winners will be selected from the following categories:
- Management Award: large company category (more than 250 employees)
- Management Award: SME (up to 250 employees)
- Energy Award
- Waste and Resources Award
- Transport Award
- Environmental and Clean Technology Award
- Changing Behaviour Award
- Hydro Nation Award
- Circular Economy Award
- Best Micro Business Award
The deadline for entries is Friday 5 July at 5pm.
ScottishPower has returned to sponsor the Environmental and Clean Technology Award this year. In addition, Energy Saving Trust will be sponsoring the VIBES Transport Award and this year’s Waste and Resources Award will be sponsored by Enviroco.
VIBES is an accredited awards scheme which feeds into the European Business Awards for the Environment (EBAE). By winning a VIBES Award, companies are eligible to enter the EBAEs, which attract entries from the cream of Europe’s most environmentally positive businesses.
VIBES is a strategic partnership between Energy Saving Trust, Green Business Partnership, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Scottish Water and Zero Waste Scotland.
The partnership allows for a rigorous judging process and the awards are accredited by the RSA Environment Awards Accreditation Scheme (www.rsaaccreditation.org).
For more information or to obtain an application form for the VIBES Awards visit www.vibes.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/VibesAwards
Twitter: @VibesAwards #VIBEScot