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North-east’s top businesses unveiled at Northern Star Business Awards

Northern Star business of the year winners Eddie Moore, group business development director, and Declan Slattery, chief financial officer, at Motive Offshore
Northern Star business of the year winners Eddie Moore, group business development director, and Declan Slattery, chief financial officer, at Motive Offshore

North-east firms from Banffshire to Royal Deeside are celebrating after being named winners in the 2021 Northern Star Business Awards.

Organised by Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) and now in their 17th year, the gongs recognise companies for their exceptional accomplishments in business areas ranging from energy and innovation to people development, customer service and environmental action.

The awards were due to take place in person at P&J Live but the winners were instead announced virtually due to Covid-19 restrictions.

Motive Offshore Group, of Boyndie, near Banff, followed up its win in the “going global” category of last year’s event by being crowned business of the year.

Established in 2010 by James Gregg and Dave Acton, Motive specialises in the manufacture, rental and servicing of high-capacity winches, umbilical testing, and deployment equipment and associated services to the onshore and offshore energy and marine industries.

Ambitious growth strategy

It now has seven divisions, bases in Kintore, Port of Blyth, United Arab Emirates, the US and Norway; and following multimillion-pound investment in 2019 has executed an ambitious growth strategy aimed at creating a £20 million Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) business by 2025.

Other Northern Star winners include: Grampian Training Services, which has given more than 100,000 primary school children across the region first aid training; Aberdeen Football Club and PR firm The Big Partnership for the #StillStandingFree campaign; and Oldmeldrum-based James Fisher Offshore, which has significantly expanded its team, facilities and capabilities to grow its international operations.

Northern Star Business Awards: marketing magic winners Rob Wicks, commercial director at Aberdeen Football Club, and Zoe Ogilvie, director, Big Partnership

AGCC chief executive Russell Borthwick said: “Through these most challenging of times, there are still good news stories out there – businesses innovating, adapting and doing incredible things among the economic mayhem.

“This year’s awards had a record number of entries and while things didn’t turn out quite as we planned, that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate business success in north-east Scotland.”

“We congratulate the winners and finalists who have once again raised the bar across a whole range of sectors, and encourage organisations to draw inspiration from these businesses in order to redouble our efforts to create the economic conditions that will ensure the long-term success of the north-east.”

While things didn’t turn out quite as we planned, that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate business success in north-east Scotland.”

Russell Borthwick, chief execuutive, Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce

Mark Fraser, chief executive of sponsor Nucore Group, said: “We are delighted to continue to show our support for these prestigious awards.

“Our business is centred around our core values, and we believe our people are key to our current and future success – but the same is true outside of business too.

“Local people are key to driving success across the region and we understand the importance of celebrating this, especially during these challenging times.

“Although the awards are not possible in person this year, we are delighted to still play our part in celebrating with the much-deserved finalists and winners of the Northern Star Business Awards.”

The winners in the 12 categories were as follows: