Local Businesses Recognised in National Business Heroes Awards

Local Businesses Recognised in National Business Heroes Awards

Nine businesses from across Dundee & Angus have recently been nominated in the British Chambers of Commerce National Business Heroes Awards. The campaign was launched earlier this year to recognise the incredible work that businesses are doing, in the most challenging of years. Each of the nominated businesses have been given a UK Business Heroes stamp which demonstrates that that they have gone the extra mile to support their local community during the Coronavirus outbreak.

Those businesses nominated from the region were

Mackie Motors who donated two electric vehicles to local charity Voluntary Action Angus enabling them to safely and comfortably deliver goods, including food and medicine to those self-isolating whilst keeping running costs and emissions low.

Wellgate Shopping Centre staff marked the bravery and dedication of key workers by handing out 250 thermal cups which have been decorated by local children with their messages of thanks. The Wellgate has also been instrumental in pulling together retailers to support with donations for local foodbanks.

Alexander’s Community Development helped thousands of local people during the COVID outbreak by pulling together local businesses and members of the public to supply and deliver food parcels, providing support to over 25 local foodbanks.

Balhousie Care Group were one of the first major employers in the region to recruit heavily supporting many people who were furloughed or out of work. They helped prepare sandwiches for homeless and vulnerable people and developed an app for their staff to remain safe whilst at work. They organized a local singer to perform – socially distanced – for residents to enjoy. Their Head Chef at one of their sites also taught cooking skills online to foster children in the region.

Hillcrest - The Hillcrest Team managed to carry out a lot of their activities during the Pandemic. They were able to source PPE for their frontline team, continued to speak with developers to keep as many as their projects on track and remained dedicated to overcoming the challenging hurdles to continue to deliver good quality affordable homes. The Hillcrest Futures’ harm reduction team delivered an outreach service in partnership with NHS harm reduction nurses. Dealing with people at high risk due to their drug and alcohol use.

Dundee Removal Services supported many other companies across the region to deliver food and supplies to the most vulnerable. Their vans and trucks were put to use to assist the local are including the delivery of vital equipment to a local hospital.

Scott Brothers Butchers knew they were going to be faced with a massive challenge when they lost the majority of their customers overnight. In a matter of day’s they were able to not only offer their online service to the local community but they had a phone service where locals who did not have any internet could order food to be delivered. This enabled local vulnerable people the ability to still get food delivered when the supermarkets were unable to take any more bookings. Along with their butcher meat they were able to supply essential items and if they didn’t have certain items they were happy to find suppliers. They also increased their ready meals selection so those who lost additional support were able to have a nutritious meal. During the recent outbreak of COVID-19 within student’s halls of residence they have delivered free of charge ready-made meal to students who do not have their own support locally.

DJCAD - During the start of lock-down the university (along with other individual volunteers) sewed reusable face coverings for NHS Tayside Staff. The same group also produced 5,000 scrubs for frontline staff.

Halley Stevenson worked with local Health bosses to produce large volumes of fabric at its Dundee-based factory in a bespoke colour called Tayside Teal. It was used to produce 4,000 pairs of scrubs. Halley Stevenson also donated a large quantity of the fabric for use by community stitchers.

Alison Henderson, DACC CEO said: “The Business Heroes recognition programme was a fantastic way for us to shine a spotlight on some of the local businesses doing really special and valuable things during the pandemic. We’re very proud of our local organisations and people who do so much to support the local community. In a year when we’ve all struggled in our own way, these heroes remind us that the resilience of people is what helps us stand out and raise our collective aspirations.”

Louise Byars, Group Head of Corporate Services at Balhousie Care Group, said: “We’re thrilled and extremely grateful to have been nominated by Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce for the UK Business Heroes Campaign. This award will be such a boost to our hardworking staff in a hugely challenging year for the whole Balhousie family and recognises the importance our care home teams place on developing and encouraging strong community links.”

Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce
Unit 37, City Quay, Camperdown Street

Press Contact - Sarah Young, sarahyoung@dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk

We are the leading business membership organisation in Dundee & Angus and part of the worldwide long-established Chamber of Commerce brand. We have over 750 business members who between them employ over 67,000 people. We work hard to help provide members with the business connections and opportunities they need to flourish. 
 
We represent our members’ views and use our collective voice to influence opinion makers. We are passionate about Dundee and Angus and promote it as a world class destination, helping the local us Ines community to thrive. 

This release was published on openPR.