Vote for your Champion
Members of the public have the chance to vote on who they'd like to be crowned Chamber Business Champion 2022.
Each finalist will pitch to a panel of judges on 11 & 12 August 2022 with each judge scoring one point to their winning business. The winner of the public vote will also receiving one point with the highest scoring business being the overall winner.
Place your vote below!
Digital Innovation
With thanks to our sponsors - Zettle by PayPal
Zettle by PayPal is a complete point-of-sale (POS) solution for small businesses. Designed to help them succeed in a world of giants by giving them the tools to simplify every day at work.
That means helping merchants offer customers more payment options with our mobile card readers and payment terminals, as well as providing a host of in-store hardware options, from receipt printers to barcode scanners.
In addition, Zettle’s products integrate with many of the most popular point-of-sale, ecommerce, and accounting platforms so merchants can make everyday tasks smoother, faster and error-free. Find out more at www.zettle.com.
One of our objectives at the start of our journey was sustainability and the reduction of our use of paper. Investment in Big Change has resulted in a 20% increase in productivity, equating to a 10% increase in revenue. The increased competency and efficiency of our response officers and control room staff has resulted in a dramatic reduction in fuel costs (reduction of approx. £2k per month).
Winning this award would increase our staff morale by showing the team that their hard work and commitment is being recognised and appreciated, not only internally, but externally by Business Leaders. It would raise our profile both locally and nationally and hopefully help us not only to retain our valued members of staff but attract new talent to the organisation to ensure continued sustainability in the region.
We are a local business who focuses on local sustainability.
The pandemic had a big impact on participation within our learners as many moved to home working, making it increasingly difficult to engage with students and upskill the regions work force.
Through Digital Innovation we have managed to make key aspects of our qualifications accessible for learners and encourage participation. This meant many learners were able to carry on and achieve recognised qualifications despite these challenges.
The system is easy to use, developed by two local businesses and being used with learners in Oman, Trinidad and Tobago as well as with our local Modern and Foundation Apprentices.
The myQuest Portfolio will soon be white labelled, offering training organisations all over the world the opportunity to deliver and assess their leaners online. For the first time Quest has a product rather than just services.
2021 research from the University College London* found that arts engagement played a key role in supporting mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. When mental health deteriorated for many, time spent on arts engagement increased life satisfaction and decreased symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. The arts were found to facilitate relaxation, escapism, mood, confidence, positivity and a sense of connection, reducing loneliness, worries and negative emotions.
In the words of one of our participants:
"Being isolated and alone most of the time I was desperate for some form of interaction with others. Taking part in WHERE ARE YOU DUNDEE? kept me focused and occupied and got me through Lockdown. Being asked to take part in a dance duet and being given a new device have fairly lifted my spirits and have enhanced my interaction with classes. Thank you so much."
Future Skills
With thanks to our sponsors - Castle Water
At Castle Water we’re committed to providing businesses with market-leading water services.
We're the UK’s largest independent business water retailer, with the scale to compete nationally, and the flexibility of being independent of any network owner.
We offer a service to suit a range of requirements, from large multi-site customers with complex needs to SMEs, start-ups, and sole traders.
We are providing a platform to enable real change in the most disaffected, disadvantaged vulnerable people in society. By using data and a bespoke service of active listening to our target groups and wider community we are evolving a new model to tackle pre-existing stigma in a way that engages and motivates people to want a better quality of life.
To be in a fortunate position to be awarded this Chamber Business Champion Award accolade, we feel this would help us raise awareness that a different model can be adopted and be successful in different sectors as recognition and a quality mark to others. We would also have a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our player pathway model of positive change.
One of our objectives at the start of our learning journey was sustainability and the reduction of our rate of attrition. Investment in Big Change has resulted in a 20% increase in productivity, equating to a 36% increase in revenue and significantly reducing our carbon-footprint. The increased competency and efficiency of our managers in recruitment, selection, onboarding, and staff management has resulted in a dramatic reduction in staff turnover rate, down from18% in 2015 to 2.66% in 2021.
Winning this award would increase our staff morale by showing the team that their hard work and commitment is being recognised and appreciated, not only internally, but externally by Business Leaders. Raising our profile both locally and nationally and hopefully help us not only to retain our valued members of staff but attract new talent and ensure continued sustainability in the region.
We are a local business who employ and develop locally.
We choose to employ apprentices and trainees and further upskill our existing teams because we believe it is the right thing to do. We want to grow our workforce from within and instill the professionalism and expertise that we have within our current team.
We are committed to providing our staff, trainees and apprentices the very best experience in their employment and we hope that this brings job satisfaction and the opportunity to flourish. Trainees and apprentices will finish their training with unique experience working with the world's best golf course.
Not only are we dedicated to investing in training of our staff, but our Carnoustie Craws High Performance Programme aims to nurture and develop the next generation of Scottish junior international players and aspiring professional golfers - allowing them to compete at national events and succeed at the highest level.
