Beach clean up group picks up title at SCDI Awards
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A small Sutherland organisation with big ideas to combat sea pollution has been reward for its efforts at the SCDI Highlands and Islands Business Excellence Awards.
Durness-based Plastic@bay, which removes plastic pollution from north beaches and helps give it new life in recycled products, was named winner of the excellence in natural capital, climate change and sustainable communities.
Graeme Nisbet, partner and head of the rural team for award sponsor Harper Macleod, said the social enterprise, which removes five to 10 tonnes of plastic waste each year, was a worthy winner.
"They take plastic waste and successfully recycle it into beams, tiles, clocks and even jewellery," he said.
"It is then sold in their local shop and online. Profits from sales go back into beach cleaning an other local ocean clean-up activities. They also support small scale manufacturers who want to make environmentally friendly products by selling them shredded ocean plastic."
Support from the Women in Innovation Fund will now allow Plastic@bay to extend its activities to Kinlochbervie harbour and create a new facility which will transform waste into plastic lumber.
"Their work prevents wildlife entanglement, keeps plastics out of the food chain and creates a sustainable plan for using fishing gear that has outlived its practical use rather than see it dropped into the sea, thrown into landfill or left behind at ports an harbours," Mr Nesbit added.
Co-founder of Plastic@bay, Joan D'Arcy, thanked the team and Councillor Trish Robertson, who has been a strong supporter of the organisation, before adding: "We are really happy because we are such a small organisation, but we have big ideas and we really, really want to keep our area clean and try and stop pollution and come up with a good solution."
The online ceremony, hosted by comedian and impressionist Alistair McGowan, saw a total of 10 awards announced for businesses, social enterprises and individuals.
Among the other winners was Alness fish processing firm Aquascot, which won the SCDI sponsored people development award for its commitment to offering is staff – or partners, as they are known in the employee owned company – opportunities to learn and progress.
Fellow aquaculture firm MOWI won the excellence in international business title.
Ben Hadfield, MOWI Scotland's chief operating officer, said: "The last 18 months have been tough for everybody in the Scottish salmon industry. I know how hard the team here at Mowi has worked, especially to overcome the challenges posed by Brexit so it is great to see this acknowledged by the SCDI through this award."
Other winners included Inverness hotelier Tony Story of Kingsmills Hotel Group, who was named outstanding business leader, and Inverness-based Williamson Foodservice, which won the Highland Council Award for Highland spirit and resilience, while AES Solar of Forres won the award for excellence in upskilling, reskilling and emerging leaders.
Dunnet Bay Distillers, founded by Martin and Claire Murray as a lifestyle business eight years ago, received the SCDI Highlands and Islands chair's award for outstanding achievement.
This was announced by outgoing regional chairwoman Jane Cumming, who praised the couple not only for their business success, but their commitment to sustainability with their innovative refill pouches.
She commented: "I’ve been hugely impressed watching their progress – they are a company that is always moving forward.
"To me they exemplify what is great about our wonderful part of the world – their location is an asset, not an obstacle and they are flexible and innovative in their approach. This has put them at the forefront of gin production in a region more usually associated with Scotch whisky and I am delighted to honour them with the chair’s award for outstanding business achievement.”
The SCDI Highlands and Islands Business Excellence Awards winners for 2021:
SCDI Highlands and Islands Chair’s Award for outstanding business achievement: Dunnet Bay Distillers
Alvance Aluminium Award for outstanding business leader: Tony Story, Kingsmills Hotel Group
Benromach Award for excellence in international business: MOWI
Ocean Winds Award for Excellence in marine innovation and growing the blue economy: SAMS
SCDI Award for excellence in people development: Aquascot
The Crown Estate Scotland Award for outstanding supporter of coastal communities: Cullen Bay Hotel
The Harper Macleod Award for excellence in natural capital, climate change and sustainable communities: Plastic@bay
The Highland Council Award for Highland spirit and resilience: Williamson Foodservice
The Highlands and Islands Enterprise Award for excellence in upskilling, reskilling and emerging leaders: AES Solar
The Open University in Scotland Award for SME enterprise of the year: Mesomorphic
