North-east trades event nominated for national award

An awards event launched in 2013 to recognise the achievements of north-east Scotland’s trades people has itself been shortlisted to win a prestigious award.

The Trades Awards has been shortlisted within the category of ‘Best Awards Scheme’ at The Drum’s Scottish Event Awards, which takes place in Glasgow on October 5.

The Scottish Event Awards is the only event dedicated to celebrating the highly successful and creative events sector north of the border, and is open to all event organisers, promoters, in-house teams, venues or industry suppliers.

The Trades Awards ceremony, which is now the largest construction dinner and networking event in the north-east, and which continues to be the only event of its kind in Scotland, is up against strong competition from The Forth Awards, which are organised by Radio Forth in Edinburgh.

Darren Ross, director of Xcite Ltd, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been shortlisted within the category of ‘Best Awards Scheme’ at this year’s Scottish Event Awards. We really feel that this nomination is for every single person and business who has supported The Trades Awards across the past three years, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank each of them again.

“The Trades Awards has doubled in size since its launch in 2013, despite the North-east going through some of its most difficult times to date, and this growth is entirely due to the vital support that we receive from local and national businesses, and of course to the hard work and dedication of our small team.

“If our event has helped in some small way to highlight the skills and talent within the North-east construction industry, along with the incredible opportunities that are right here on our door stop, then we are hopefully now doing what we set out to achieve.”

Neil Thomson, construction director of Stewart Milne Homes, said: “It’s really encouraging to see a fantastic celebration of North East Talent be shortlisted for Best Awards Scheme at the 2016 Scottish Event Awards. The team at Xcite Media pour themselves into all aspects of Trades Awards; from creating the awards categories, attracting new and repeat nominations, encouraging new and existing businesses celebrate the lifeblood of their organisations – the people.

“All of these efforts culminate in the tireless organising of the Trades Awards, which we’ve seen grow year on year, to become a regular fixture in the Aberdeen awards calendar. This shortlist only helps to highlight and celebrate the growth and popularity of the Trades Awards and we, at Stewart Milne, are delighted to fully support this event and all it stands for, for the construction industry.”