Courier Business Awards 2023: Pictures and reaction from all the winners

A total of 21 trophies were presented - see who's won a coveted Courier Business Award this year.

October 28 2023, 11:30pm

All the winners from this year's Courier Business Awards. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

This year 21 trophies were awarded to delighted companies and entrepreneurs at the Courier Business Awards – here are all the winners.

More than 750 guests attended the awards, held in partnership with Henderson Loggie, at Apex City Quay Hotel in Dundee.

Television and radio presenter Gabby Roslin hosted this year’s event, the 10th anniversary of the awards.

The top Business of the Year prize went to Carnoustie Golf Links.

A Special Recognition Award was also presented to the family of late Perthshire businessman John Bullough, who died earlier this year aged 54.

Here are pictures and reactions from all the winners.

Courier Business Awards 2023 winners

Apprentice Award sponsored by DYW Tay Cities

Winner – Jake Meakins, Here’s The Plan

Apprentice winner Jake Meakins collects his award from Lisa Laidlaw, DYW Tay Cities and host Gaby Roslin. Image: Kenny Smith/DC Thomson.

Jake said: “The Courier Business Awards is the biggest awards around. I’m very lucky to work for a company in Perth that does such amazing work. I left Bell Baxter High School in Cupar with one higher and thought I had to work my way through a company. I’ve now got a first class honours degree.”

Business Leader sponsored by Ninja Kiwi

Winner – Theresa Lawson, ESP Group

Iain Lawson and Kira Wishart collected the business leader award on behalf of Theresa Lawson. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Iain Lawson, accepting on behalf of his wife, said: “She would be absolutely over the moon. She started from the bottom and recently completed the deal to buy the business, so she really has worked her way right up. I am just so proud of her and all the hard work she’s put in over the years.”

Community sponsored by Insights

Winner – Kanzen Karate

Dan Woods and Roy O’Kane collect their award. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Roy O’Kane, Kanzen Karate founder, said: “I’m overwhelmed. The theme tonight is punching above our weight, and I think we have done that this year by hosting the world championships on top of all the other events we’ve done. We are really thrilled.”

Family – Angus sponsored by Thorntons

Winner – Powerwasher Services

The team from Powerwasher Services collect their award from Nicola McCafferty from Thorntons and host Gaby Roslin. Image: Kenny Smith/DC Thomson.

Liz Carnie from Powerwasher Services said: “We are delighted to have won. It is testament to the fact we’ve been in business for 40 years and all the work that has gone into the business over the years.”

Family – Dundee sponsored by Thorntons

Winner – Caltech Lifts

Caltech Lifts won the Dundee Family Business award. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Managing director Andrew Renwick said: “It’s amazing. It’s our third time as a finalist and our first time winning. It’s been our biggest year on record in 45 years of business. We’ve hit all of our goals. This win just sums it up.”

Family – Fife sponsored by Thorntons

Winner – The Fix Fife

The Fix Fife team collect their award. Image: Kenny Smith/DC Thomson.

Owner Chris Swan: “We have a very loyal customer base who have stuck with us despite a tough year for people with the cost-of-living pressures. This award is for the whole team.”

Family – Perthshire sponsored by Thorntons

Winner – Crieff Hydro Hotel

Crieff Hydro general manager Kristian Campbell with award sponsor Nicola McCafferty from Thorntons. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Kristian Campbell, general manager, said: “The award means so much to the Leckie family, but also to the whole Crieff Hydro Family of Hotels. We really believe in celebrating success, especially given everything that the business has been through over the past four or five years.”

Family – Overall sponsored by Thorntons

Winner – Crieff Hydro Hotel

Crieff Hydro was named Overall Family Business of the Year. Image: Kenny Smith/DC Thomson.

General manager Kristian Campbell said: “It is much deserved recognition for the staff for everything they do – we couldn’t do it without them.”

Independent Retail sponsored by Kerr’s Dairy

Winner – Tiger Lily Boutique

Debbie Brash of Tiger Lily Boutique with her award, and sponsor Kelvin Kerr from Kerr’s Dairy. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Debbie Brash, Tiger Lily Boutique owner, said: “It’s a tough category and amazing businesses to be up against. This year has been amazing. We’ve had the best spring and summer on record and we’re gunning towards Christmas. It’s been a fantastic year.”

