The ROCCO Awards returned with a roar on Friday 19th November at the Normandy Hotel, Renfrew.
An ecstatic crowd of 400 people cheered 17 winners being crowned at Renfrewshire’s largest black-tie business event, now in its 17th year. The ambitious destination brand PAISLEY.IS returned as main sponsor for a third year signifying their ongoing support for the Renfrewshire business community.
Chamber President Liz Connolly highlighted the chamber’s achievements since Rocco 2019 and focused on the response in supporting the business community during the pandemic. The guests were piped into the Normandy by the talented St Columba’s School Pipe Band.
Mary Crearie Director, Communities, Housing and Planning Services, Renfrewshire Council gave the principal sponsor address and profiled the economic grant support awarded by Renfrewshire Council of over £53 million to the business community.
The ROCCO raffle raised an outstanding £9,000 supporting St Vincent’s Hospice and Kidney Research UK in memory of much-loved chamber director and friend Elaine Sherlock from Ingliston Country Club & Hotel.
The Rocco favourite host Fred MacAulay kept the audience laughing all evening and the GGC NHS Choir drew a warm and ecstatic response from the guests following their stirring performance with many of the choir members having been on the front line with the response to Covid-19. The Awards also featured a brand new trophy designed and made in Renfrewshire by JGB Steelraft and Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company.
The Winners:
Award for Environmental Sustainability – Sponsored by Paisley Is.
Winner: Glasgow Airport
Award for Developing the Young Workforce sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce (West)
Winner: Rolls-Royce plc
Award for Innovation & Technology – Sponsored by Creation IP.
Winner: Glasgow Airport
Award for Excellence in Manufacturing – Sponsored by the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland.
Winner: Rolls-Royce plc
Award for International Trade – Sponsored by Glasgow Airport.
Winner: Volantes Technical Recruitment Ltd
Award for Excellence in Business Resilience – Sponsored by Invest In Renfrewshire & Renfrewshire Council
Winner: Right Way Credit Union
Award for Most Promising New Business 2021 – Sponsored by Renfrewshire Council
Winner: Squared Insurance Brokers Limited
Award for Renfrewshire’s Favourite Business – Sponsored by Paisley Daily Express
Winner: I Am Me Scotland
Award for Resilience in Tourism – Sponsored by Paisley Is
Winner: Open Road Scotland
Award for Family Business of the Year – Sponsored by The Malcolm Group
Winner: Carli’s Kindergarten Ltd
Award for Young Business Person of the Year – sponsored by Rolls-Royce plc
Winner: Andrew O’Brien J.G.B Steelcraft (UK) Limited
Award for Employer of the Year – sponsored by West College Scotland
Winner: Arnold Clark
Award for Community Champion of the Year – sponsored by Engage Renfrewshire & The Royal Bank of Scotland
Winner: I Am Me Scotland
Award for Outstanding Performing Business <=5 employees – sponsored by Braehead
Winner: Plush Plans Ltd
Award For Outstanding Performing Business 5>25 employees – sponsored by The University of the West of Scotland
Winner: J.G.B Steelcraft (UK) Limited
Award for Outstanding Performing Business >25 employees – sponsored by Doosan Babcock
Winner: Wholesale Domestic Equipment Company Ltd
Award for Business Leader of the Year – sponsored by Diageo
Winner: Eddie Hawthorne, Chief Executive & Group MD, Arnold Clark
Bob Grant chief exec said: “The event marked a crucial step on the road to normality for our business community. The board and team at Renfrewshire felt it was crucial to run Rocco 2021 this year and plant a flag to mark the resilience and recovery underway. We witnessed a fantastic response from all our sponsors, companies entering and our guests on the night.”
“You can view all images on our Facebook page and comments on #2021Rocco. I encourage all Rocco winners to utilise their win across their PR channels. Thank you to the entire Chamber team for all their work before and on the night to ensure our 400 guests had a great time. Special thanks to principle sponsor Paisley.is, Diageo who supplied our drinks reception, Andrew O’Brien from J.G.B. Steelcraft and the team at Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Co for our new trophies, Cameron Presentations & Gap TV for all the AV, the Printbrokers for the program, Gary & Jan from NS Design for the excellent social media coverage and the Normandy Hotel for the superb meal and service. Thanks also to St Columba’s School Pipe Band who welcomed guests in such style.”
“Finally, thank you the GGC NHS Choir. It was a privilege to have them entertain us with many of the choir members having been on the front line with the response to Covid-19 from our wonderful NHS. Planning for Rocco 2022 is already underway, and we hope to see you enter and attend this year.”
