As an entrepreneur, I have always found the term “award winning” very interesting. What does being an “award winning” business actually mean?
Years ago, it was only the best of the best of each industry that were invited to enter prestigious awards and competitions. But nowadays it seems as though everyone can have a crack at the whip – regardless of your status or track record – thanks to the complete oversaturation of the awards and events market.
While there is no question that parking the phrase “award winning” in front of your name or title will attract some degree of attention to you, I can’t help but question what merit such an accolade brings to a business nowadays. Does being an “award winner” truly mean you’re the best of the best anymore?
I suppose in some instances, the answer is yes. Bodies such as the AA, which have awarded titles of recognition within the hospitality sector for decades, go through rigorous rounds of testing and reviewing before rewarding a company with one of their accolades.
The CEO of Crerar Hotels, Chris Wayne-Wills, summed it up well after the group were named the AA’s Best Hotel Group of the Year for 2024. He emphasised the exclusivity of being recognised by the leading body, calling its annual Hospitality Awards “one of the most important dates in the diary” for the whole industry.
While award status from reputable bodies such as the AA are earned as a result of rigorous hard work and determination, there has been a huge jump in the number of ceremonies that simply require a single nomination from absolutely anyone in order for a business to be considered “one of the best in their field”.
Take Scotland’s wedding industry, for example. I can count at least six awards opportunities that have been created specifically for wedding-related businesses, all with very little differentiation between them. And while it’s easy enough to submit your application or nomination, unless you can pay to “secure your spot” as a finalist, then you’re not even considered for an award.
It is no secret that a huge percentage of awards ceremonies that take place every year here in Scotland are simply big money-making schemes. They’re not cheap either, with some fees costing more than £400 per entry – and that’s before you have even considered buying tickets or a table if you get shortlisted.
That’s fine for big companies that can afford to throw hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds at annual award ceremonies, but what about the smaller businesses that deserve recognition but can’t justify spending quadruple figures on a glamorous night out?
It feels very elitist to me, not just because these kinds of ceremonies price smaller businesses out of consideration, but because it feeds into the narrative that cash-rich businesses are the only ones that can be considered “the best of the best”.
With that in mind, I’m not sure it’s fair to say that every award ceremony succeeds in identifying the very best businesses operating within their chosen industry. Perhaps it would be more accurate to suggest they do very well at highlighting those with the most money.
Of course, I’m not for a moment suggesting that any business which has won an award has simply bought their way to a win. But I do think, as a business community, we need to pull the plug on simply creating industry awards to make a bit of extra cash.
I can’t help but feel the oversaturation of Scotland’s awards ceremonies market has taken away the merit of the title, “award winning”.
Ultimately, awards ceremonies should be about identifying outstanding businesses in each industry, encouraging healthy competition among entrepreneurs and inspiring teams to push themselves to become the best they can be.
After all, whether you are a small, medium, or large organisation, every company should have access to a meaningful accolade that is truly earned thanks to their hard work and dedication – not how much money they can throw behind an entry.
Nature for Sale? Scotland’s land debate intensifies
Financialisation of Nature is a term I’ve been hearing more and more recently and, with the Scottish government keen to reach its net-zero ambitions by 2045, I’m sure it’s likely to remain on the news agenda for a long time to come.
For those not familiar with the term, imagine our landscape turned into stocks and bonds. That’s the essence of financialisation of nature – where ecosystems become tradable assets.
A report released last week by the Who Owns Scotland project showed a growing trend of investment companies buying large swathes of Scottish land. Between 2020 and 2022 alone, most large landholdings over 500 hectares were bought by firms involved in ‘natural capital markets’ like forestry and carbon offsetting.
So much so, Gresham House, a London investment firm, became the fifth largest private landowner in Scotland. And, while the Scottish government sees selling land as a way to attract investment for restoring peatlands and forests, critics fear it could be a double-edged sword when it comes to our natural assets and local communities.
Certainly, dissenting voices of this land buying spree believe it’s not in our best interests, rather it is a way for companies to pay to pollute, offsetting their carbon emissions rather than reducing them, as well as the potential damage to our fragile ecosystems as landowners prioritise timber production over biodiversity.
It’s an interesting debate and one that I can see rumbling on into the future. One thing is certain though, it highlights the need for balancing economic interests with environmental and social concerns when managing our natural resources. I will take a keen interest on what the Scottish government do to ensure responsible land management.
It Made Me Laugh
What’s in a Name? Apparently, Quite a Bit
Choosing a name for your business goes beyond aesthetics, it’s a foundational element that influences almost every aspect of your venture. It’s crucial to get it right, otherwise you may alienate your customer base.
The Redcoat Café within Edinburgh Castle is a real case in point, as a social media storm was whipped up by SNP ministers around the contentious name, with Redcoat referencing the British soldiers who crushed the Jacobite rebellion.
As a petition branding the café “deeply offensive” gathered pace, Historic Environment Scotland were quick to say they would review the venue’s name.
No matter what side you fall on, I did have a little chuckle when it transpired that the venue had been operating under the name for 32 years. Time is perhaps not a healer.
It Made Me Weep
Body Shop Battles for Survival
Another week, another major casualty on our Scottish high streets.
Body Shop, a familiar name within city centres up and down the country, has plunged into administration, with thousands of jobs at risk and 20 stores in Scotland affected.
Established in 1976 by environmental campaigners Anita Roddick and her husband Gordon, the brand was way ahead of its time, promoting so-called ethical consumerism, focusing on ethically produced cosmetics and skincare products.
With a brand ethos that certainly fits today’s trends of sustainable business practices, as well as challenging how women were represented within the media, I hope there can be a positive outcome for this true disruptor from within the retail industry.
