It was an evening defined by optimism and a deep sense of purpose as leaders in sustainability, inclusion and community impact gathered at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow for the inaugural Scottish Impact Awards 2025, brought in partnership with The Herald and GenAnalytics.
Against the elegant backdrop of the city centre venue, broadcaster Zara Janjua guided guests through a celebration of the very best in Scotland’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) achievements.
The night opened with a panel discussion on the state of ESG in Scotland from two of the award’s judging panel members Fran van Dijk, CEO of One Stone Advisors, and Sandy MacDonald, Executive Director, Head of Impact Assessment and Reporting, Scottish National Investment Bank, who reflected on progress made and the challenges ahead. Panellists spoke of the responsibility businesses bear in driving social value, and the business impact of driving sustainability practices.
That spirit of leadership was embodied in the winners themselves. The first award of the evening, Community Impact, awarded three winners recognised by business size. Active Life Club, winning in the Micro organisation category, marking 25 years of impact in Glasgow, earned warm applause for its tireless commitment to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for families across the city.
A joint win for Highland Coast Hotels and The Yard in the Small/Medium organisation category were honoured for their impact in both the private and third sectors. Highland Coast Hotels’ work with local suppliers and cultural preservation winning the judges’ praise whilst The Yard, with its decades of service to disabled children and families, was celebrated for creating spaces of joy and inclusion.
Taking home the Large business Community Impact Award was Mott MacDonald, recognised, not for engineering feats alone but for its efforts in helping refugees find work and shaping inclusive landmarks such as Edinburgh’s Pride Bridge.
The focus on people carried through the Wellbeing & Workforce Award and Scottish Water’s win underscored the importance of workplace culture, where mental health, peer support and employee-led networks have become as vital as pipes and reservoirs in supporting more than 4,500 employees.
Yet if wellbeing was one half of the story, climate action was the other. The inaugural winner of Climate Action Champion sponsored by The Scottish National Investment Bank, WEEE Scotland, showed rapid strides in circular economy innovation, cutting emissions, repairing tens of thousands of components, and showing how waste can be transformed into opportunity resonated strongly with the judges.
The Sustainable Innovation Award sponsored by Aegon went to proptech firm Utopi whose data-driven platform was hailed for delivering real-world carbon savings while improving the daily lives of residents.
Once again, three business sizes were recognised in the Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award sponsored by Diageo. The achievements of Large business M&H Carriers were recognised for supporting neurodiverse and deaf colleagues and championing fair pay. Small/Medium organisation Mercat Tours, with women holding 85% of leadership roles, reminded the room that tourism can be progressive as well as profitable. And Micro organisation Youth STEM 2030, led by women and minorities and empowering underrepresented young people globally, offered a glimpse of a more equitable future already in the making.
A special recognition was awarded to Lost Shore Surf Resort at the end of the evening for making great strides across Diversity and Inclusion, Climate Action and Sustainable Innovation
in their strive for overall impact, and in such a sort time in operation. The judging panel credited this determination to start their business with economic and societal aims from the outset.
Sandy MacDonald of The Scottish National Investment Bank, sponsor of the Climate Action Award, captured the spirit of the night: “What an incredible evening at the Scottish Impact Awards! It was truly inspiring to see so many outstanding organisations leading the way in creating positive, lasting change. The finalists in every category demonstrated remarkable innovation, dedication, and vision. Congratulations to all the winners—we are proud to support these awards, as they highlight the importance of impact-driven progress and celebrate the leaders who are driving forward this change.”