A capacity crowd of 470 people watched 16 awards presented at the ROCCO’s on Friday 17th November at the Normandy Hotel, Renfrew – the annual business awards of Renfrewshire Chamber. The area’s premier business event, now in its fourteenth year was sponsored by Paisley 2021 for UK City of Culture. Chamber President Tom Johnston gave a warm welcome to the audience and highlighted the chamber’s successes in the last 12 months.
He emphasised the exciting times ahead for the Renfrewshire economy with record levels of investment planned and the opportunity to develop the area’s tourism offer, particularly if Paisley wins City of Culture in 2021. Deputy Council Leader Jim Paterson gave the main sponsor address and thanked the 200+ companies who have formally backed the bid and the 13 private sector organisations who have pledged over a quarter of a million pounds to support the run up to 2021 should the bid be successful. He urged the business community to continue showing their support as the final decision is now only weeks away.
The crowd was well entertained by three outstanding performances. Two of the acts, The Highway Chilé and Mandulu & Hepzibah also feature on the Paisley 2021 Album produced by chamber member and Rocco finalist Brick Lane Studios. Every guest received a free copy on the night courtesy of main sponsor Paisley 2021. Our third Act Hollie Robinson returned after a year’s break to wow the crowd fresh from being crowned the winner in Paisley’s got Talent 2017.
Rocco favourite Fred MacAulay hosted and was blown away by the talent of all three acts. The ROCCO raffle raised £8,000 for local charities and good causes with main beneficiaries Accord Hospice and Renfrewshire’s ‘Well, Well!’ Partnership with RAMH, Star Project, ENGAGE, Create Paisley and the 2021 team supporting the Mental Health Arts Festival (Year of Young People 2018).
The new Rocco Twitter Wall proved great fun for all the guests and saw #2017Rocco trending on the night.
The Awards
ROCCO Award for Excellence in Customer Services – Sponsored by Scottish Leather Group
Winner – Sarah-Lou Beauty
ROCCO Award for Enterprise in Education – Sponsored by University of the West of Scotland
Winner – Todholm Primary School
ROCCO Award for Innovation & Technology – Sponsored by Hillington Park
Winner – Bolt Learning Ltd
ROCCO Award for Excellence in Manufacturing – Sponsored by DYW West
Winner- Diageo Plc
ROCCO Award for International Trade – Sponsored by Glasgow Airport
Winner – Rolls-Royce Plc
ROCCO Award for Invest in Renfrewshire – Sponsored by Invest in Renfrewshire
Winner – Papamacs Gourmet Kitchen
ROCCO Award for Most Promising New Business – Sponsored by Business Gateway
Winner – Kenneth Keegan Independent Funeral Directors
ROCCO Award for Renfrewshire’s Favourite Business – Sponsored by Paisley Daily Express
Winner – Origins Fitness
ROCCO Award for Family Business of the Year – Sponsored by The Malcolm Group
Winner – The Jaw Brewery Ltd
ROCCO Award for Young Business Person of the Year – Sponsored by West College Scotland
Winner – Adil Khan, Harrods Dry Cleaners
ROCCO Award for Employer of the Year – Sponsored by Rolls-Royce
Winner – Clark Contracts Ltd
ROCCO Award for Community Champion – Sponsored by Engage Renfrewshire & Royal Bank of Scotland
Winner – StreetStuff
ROCCO Award for Outstanding Performing Business <5 FTE – Sponsored by intu Braehead
Winner – Angelwax Ltd
ROCCO Award for Outstanding Performing Business 5<25 FTE – Sponsored by Renfrewshire Council
Winner – Stafffinders
ROCCO Award for Outstanding Performing Business >25 FTE – Sponsored by Milne Craig
Winner – NCT Leather and WJ & W Lang Ltd
ROCCO Award for Business Leader of the Year – Sponsored by DIAGEO
Winner – Sara Speirs, Spectrum Service Solutions Ltd
Commenting on the awards, Chamber chief executive Bob Grant said “a huge thank you to all our sponsors, those who donated prizes for our raffle and well-deserved congratulations to all the finalists and 16 worthy winners. Our 14th ROCCO was a great success with some saying it was the best yet. Planning for Rocco 2018 is already underway, and we hope to see you enter and attend next year.”
