Applications for the China-Scotland Business Awards 2024 are now open. The Awards will be presented at the Chinese Burns Supper 2024 on Thursday, 8 February at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre
Apply for the Awards (and buy tickets for the Chinese Burns Supper) here. Please note that applications for the awards close on 7 December 2023
Now going into its 11th year (just one shy of a full cycle of the Chinese zodiac!), CBBC’s Chinese Burns Supper has become a permanent fixture in the China-Scotland business calendar.
In partnership with The Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh, the event will feature a fusion of Burns Night traditions with those of Lunar New Year as a backdrop for black-tie networking and presentation of the China-Scotland Business Awards 2024.
This year’s pre-dinner drinks reception will be generously supported by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, adding a fitting touch to welcome in the Year of the Dragon.
The Awards will once again benefit from the long-standing partnership with Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise, with whom we’ve decided to re-jig the categories to offer opportunities to a wider spectrum of companies to take part. Full details of the new categories can be found below.
Award Categories for 2024
ESG Champion of the Year
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) is already a key attribute for successful and sustainable business practice in Scotland and China. This category would like to celebrate Chinese and Scottish businesses who have demonstrated their commitment to ESG strategies over the past year in either Scotland or China in particular in support of Net Zero and the principles of Fair Work First. Organisations can hail from any sector and be of any size.
Chinese Corporate of the Year
Chinese businesses continue to invest and grow in Scotland across a whole range of important sectors of our economy, which is something we seek to encourage and support. This category will recognise the significant contribution Chinese businesses continue to make to the Scottish economy. Applicants can include both established and newly incorporated businesses in Scotland, whose owners/founders or significant shareholders are from Mainland China & Hong Kong.
Marketing Campaign of the Year
Open to both agencies as well as product/service owners themselves, this category is looking to recognise excellence in the marketing of either Chinese products or services in Scotland, or vice-versa. Agencies do not need to be based in Scotland, but if not, the campaign in question should have a Scotland-China focus.
Scottish Corporate in Hong Kong 2024
Hong Kong remains a dynamic market from which businesses can access the plethora of business opportunities within South East Asia and Mainland China itself. For the first time this year we will be celebrating Scottish businesses with a footprint in Hong Kong. Nominations/applications will be open to both new entrants and established businesses, as long as the business still retains a registered office in Scotland.
Professional Advisory of the Year
Working in support of the many exporters, investors, universities and entrepreneurs are a whole host of professional advisory services without whom many of the deals and partnerships we celebrate in other categories would simply not be possible. This category is open to advisory firms (accountants, lawyers, bankers, IP experts all welcome) who have advised either Chinese corporates in Scotland or Scottish businesses in China over the past 12 months. Firms don’t necessarily have to be based in Scotland themselves, but if not, their clients would need to be.
Educational Partnership of the Year
A stalwart of these awards, education remains the bedrock of ties between the two nations, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate achievements in this sector. Educational institutions of any size will be recognised for the exciting partnerships they have established between Scotland and China.
Dragon Award for Pioneering Spirit
Mighty oaks, from little acorns grow. In the spirit of the Year of the Dragon, this category is designed to award any business or educational institution for the endeavour they have shown in the past year to establish partnerships between Scotland and China. However nascent the collaboration might be, credit will be given for a strong vision, innovation and clear demonstration of a pioneering attitude.
A look back at the 2023 China-Scotland Business Awards
A look back at the 2023 China-Scotland Business Awards The Sixth Annual China-Scotland Business Awards returned in 2023 to recognise and celebrate achievements in trade and investment between Scotland and China.
The winners of the 2023 Awards were:
Educational Partnership of the Year: Edinburgh Napier University and Guangxi University of Science and Technology
Entrepreneur of the Year: Simon Smiley, Director of Napiers the Herbalists
Chinese Investor of the Year: AccuBio / Zhejiang Orient Gene Biotech Co.,Ltd
Award for Climate Action: University of the West of Scotland
Exporter of the Year: PG Paper Company Ltd
Click here to read more about the 2023 China-Scotland Business Awards and Chinese Burns Supper
