Written by Scott Wright, Deputy Business Editor, The Herald

SCOTLAND’S finest family firms are set to be honoured at an event celebrating the vital contribution they make to Scottish economic life.

The winners of the 2016 Herald Scottish Family Business Awards, held in association with Business Gateway, will be unveiled at the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow in two weeks’ time.

Ten awards will be presented at the gala dinner on December 7, hosted by television personality Sanjeev Kohli, alongside an award for outstanding contribution to Scottish family business.

Hugh Lightbody, chief officer of Business Gateway National Unit, said: “The Herald Family Business Awards continue to underline the high quality and high standards that Scotland’s family business community operate under.

“Around three quarters of Scotland’s businesses are family owned, illustrating the important contribution they make to our economy.

“Business Gateway supports thousands of SMEs every year, many that are family businesses, so we are delighted to be the main sponsor for the fifth year. Congratulations to all finalists.”

Gillian Cameron, programme manager at Supplier Development Programme, said: “Supplier Development Programme is looking forward to meeting some of Scotland’s most promising small family businesses and celebrating their successes at this event.”

John Anderson, director of Strathclyde Business School, said: “Scotland is blessed with a strong family business base and at Strathclyde Business School we see signs of a positive change in attitude toward this important part of the economy and a willingness from the family business community to stand up and be counted. Nowhere is this more evident than in the quality of finalists in this year’s Herald Scottish Family Business Awards and we are very much looking forward to celebrating with them on December 7.”

Tom Craig, chairman of Craig Corporate, said: “Once again we have been delighted with the range and quality of applications for the awards this year. “Each of the finalists thoroughly deserve to have been shortlisted and they all have inspiring stories to tell. I look forward to the awards night itself, it is always a great occasion and a fitting acknowledgement of the vital role that family businesses play.”

Brian Colquhoun, regional director at Clydesdale Bank, said: “The Scottish Family Business Awards provide the perfect showcase to celebrate some of Scotland’s most ambitious and exciting businesses, and it’s extremely rewarding to be playing our part in supporting what is a critical part of the economy.

“The awards night is always a fantastic event and we wish everyone involved all the very best.”

Fraser Campbell, partner and head of family business advisory services at Campbell Dallas, said: “The roll call of large and small, well established and pioneering, new family businesses who will be represented at The Herald’s prestigious family business awards never fails to impress.

“It is a privilege to be part of an event where so many family businesses come together to celebrate both their individual achievements this year as well as their invaluable, collective contribution to the Scottish economy”.

Grant Stevenson, partner at Burness Paull, said “I am very much looking forward to meeting all the finalists of The Herald Family Business Awards. Sitting on the judging panel gave me a great opportunity to find out more about some of Scotland’s most successful family businesses.

“The evening will be a fantastic showcase for the sector as a whole, and all entrants should be very proud of what they have achieved.”

Bernard Dunn, managing director at TL Dallas said: “The Family Business Awards event on December 7 is a unique and special occasion.

“Although it’s a tough competition, the evening is much more relaxed than other awards we have attended, because, regardless of who wins, all companies can celebrate being finalists along with their staff, clients and friends. This atmosphere also allows people to easily make new contacts to help their business going forward.

“For T L Dallas, this is our signature awards event to support, and I would encourage companies to attend this unique celebration of family business, as a bedrock of our economy.”

Robin Stevenson, of William Tracey Group’s non hazardous division, said: “I’m looking forward to hearing all category winners announced on the night, and to meeting the finalists, in particular for Green Family Business of the Year category.”

For information on how to attend visit http://herald-events.com/familybusiness/ or call Lynsay Wong on 0141 302 6082.