Inverclyde Chamber of Commerce has relaunched its annual business showcase at a networking lunch event at the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock.

The newly named ICON Awards were revealed to over 60 attendees by members of ICC’s Board and Senior Executive, Rachel Burns with ICC celebrating its seventeenth year of shining a light on local companies and their business success.

The ICON Awards provide local businesses a chance to demonstrate their achievements and to receive recognition for them at a gala dinner held at Inverkip Marina.

The event ran through the updated format as well as unveiling the new branding and logos, created by Gourock-based graphic designer, Craig Black.

The ICON winners’ awards are also being created by students at West College Scotland in Greenock, with other businesses also involved with ICC to shine a light on local skills and craftsmanship.

Inverclyde ICON Awards Sponsors L-R: Waterfront Cinema, Diodes Incorporated, Inverclyde Council, Succession Wealth and West College Scotland

The awards provide companies with an opportunity to showcase their resilience, innovation and accomplishments, boasting a variety of different categories backed by nine sponsors and for the first time, will include a public vote to decide on Inverclyde’s Favourite Business.

Nominations are sought in the following categories:

• Service Industry Business of the Year

• Rising Star Award

• Outstanding Charity/Third Sector Organisation

• Best Food and Drink Business

• Best Tourism Business

• Manufacturer of the Year

• Best SME Business

• Best Large Business

• Inverclyde’s Favourite Business (Public Vote)

• ICC President’s Award

The ICON Awards have been created to help further progress the Chamber, following its relaunch and new five-year strategy which was launched in August 2019.

ICC has welcomed two new sponsors to the awards, Diodes Incorporated and the Golden Casket Group. Long-term Chamber sponsors are Auto-Tec Scotland, Holiday Inn Express (Greenock), Inverclyde Council, Riverside Inverclyde, Succession Wealth, Waterfront Cinema and West College Scotland.

Gavin McDonagh, ICC President, said:

“We are delighted that the launch of the ICON Awards has attracted such interest within the Inverclyde business community.

“The awards are celebrating their seventeenth year and it is vital that the Chamber continues to refresh the format to keep them relevant to the business community.

“We’d like to thank our sponsors, who are vital in the delivery of the ICON Awards, and we would urge both our membership and other Inverclyde-based businesses to put themselves forward for the categories.”

Entries are welcome from companies of any size working in any market sector, just as long as they operate within Inverclyde, have been in business for more than one year and meet the criteria outlined for the categories.

After the closing date on Friday 20 March 2020, a shortlist will be selected to present to the judging panels with Sponsors who will choose three finalists and a winner in each category.

A representative from each finalist will be a guest of Inverclyde Chamber at the ICON Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner in the Marquee at The Chartroom, Kip Marina, on Friday 12 June 2020, where business leaders will unite to celebrate the success of Inverclyde business and hear the winners announced.

To apply for the ICON Awards and review the criteria, please click here.

To see the highlights of the 2019 event, click here.

For more information on ICC Events, click here.

ICON Awards