Net Zero
With thanks to our sponsors - Zero Waste Scotland
Zero Waste Scotland exists to lead Scotland to use products and resources responsibly, focusing on where we can have the greatest impact on climate change.
Using evidence and insight, our goal is to inform policy, and motivate individuals and businesses to embrace the environmental, economic, and social benefits of a circular economy.
We are a not-for-profit environmental organisation, funded by the Scottish Government and European Regional Development Fund.
COVID certainly had negative consequences for Dundee Science Centre, however, it allowed us to take a different approach to our green commitments. We examined everything from how we light, heat and actively take part in our circular economy.
The city's collective goal of achieving Net Zero by 2045 has provided a unifying platform through which the Science Centre can connect with local organisations and support their sustainability goals. During COP26, we hosted the Carbon Battle Bus Tour Event where dozens of organisations from across Dundee came together to discuss their Net Zero achievements and future ambitions.
As part of the COP26 legacy, we hosted Climate Schools Weeks, with activities, and challenges for over 1,000 primary school children from schools across Dundee and have created Sustainability and climate change programmes for primary and secondary schools to spread the importance of this issue throughout all levels of the community.
Albacom / Genista Energy strongly champion Net Zero both locally in Dundee and regionally in Scotland. Our partnership and diversification into a growth renewable energy market will provide impetus and longevity to local manufacturing, positively impacting local employment and supply chains.
Our support for the region's Net Zero 2045 goals goes considerably beyond our renewable energy products; through training and involvement with the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc training academy, we are actively helping to shape future skills in the region and delivering a new talent pool to sustain successful transition to Net Zero.
Here's The Plan have championed the region's Net-Zero push and have supported Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce in various projects within this field. We were among the first members of Circular Tayside, and had significant input into the creation of the Circular Tayside Charter, of which we are proud to have been awarded a silver certificate and look forward to working towards satisfying gold criteria.
We have worked with local universities to deliver lectures to the business leaders of tomorrow, many of whom will work in the local region, and will be able to apply our advice and methods to their own work. Additionally, there is a lot of conflicting information available to businesses looking to start on their Net-Zero journey, and we are pleased to offer a joined-up service that offers them a bespoke roadmap to what sustainability looks like for them, considering their resource, budget, and timeframes.
We have worked to support a high number of local suppliers and businesses in our transition to Net Zero, encouraging more eco-friendly operational practices and management practices. Our exhibitions, retail offer, and the usage of energy at our current site have all been transformed in order to ensure that we are moving towards net zero. Our fleet of electric vehicles have expanded from the 1968 Scottish Aviation Scamp, an early prototype electric car right here, to modern electric and autonomous vehicles. We care deeply about reaching net zero and we support through free marketing and promotion to all our visitors, any local businesses who are making steps towards net zero through their operations and their product range. We have proven that you can save a lot of money through the switch to net zero and that modern business management needs to incorporate net zero solutions in order to be successful.
Future Workplace
With thanks to our sponsors - Spaces Taylored
Spaces Taylored design, supply and install quality office furniture for commercial offices. We have taken a new approach to office interiors, we're breaking the boundaries of office design with solutions to transform the workplace.
From ergonomic chairs for improved posture and height-adjustable desks for sitting or standing to full office redesign & refurbishment with free design and office space planning. We passionately believe your office should look great and feel comfortable.
ALTAR Group has rewritten what it means for us to support the people in our business and our partners.
We have driven growth and change throughout a tumultuous economic period that will ultimately create greater opportunities for the ALTAR team. Using technology we are creating an environment that inspires, excites and supports.
ALTAR Group is committed to meeting Scotland's Net Zero targets. We have already significantly reduced our energy consumption, are in the process of investigating a new biomass boiler, and a combination of our WFH policy and video conferencing has enabled a reduction in our carbon footprint by 48%. We continue to look for innovative ways to address climate change.
ALTAR Group is striving to be a centre of excellence. Not for the work we do in the design, digital marketing and web space, but for the way we foster local talent, building a community rather than a workforce.
We are providing a platform to enable real change in the most disaffected, disadvantaged vulnerable people in society. By using data and a bespoke service of active listening to our target groups and wider community we are evolving a new model to tackle pre-existing stigma in a way that engages and motivates people to want a better quality of life.
To be in a fortunate position to be awarded this Chamber Business Champion Award accolade, we feel this would help us raise awareness that a different model can be adopted and be successful in different sectors as recognition and a quality mark to others. We would also have a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our player pathway model of positive change.
Dates for your diary
29 June - Nomination Close
6 July - Shortlisted Businesses Announced
11 July - 24 August - Public Voting
11 & 12 August - Pitch Day for Finalists
8 September - Awards Lunch @ Carnoustie Golf Hotel
