The search is underway to crown this year’s finest family businesses in the 2015 Herald Scottish Family Business Awards.

Now in their fourth year, these important industry awards, staged by The Herald in association with Business Gateway, celebrate the invaluable contribution made by family businesses to the Scottish economy.

This year’s awards feature ten categories, highlighting success stories on rural family businesses, positive customer service, international growth and innovative techniques.

They are supported by Business Gateway, Burness Paull, Clydesdale Bank, Campbell Dallas, Craig Corporate, TL Dallas, Supplier Development Programme, Strathclyde Business School and the Grand Central Hotel.

Last year’s winners included Campbell & Kennedy, Zonal Retail Data Systems and Highlander.

Hugh Lightbody, Chief Officer at the Business Gateway National Unit said: “Business Gateway works with hundreds of family businesses every year and as such we understand the key role these companies play in growing Scotland’s economy. We would encourage any family business that hasn’t already entered to consider showcasing their work through an awards application.”

John Anderson, director of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at Strathclyde Business School, said: “The importance of family businesses and their leaders needs to be championed and we are delighted be able to highlight Scotland’s successful role models by sponsoring the award for Outstanding Contribution.”

Grant Stevenson, partner at Burness Paull sponsors of the International Growth award, said: “There are exciting opportunities available to family businesses who are innovative, enterprising and ambitious, putting themselves forward to be recognised in international markets and this category is a great platform for entrants to demonstrate these qualities and tell their success stories.”

Alastair Christmas, Clydesdale Bank’s regional director for business and private banking in the West of Scotland, said: “Family businesses are who we support – many of our customers have been with us for generations. The Herald Family Business Awards goes a long way to celebrate the huge contribution that family businesses makes to our economy and their communities.”

Tom Craig, chairman of Craig Corporate, which supports the large company category, said: “Family companies of scale are vitally important to the Scottish economy and they should be encouraged and nurtured to be successful and grow. This would make a potentially significant difference to Scottish economic growth and employment growth.”

All entries are made online on our dedicated event site – http://herald-events.com/familybusiness/. To discuss your submission please contact, Lyndsay Wilson on 0141 302 7407.