Innovation sponsored by Research and Innovation Services, University of Dundee

Winner – Wasted Degrees Brewing

Wasted Degrees Brewing co-founder Jack Low collected the Innovation award. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Jack Low, Wasted Degrees Brewing co-founder, said: “I’m buzzing. It’s just so nice to have the recognition. I’m so proud for the team but particularly my younger brother Conall who is also co-owner. This all started as his hobby. We’ve gone from 25 litre plastic home brew buckets in 2016 to brewing 25,000 litres of beer a month.”

Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality sponsored by Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce

Winner – Carnoustie Golf Links

The Leisure, Tourism and Hospitality award went to Carnoustie Golf Links. Image: Kenny Smith/DC Thomson.

Adair Simpson, Carnoustie Golf Links deputy chief executive, said: “We are over the moon. It represents everything that we are about. The award is for team. It is for every single employee because they all delivered something.”

Marketing and Social Media sponsored by The Rocket Group

Winner – Tiger Lily Boutique

The team from Tiger Lily Boutique with the award. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Owner Debbie Brash said: “I am absolutely delighted. I just don’t know what to say. To win one award was amazing let alone two. We put in a lot of work to social media and marketing. We have three full-time staff designated to it.”

Resilience and Recovery sponsored by Marsh Commercial

Winner – The Lass O’Gowrie

Bob and Ali Abercrombie from The Lass O’Gowrie won the Resilience and Recovery award. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Ali Abercrombie, who runs Lass O’Gowrie with husband Bob, said: “It’s not often I am speechless but I am absolutely blown away by this. It just means everything to us. We wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for our staff and our customers. I promised I wouldn’t cry, but I just can’t believe it.”

Rising Star sponsored by Henderson Loggie

Winner – Shelley Booth – Shelley Booth Health Coach

Rising Star winner Shelley Booth Health with her award. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Shelley said: “It’s a combination of a lot of things coming together to make it happen. It’s not about me, it’s about we. I’m helping women and men realise their potential and develop who they are.”

Service sponsored by Apex Hotels

Winner – WBS Keillor

Mark Gordon and Mike Smith from WBS Keillor collect the award from Kim Davis of Apex Hotels and Gaby Roslin Image: Kenny Smith/DC Thomson.

Mike Smith, WBS Keillor managing director, said: “It’s a great way for us to mark the 75th year of the business. It’s great for the workers as well, who have delivered some great projects over the last year.”

Small Business sponsored by Gilson Gray

Winner – Clootie McToot

Clootie McToot founder Michelle Maddox’s son Kyle and mum Anne Clark collected the award. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Anne Clark, mum of Clootie McToot founder Michelle Maddox, who was unable to attend, said: “We’re really thrilled. To win any award is great recognition and all the team will be so pleased. It is a business that is really going places – and will continue to in the next year.”

Technology sponsored by Blackadders

Winner – NCR Atleos

Neil Martin of NCR Atleos. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Neil Martin, area sales director, said: “We have been working with NatWest for a long time and we have been working on some new technology that we will deliver for 18 million NatWest customers.”

Transition to Net Zero sponsored by Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc

Winner – Realise Energy Services

Sheridan Jenkins, and Mark Jennison of Realise Energy Services with Gill Simpson from award sponsor Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Mark Jennison, co-founder of Realise Energy Services, said: “We’re only a small business in Perth and this award really is testament to the hard work of all our staff. We are absolutely delighted to have won.”

Young Business sponsored by NCR Atleos

Winner – Chocolatia

Young Business winner Chloe Oswald of Chocolatia. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson.

Owner Chloe Oswald said: “I was really shocked. I didn’t think it was happening for me. It was such a lovely surprise. I was blown away. It’s been an amazing year for the business. I entered so many competitions and this award is special.”

Special Recognition

John Bullough

John’s dad Mike said: “We are deeply honoured and proud to have received a fitting tribute to his short life. He loved Scotland, and most of all Perthshire, where he went to school and did so much of his good work. To all of us, he was a loving son, a husband, a father, a brother, an uncle and most of all, our hero and our boy.”

Business of the Year sponsored by Henderson Loggie

Winner – Carnoustie Golf Links

Chief executive Michael Wells: “The strength of all the businesses is a credit to Courier Country. To win this award is great for the staff and I am just so proud of them. We’ve had so many challenges over the past few years, but they believe in what they do and they want to succeed.”