Matthew Algie brews up a storm at The Glasgow Business Awards

Leading Scottish coffee roaster, Matthew Algie, has been named Glasgow’s Most Outstanding Business at The Glasgow Business Awards 2023.

The Oatlands-based roastery took home what is widely considered to be the most prestigious award of the night alongside the award for Sustainable Development, stealing the show at the 25th anniversary of the ceremony, hosted by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

The Glasgow coffee roastery has operated in the city for over 150 years and has recently undergone a multimillion-pound investment, which will see the site able to roast over 2,500 tonnes of coffee each year and was named Best Coffee Roaster at the 2022 European Coffee Awards.

Cullen Eco-Friendly Packaging was also honoured with two awards, taking home the Award for International Trade, with CEO David MacDonald additionally being honoured as Entrepreneur of the Year.

Allied Vehicles took home accolades for both Business Resilience and Best Performing Large Business. Allied Vehicles is the UK’s leading supplier of adapted and special purpose vehicles and has previously won Most Outstanding Business at the 2019 ceremony.

Taking home Young Business Person of the Year, Victoria Nicol of My Language Connection impressed judges by successfully transforming a Scottish start-up language translation company into an international, award-winning medical translation agency. 

Media partner, The Herald and The Glasgow Times, yet again supported the event which is hosted by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland. 

Comedian Fred MacAulay masterfully compared the night for his eighth year in a row, which took place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central, with a total of 17 awards presented in front of 650 guests.

Included in the outstanding mix of winning businesses were: Peel Ports ClydePort (Green Champion), Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity (Excellence in Communications) and City of Glasgow College (Fair and Healthy Workplace).

This year, Glaswegians voted through the Glasgow Times to select The National Piping Centre as their favourite business.

Recently retired Glasgow Life, chief executive, Dr Bridget McConnell, CBE, received Glasgow Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award, commending her instrumental role in cultivating Glasgow’s cultural heritage, including the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the £30m refurbishment of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and the opening of the £68m Riverside Museum.

The awards, which have a rich history, commenced in 1997 when they were held in the then Thistle Hotel, to an audience of around 250 people and have taken place annually breaking only for the pandemic. 

The gala event has grown significantly over the years to become the champion of major achievements and business success in the city, and the ‘must have’ for the business community.

Richard Muir, deputy chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “Congratulations to all of our winners, particularly Matthew Algie on taking home the Most Outstanding Business award, a highly deserved accolade. 

“This year, we mark a quarter of a century of celebrating the successes and achievements of Glasgow’s business community. Over the years, we have had the honour of seeing businesses grow and realise their full potential, so it is an honour to recognise them for their innovation and dedication to the city.

“Thank you to Royal Bank of Scotland our headline sponsor for a sixth year, to each of our category sponsors, and to the Herald and Glasgow Times for joining us as media partners.  

“It has been inspiring to celebrate the resilience and unbreakable spirit of Glasgow’s business community, which has spearheaded exceptional initiatives, achieved impressive growth and showcased international success despite the challenging circumstances faced in the last year.”

Judith Cruickshank, chair, Royal Bank of Scotland’s One Bank Scotland Board,  said: “Royal Bank of Scotland has a long and privileged relationship with the Glasgow Business Awards and once again this year’s event proved to be a great success. 

“It is a real celebration of the quality and diversity of the businesses which operate here in this city, and the ecosystem that exists to help companies of all scales and across all sectors thrive. This evening’s winners are truly deserving of their success and a great inspiration to the business community here in Scotland.” 

WINNERS 

The Glasgow Business Award for Best Performing Large Business 

• Allied Vehicles Limited 

The Glasgow Business Award for Best Performing Small-Medium Business sponsored by Beam Digital and Design 

• DMG Services Group Ltd 

The Glasgow Business Award for Business Resilience sponsored by Glasgow City Innovation District 

• Allied Vehicles Limited 

The Glasgow Business Award for Community Wealth Building 
sponsored by Glasgow City Council 

• Homes for Good 

The Glasgow Business Award for Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored by Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie LLP 

• David MacDonald, Cullen Eco-Friendly Packaging 

The Glasgow Business Award for Excellence in Communications sponsored by The Herald 

• Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity 

The Glasgow Business Award for Fair and Healthy Workplace sponsored by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 

• City of Glasgow College 

The Glasgow Business Award for Family Business of the Year sponsored by Ambassador Theatre Group 

• Wholesale Domestic Bathrooms  

The Glasgow Business Award for Green Champion sponsored by ScottishPower 

• Peel Ports Clydeport 

The Glasgow Business Award for Innovation in Business 
sponsored by KubeNet 

• Optimum Business Growth 

The Glasgow Business Award for International Trade 

• Cullen Eco-Friendly Packaging 

The Glasgow Business Award for Net Zero Achievement sponsored by Glasgow City Council 

• Dear Green Coffee Roasters 

The Glasgow Business Award for Sustainable Development sponsored by Scottish Water 

• Matthew Algie 

The Glasgow Business Award for Young Business Person of the Year sponsored by City of Glasgow College 

• Victoria Nicol, My Language Connection 

Glasgow Times Award for Glasgow's Favourite Business 

• The National Piping Centre 

Royal Bank of Scotland Award for Most Outstanding Business 

• Matthew Algie 

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Award for Lifetime Achievement 

• Dr Bridget McConnell CBE