IT’S time to celebrate the city of Glasgow as the finalists have been announced for this year’s Inspiring City Awards.

Now in their fifth year, organised by The Herald and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce in association with award winning city brand, People Make Glasgow, the awards celebrate the people and organisations that make the city a remarkable place to live, work and play.

We are delighted to be working with AHR, City Building, Developing the Young Workforce Glasgow, European Championships Glasgow 2018, Glasgow Airport, Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow School for Business and Society, Glasgow Employer Board, Glasgow Welcomes, Glasgow Taxis, Hacking & Paterson Management Services, Scottish Water, Scullion LAW, Simon Driscoll Consultancy and The Watson Foundation to celebrate the incredible talent in Glasgow, through business, education, arts and the environment by hosting the annual awards ceremony on Thursday, September 7.

Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “The Inspiring City Awards is the perfect platform to reward those truly remarkable individuals, businesses and organisations that consistently go the extra mile to ensure Glasgow continues to flourish at home and internationally.”

Finalists this year demonstrated a broad range of work across a variety of sectors, from caring individuals, environmental campaigns, achievements in the arts and investing in young people. The judging panel was also impressed with the amount of businesses going the extra mile to give back to voluntary and community organisations.

The event will take place at the Double Tree by Hilton, Glasgow, bringing together those at the heart of making Glasgow flourish.

Dr Graham Paterson, executive director of City Building said: “Glasgow has an array of impressive and innovative businesses all contributing to the City’s economy and this shortlist confirms that.”

Alison McRae, senior director, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce added: “Huge congratulations to our shortlisted finalists, I know it was a tough decision to get it down to these organisations. Each one would be a deserved winner.”

Craig Martin, chairman, Glasgow Employer Board said: “Each entrant to the apprenticeship challenge has put in a great deal of effort and enthusiasm. I cannot wait to hear the winner revealed on the night.”

Craig Martin, head of HR, Glasgow Airport, and chairman of the Glasgow Welcomes Initiative said: “Many congratulations to all the finalists nominated for the new category of Glasgow Welcomes Service Champion. These individuals and businesses represent the finest of our city’s tourism and hospitality sector, and reflect the quality of Glasgow’s visitor experience.”

David Doran, director, Hacking and Paterson Management said: “The nominations for this year’s Legacy Award serve to highlight the positive differences that have been made by these individuals and organisations who have played such a significant role in making Glasgow great and the recognition of their efforts is well-deserved.”

Alan Thomson, head of Corporate Relations at Scottish Water which is sponsoring teh Environmental Award, said: “We are delighted to receive so many high quality entries for this Award. It is fantastic to see how businesses are putting the environment at the heart of their decision making.”

Scullion Law is supporting the Carer(s) of the Year Award. A spokesman for the firm said: “We have been truly inspired by the exceptional level of submissions this year and would like to personally thank everyone who entered.”

John M Watson OBE of The Watson Foundation said: “Those who have made the cut in the Outstanding Contribution by a Young Business Leader category clearly have something to offer and should be very proud of making it this far.”

Richard Blair, director of AHR, said “We know each of the finalists in the Arts and Culture category makes a significant contribution to the cultural scene in Glasgow either through their support of the arts or engaging with the community in art projects.”

Professor Toni Hilton, Dean of Glasgow School for Business and Society at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), said: “Glasgow School for Business and Society would like to congratulate all finalists and particularly, of course, those shortlisted for the Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award.

“To be shortlisted is itself an impressive achievement and we look forward to hearing how these organisations enhance lives and business in Glasgow.”

Glasgow 2018 European Championships director, Colin Hartley, said: “Each and every year the Inspiring City Awards showcase the very best of Glasgow and the finalists in this year’s sport category deserve great credit for their contribution to sport in communities all across the city.”

Simon Driscoll, managing director, Simon Driscoll Consultancy said: “Well done to all the finalists getting to this stage and we look forward to celebrating with you at the awards ceremony on 7 September.”

Stephen Flynn, chairman of Glasgow Taxis Ltd said: “Every single business and individual shortlisted is doing something wonderful and we’re proud to be a part of this great evening.”

Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: “It is a real privilege for the airport to be sponsoring the Lifetime Achievement category – after all, it is the people who make this city so special. These awards are a fantastic way of giving credit to the people and organisations who make this city such a fantastic place to live, work and invest.”

Shortlist

Art and Culture Award – Sponsored by AHR

Centre for Contemporary Arts

Glasgow Film Theatre

Indepen-dance

Project Ability

Education Award – Sponsored by Glasgow Taxis

CoderDojo Scotland @ Glasgow Libraries

Glasgow Clyde College

MCR Pathways

Rangers Charity Foundation

Tennent’s Training Academy

Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award – Sponsored by Glasgow Caledonian University – Glasgow School for Business and Society

Celtic FC Foundation

City Building LLP

DWF

Seric Systems Limited

Silverburn Shopping Centre

Carer(s) of the Year Award – Sponsored by Scullion LAW

Contact the Elderly

Leslie Edge – The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice

Majabeen Ali – The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice

Maria McCabe – Cordia

Environmental Award – Sponsored by Scottish Water

Calton Heritage & Learning Centre

Southern Necropolis Action Group

Woodlands Community Development Trust

Scottish Waterways Trust

Sport Award – Sponsored by Glasgow 2018 European Championships

Bala Sport

Glasgow Gladiators Powerchair Football Club

Laura Muir – University of Glasgow

Scottish Sports Futures

Legacy Award – Sponsored by Hacking & Paterson Management Services

City of Glasgow College

Glasgow Women’s Library

Homeless World Cup Legacy Project

Scottish Sports Futures

The Apprentice Challenge Award – Sponsored by Glasgow Employer Board

Arnold Clark

JP Morgan

Marriott Hotel

Morgan Sindall

Scottish Water

Industry & Young People Innovation Award – Sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce Glasgow

Culture and Sport Glasgow (Glasgow Life)

Glasgow Foundation Apprenticeship Team

Qualitrol Diagnostic Monitoring Systems

Young Movers

Industry and Business Award  – Sponsored by City Building

Barras Art and Design (BAaD)

Collective Architecture

KC Group Shipping Ltd

University of Glasgow

Glasgow Welcomes Service Champion – Sponsored by Glasgow Welcomes

citizenM Glasgow

Glasgow Science Centre

The National Piping Centre Ltd

University of Strathclyde – Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC)

Outstanding Contribution by a Young Business Leader Award – Sponsored by The Watson Foundation 

Alasdair Ireland – Your Book List

Cat Leaver – After Digital

Colin Lamb – Connect Three Solutions

Jenny McCreary – Sew Confident Ltd

Sarah Drummond – Snook

Outstanding Contribution by a Business Leader Award – Sponsored by Simon Driscoll Consultancy

Andrew Mark Duncan – SwarmOnline

Paul GK Little – City of Glasgow College

Professor David Hillier – University of Strathclyde

Rhona Baillie – The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice

The PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW Award – Sponsored by PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW

Barras Art and Design (BAaD)

Glasgow Life, Celtic Connections Festival

MCR Pathways

Refuweegee

The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice

Lifetime Achievement Award – Sponsored by Glasgow Airport

To be announced on the night.

To secure your table to attend the awards please visit: www.newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/icas or contact Heather Steven on 0141 302 6018.