Two Scottish firms named among the UK’s top Private Businesses

Glencraft and BenRiach have been hailed as the best in the UK at the 2015 Private Business Awards in London this week.

Scooping the Social Enterprise of the Year category, Glencraft (Aberdeen) Ltd, was lauded for its approach to both hiring and developing local people at its 170-year-old mattress and bedroom furniture business in Aberdeen.

The enterprise recently notched up £1.35m in sales and achieved its five year ambition of relocating to a long-term site in the city.

Glencraft has also secured a highly competitive contract to supply the new SERCO Caledonian Sleeper Trains.

BenRiach Distillery Co Ltd took home the High Growth Business of the Year category. Established in 2004, the small, high growth whisky distiller has not only expanded its business - acquiring GlenDronach Distillery, Glenglassaugh Distillery and a bottling plant in Edinburgh - but doubled its revenues over the last four years.

The business now ships products to over forty countries, including key markets in Taiwan, Germany, UK, Africa and the USA, and continues to eye potential growth areas for its award-winning whisky brands such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Korea and much of Africa and South America.

Business secretary Sajid Javid, guest speaker at this year’s ceremony held on Wednesday night said: “Private businesses are a vital part of British society. They drive growth, create wealth and provide opportunity to millions of people.

“I want you to succeed and, by cutting corporation tax, removing burdensome red tape and helping smaller firms grow and create jobs, the government is getting behind you. It is great to celebrate these awards and see the best that UK private business has on offer.”

Martin Cowie, head of private business at PwC in Scotland, said: “To have five Scottish companies make the final was a remarkable achievement, and for two to win their categories says much about the resilience of the economy in the North East of Scotland, even against a challenging low oil price backdrop.

“Coming from Aberdeenshire, I am particularly pleased to see Glencraft and BenRiach come out top against such tough competition.

“Our finalists – and winners – are great examples of how tenacity, innovation and a strong market focus can help create highly competitive, successful businesses in their respective markets. As well as demonstrating a strong customer focus, our private businesses also recognise the pivotal role their employees play in driving their success.

“This is a great win for BenRiach and Glencraft, their management teams and employees and everyone in the Scottish private business community should be rightly proud of their awards.”

The other Scottish finalists were Brewdog, Ecosse Subsea Systems and Peak Scientific Holdings.

Charlie Hoffman, managing director, HSBC Private Bank and Chair of the Judging Panel, said: “Private business across the UK continues to drive growth in our economy with over three million family businesses providing total revenues of £1.1 trillion. Take the Tangle Teezer hair brush, invented in 2007 and winner of the International Business of the Year Award. One brush is now sold every three seconds and 80% are exported.

“As one of the world’s largest international private banks, HSBC is proud to work with many private businesses, supporting them from both a corporate and personal perspective as they build and grow their businesses further.”

UK private business of the year was won by Usborne Publishing Ltd. Founded in 1973 by Peter Usborne, the London-based company has grown to become the UK’s largest independent publisher of children’s books. Peter is recognised as an exemplar of a private business owner – constantly innovating and taking calculated risks to grow the company at home and abroad, returning profits, motivating and caring for his staff and always considering the wider community and environment.

Other category winners at the awards run by PwC and sponsored by HSBC private bank and The Supper Club include:

Vision RT Ltd - Technology Innovation of the Year. A system that ensures the patient remains in the correct opposition during radio therapy treatment.

Emoderation Ltd – Rising Star of the Year. A global social media management agency that delivers multi-lingual community management and moderation, social listening, data, insight and social media consulting.

Tangle Teezer – International Business of the Year. Mould-breaking hair brush designed to detangle wet or dry hair. Now sold in over 70 countries.

Alice Blackie, Pink Boutique - Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year. Entrepreneurial online fashion retailer to women aged 18-35. Small beginnings quickly leading to 30,000 ft warehouse space with 50 staff, shipping 2000 dresses a day.

Cheryl Williams, Yorkshire Wildlife Park - Private Business Woman of the Year. Leading a major wildlife conservation area and award-winning visitor attraction that engages with local schools and communities. Heroic helper of polar bears and other animals.

Phil Doyle, Kelway Ltd - CEO of the Year. Competitive and focussed leader of provider of IT services and solutions to SMEs and the public sector.

Kolak Snack Foods Ltd – Family Business of the Year. 30 years of unbroken growth; 28,000 packets of crisps and snacks a week.