ScottishPower has picked up a plethora of plaudits at this year’s prestigious Arts & Business Scotland Awards.

The energy firm was recognised four times for its outstanding work in the Scottish arts and business industry and was the first company to win twice in one category.

Held at the Usher Hall on Thursday (1st October), the event, which is one of the oldest award ceremonies in Scotland, is the leading celebration of arts and business partnerships in the country. 

Commenting on the awards sweep, Nick Horler, Chief Executive of ScottishPower, said:

“ScottishPower has a strong commitment to the arts and business in Scotland through various sponsorships and activities involving our staff, where they can develop their own skills and as well as contribute to other businesses. We are delighted to be recognised for our achievements and would like to congratulate all those involved.”

The utility company won two awards in the Sustainability category for its sponsorships with the Edinburgh International Book Festival and National Theatre of Scotland.

The Edinburgh International Book Festival has been working with ScottishPower since 2005 to bring literature, language and ideas to as wide and diverse an audience as possible. This in turn allows the Book Festival to be fully accessible to all, establishing ScottishPower as a forward-thinking organisation that cares about young people.

Transform, which is sponsored by ScottishPower, is a series of moving performances involving school pupils, community groups and artists working together to create a unique event, which offers an appreciation of each other’s life experience and the role each played in the journey of the communities of Fife, Dumfries and East Renfrewshire.

ScottishPower was also proud to be commended in the Community Award category for its partnership with the Citizens Theatre for ‘Outspoken’.

Outspoken focused on the creation of an innovative piece of professional drama that explored the reality of stammering and its impact on the lives of people who stammer, their families and their peers. The project also explored the challenges that are associated with stammering and addressed key issues such as bullying.

ScottishPower Renewables worker Allan Kelly proudly accepted the Volunteer of the Year Award as recognition for his outstanding work on the board of Street Level Photoworks.

ScottishPower has a history of offering staff members the opportunity to assist organisations on a voluntary basis, which improves the staff member’s skills, as well as boosting the organisation.

Alan joined Street Level Photoworks’ Board in May 2008 and was voted in as Chair at the last AGM. The organisation gives artists, communities and schools the opportunity to take part in photography and lens-based media activities through outreach projects and training courses.

When Alan joined, the organisation was at a very important stage in its development as it was about to embark on its capital development and move to Trongate, as well as to recruit new staff.

Allan’s appointment to the board (and subsequently to the position of Chair), has led to a more proactive approach to policies and practice around Health and Safety, in improved financial reporting as well as systems of Performance Management and Appraisal.

Alan said:

“I'm really pleased to have won this award as it reflects very well on the excellent support the Board gets from the staff at StreetLevel.  Working with such a successful organisation as StreetLevel has been an invaluable experience for me.

“I'd like to thank my employers, ScottishPower Renewables, for allowing me to contribute in this way and Arts and Business for their support. If anybody is considering getting involved with A&B I'd strongly recommend it.”

For further information on Arts & Business Scotland Awards, visit www.artsandbusiness.org.uk/scotland.