It was smiles all round as Sidey lifted Perthshire’s premier business award. The Perth City-based market leader lifted the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce “Business of the Year 2023” title at a glittering Business Star Awards, sponsored by Binn Group, at Crieff Hydro
The Sidey team celebrated winning the Business Growth category and the Apprentice of the Year award before going on to claim the coveted overall trophy at the glittering event, expertly hosted by Kaye Adams.
And of course, this year, the winner also scooped the gifted membership £10k Airtime Package on STV courtesy of the STV Growth Fund which was an added bonus.
A sell-out audience of over 400 heard how 90-year-old Sidey captured the judges’ vote for the “…amazing growth that the whole team have achieved over the last four to five years particularly. Doubling turnover and increasing their staff to over 250 is nothing short of amazing. From starting their own apprentice training academy to having their own onsite manufacturing plant in Perth they truly displayed local business investment and are a significant contributor to the local economy.”
Chamber Chief Executive, Vicki Unite, described the company as a very worthy winner, with impressive growth and over 90 years of trading. She hopes the win will help promote the business further and help highlight the size and success of the operation.
“Perthshire Chamber of Commerce Business Star Awards facilitates a celebration of the vibrant business community in this area,” Vicki said.
“It’s wonderful to be able to provide a platform on which to shine and to showcase the amazing quality of businesses based here.
“Sidey is a well-established, local company and we weren’t immediately aware of just how large and successful they had become. Having their onsite manufacturing and also establishing their own Training Academy really made them stand out, that alongside their phenomenal growth and increased turnover and staffing levels. It’s terrific that we have them here on our doorstep.”
Sidey is the largest fenestration business in Scotland and one of the largest in the UK and they have a robust plan in place to continue to serve the people of Perthshire and further afield for the next 40 plus years.
Now employing around 250 people and supporting local businesses through its supply chain, Sidey has grown and this has allowed them to invest heavily and future proof their business operations and the sustainability along with providing job security.
They state that this sustained growth of the business has been possible due to the corporation and inspirational leadership of the management team and supporting personnel.
By operating an organic growth strategy that encourages and develops their people to work in partnership with stakeholders and interested parties, this maximizes growth from within. This has allowed them to operate on a people-based growth requirement, identifying how to operate and understanding the people behind the growth with the company firmly believing that everyone matters in Sidey.
When it comes to innovation, Sidey has broken the mould with their approach to creating innovative products and services.
The company has also invested in a Training Academy to develop apprentices which they launched at the start of 2023 and plan on expanding over the coming years. Sidey’s Training academy extends beyond the physical space created next to their Perth showroom, it encompasses the resources invested every day in coaching, mentoring, and training our apprentices to become exceptional members of our team which is integral their growth.
At the opening of the evening, Lord-Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross, Stephen Leckie, had the honour of presenting a posthumous award to Lady Georgina Bullough on behalf of her late husband, John Bullough MBE. This award was in recognition of John’s valuable services and legacies to the Perthshire community and Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance and Lady Georgina kindly addressed those present with a moving acceptance.
Thorntons Business Leader of the Year winner was announced as both Kenneth Simpson and Morris Leslie for their work in establishing Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine which harnesses a network of volunteers and sees their 70th aid lorry heading to the country in the coming days.
The Chamber decided to present an Outstanding Achievement Award this year and that honour went to Lucinda Russell Racing. The Kinross-shire trainer’s “Corach Rambler” won the Grand National in 2023 once again putting the area firmly in the sporting spotlight. This was the second time that the award-winning local yard has won this title, having lifted it back in 2017 when they won the Grand National, with “One For Arthur”.
Employee of the Year Award sponsored by Possible Estate Agents
Roderick Davie from Auto Services Perth Ltd
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Laura Lindsay from Graham Hygiene Services Limited
Rebekah Penman from St Johnstone Community Trust
Apprentice of the Year Award sponsored by UHI Perth
Ed Nelson from Sidey Solutions Ltd
Most Promising New Business Award sponsored by Business Gateway & Elevator
Andrew D Scott Celebrant
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Rabbit Hole Cakes
Excellence in Customer Service Award sponsored by OCO EU & Starbucks Perth
Graham Hygiene Services Limited
Excellence in Business Innovation Award sponsored by Graham Hygiene Services
Perthshire Local
Excellence in Digital Media Award sponsored by Crunchy Carrots Perthshire Local
HIGHLY COMMENDED
UHI Perth
Commitment to the Environment Award sponsored by Club 300 – Business
Wasted Degrees Brewing
Commitment to the Environment Award sponsored by Club 300 – Not-for-Profit
Tayside Upcycling & Craft Centre CIC
Commitment to the Community Award sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce Tay Cities (DYWTC)
The St Johnstone Community Trust
Excellence in Tourism & Leisure Award sponsored by Partners&
Logiealmond Estate
Beyond Scotland Award sponsored by Caithness Glass & Dartington Crystal
BLISS
Business Growth Award sponsored by Johnston Carmichael Chartered Accountants
Sidey Solutions Ltd
HIGHLY COMMENDED
NFU Perth
Independent Retailer of the Year Award sponsored by Flonix
Quince & Cook
Excellence in Food & Drink Produce Award sponsored by Castle Water
Good-Life Farming
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Wasted Degrees
Employer of the Year Award sponsored by Perthshire Advertiser
Graham Hygiene Services Limited
Health & Wellbeing Business of the Year Award sponsored by Blackhills Specialist Dental Clinic
Kevin Cuthbert Personal Training
Outstanding Young Business Person Award sponsored by The Lending Channel
Callum McKenna from Graham Hygiene Services Limited
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Caitlin MacKenzie from Ryse Digital
Business Leader of the Year Award sponsored by Thorntons
Kenneth Simpson and Morris Leslie of Tayside and Strathearn Help for Ukraine
Outstanding Achievement Award
Lucinda Russell Racing, Winning the 2023 Grand National with Corach Rambler
Posthumous Award
John Bullough MBE
Service to Perthshire Community and Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance
