CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd, The Weir Group and Cashmaster International were amongst the winners at the 2025 China-Scotland Business Awards
The Awards were announced and presented at the Chinese Burns Supper held by the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) in Glasgow on 30 January 2025, with over 270 guests in attendance.
Businesses were shortlisted across six different categories: Chinese Corporate of the Year, Educational Partnership of the Year, Scottish Corporate in Hong Kong 2025, ESG Champion of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, and China Welcome of the Year.
CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd won the award for Chinese Corporate of the Year: a category which celebrates the huge contribution that Chinese businesses make to the Scottish economy. CNOOC Petroleum Europe Ltd entered the UK North Sea in 2013 and has been a major player in the UK’s offshore energy industry ever since: employing around 600 staff across its onshore and offshore operations and investing in local communities through financial and voluntary support all the while exploring opportunities to integrate renewable energy sources in its offshore operations.
Celebrating the power of UK-China educational collaboration, the award for Educational Partnership of the Year went to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). Following an MoU signing between the Scottish Executive and the Ministry of Education, China, in January 2003, the SQA has worked in collaboration with CSCSE to offer training and skills-based, short-cycle higher education qualifications, SQA Advanced Diplomas (ADs) in China for over 20 years – a partnership that has certainly stood the test of time.
The award for Scottish Corporate in Hong Kong 2025, sponsored by Invest Hong Kong, showcased the impact that Scottish businesses are making in Hong Kong’s dynamic market. It was won by Cashmaster International, a leading global provider of cash management solutions with a design and manufacturing centre based in Dalgety Bay, Scotland, and extensive experience of supporting the Hong Kong market. Since having entered Hong Kong in 2017, Cashmaster International has supported over 25 large enterprises in the region and has provided more than 5,000 devices and accessories to the Hong Kong market.
Leading Scottish engineering group, Weir Group took home the award for ESG Champion of the Year – a category that recognised the importance of sustainable business practices in Scotland and China. Weir Group has a long history of operations and engagement in China, and today the company employs around 600 staff in China. In 2024, Weir Group marked an important and exciting milestone as it opened a brand new, $60 million state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Xuzhou – a facility setting new standards for Weir in terms of efficiency and sustainability, and supporting the company’s delivery of its commercial and ESG goals.
The award for Marketing Campaign of the Year, sponsored by logistics company W.M. London, went to leading China Marketing agency, Emerging Comms, and Glencairn Crystal, Scotland’s premier creator of professional whisky glassware. The marketing campaign run by Emerging Comms tackled unique challenges that Glencairn Crystal faced in the Chinese market: boosting the brand’s credibility, image and increasing brand awareness amongst Chinese consumers.
The campaign partnered with industry KOLs to create compelling educational content from Emerging Comms’ Scottish studio, with whisky-related influencers delivering expert endorsements, and lifestyle KOCs generating authentic testimonials. The campaign achieved over 852,000 reads, and has helped establish sustainable growth for Glencairn Crystal in China.
Finally, the return of an award category that had become impossible due to travel restrictions in recent years, China Welcome of the Year provided a timely opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of Scottish companies in the retail, travel and hospitality sectors who have gone over and above in welcoming Chinese visitors to Scotland. Sponsored by the Scottish Confucius Institute for Business and Communication at Heriot-Watt University, the award went to leading travel consultancy and destination management company, Magna World Ltd.
Established in 2015 – with headquarters in Scotland and a branch in Hainan, China – Magna World has evolved from organising bespoke tours to becoming a significant contributor to Scotland’s economy through inward investment. Magna World has built strong relationships with leading Chinese travel agencies and created memorable experiences such as whisky tastings, historical castle stays, and golf packages, reflecting Scotland’s rich heritage. And in a milestone achievement, the company expanded its role by securing inward investment to purchase two historic castles in Scotland: supporting local tourism and hospitality, as well as preserving Scotland’s cultural heritage.
Now going into its 12th year (a full cycle of the Chinese zodiac!), the China-Britain Business Council’s Chinese Burns Supper, in partnership with the University of Glasgow and Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise, has become a permanent fixture in the China-Scotland business calendar.
The unique event featured a fusion of Burns Night traditions with those of Chinese New Year as a backdrop for black-tie networking for the China-Scotland business and educational community. Guests enjoyed a dynamic programme of entertainment – ringing in the Year of the Snake in style – with the customary Address to a Haggis, a Lion Dance, Chinese Ribbon Dancing and for the first time ever, a ceilidh, amongst other performances. Bufan Li, a Chinese student in the University of Glasgow’s music department, sang A Red, Red Rose accompanied by Andy Chung on guitar.
Funds were raised to support two noteworthy charities: Waverly Care – a Glasgow-based HIV and hepatitis C charity, with a range of specially tailored services supporting the Chinese community affected in Scotland. And the Migrant Children’s Foundation – which enriches and develops the lives and education of disadvantaged children in China via a plethora of educational and health-focused initiatives.
The Awards were generously supported and made possible by CBBC’s partners and sponsors:
The University of Glasgow; Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London; Scottish Development International; Scottish Enterprise; The Scottish Confucius Institute for Business and Communication at Heriot-Watt University; Invest Hong Kong; WM London
The full list of Nominees for each Award category is as follows:
Chinese Corporate of the Year
- BYD
- CNOOC Petroleum Europe Limited
- Hainan Airlines
Educational Partnership of the Year
- Scottish Qualifications Authority & CSCSE
- Lancaster University College at Beijing Jiaotong University
- Uoffer Global
- Edinburgh Napier University & Shanghai Normal University (SHNU)
Scottish Corporate in Hong Kong 2025
- EGG Lighting
- Cashmaster International
- Speak with Impact
- Murray & Currie
ESG Champion of the Year
- Burness Paull LLP
- Weir Group
- University of Strathclyde
Marketing Campaign of the Year
- Shanghai Yiming Cultural Information Consulting
- Edrington
- The Edinburgh Natural Skincare Company / Commercial Cross
- Glencairn Crystal / Emerging Comms
China Welcome of the Year
- Johnnie Walker Princes Street
- Magna World Travel
- Montblanc Consulting
For further enquiries about the awards, please contact James Brodie at James.Brodie@cbbc.org.
