The first Business Gateway Highlands and Moray best business start-up awards were presented yesterday at Elgin.
Of the 10 businesses nominated for awards by Business Gateway regional development officers and which made presentations to a panel of judges, three were successful.
The first prize of £5,000 went to Alness-based smoked-salmon product manufacturer Stamona.
The £3,000 second prize was awarded to the Kilthanger Company, of Grantown, which makes steel kilt hangers, and £2,000 for third place went to All The Rage Digital Film Making, of Elgin. Steve Kulinski, managing director of Stamona, started up the business following the closure last July of Strathaird Salmon in Inverness.
He had been head of development at Strathaird.
Mr Kulinski said yesterday: “We have only been operating since January but started building the factory at Teaninich Industrial Estate, in Alness, in September.
“I’m grateful to Highlands and Islands Enterprise for help in getting the business up and running.
“So far, we only have eight employees but this should increase quickly.”
Business Gateway, which provides business advice and support, has been operating in the Highlands and Moray only since April last year, but has already handled inquiries from more than 1,700 new and established businesses.
It has also run 75 courses throughout the area, with more than 460 people having taken advantage of workshops on subjects from business start-up to e-commerce and marketing.
In Moray alone, more than 80 businesses have started trading since last April.