Nominations are now being accepted for the Scottish Green Awards 2013, which seek to recognise outstanding green projects undertaken in Scotland.

The fifth annual award ceremony will take place at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh on 25 September 2013, with prizes given to those whose initiatives ‘benefit the environment and encourage others to follow in their footsteps’.

A judging panel will consist of leading industry figures, such as Lang Banks (Director, WWF Scotland), Morag McCorkingdale of the Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group and Colin Imrie, Head of European and UK Relations in the Scottish Government. The Right Honourable Brian Wilson, former UK Energy Minister and current Chairman of Havana Energy, will chair the judging panel.

The awards are being held in association with ScottishPower, whose Chief Corporate Officer, Keith Anderson, said: “ScottishPower, as part of the Iberdrola Group, is one of the world leaders in the development and delivery of renewable energy. This means understanding and managing the impact we have on the environment and striving for continuous improvement forms a major part of our overall business strategy.

“We are therefore delighted to be sponsoring the Scottish Green Awards once again and look forward to celebrating the success of businesses and individuals who are making a significant contribution to tackling climate change and improving the environment for others.”

Award categories

The awards have been divided into three main categories: ‘Business Awards’, ‘Community Awards’ and an ‘Overall Award’ for the ‘company, organisation or individual which has made a key contribution to improving the environment in Scotland’.

In order to be considered for any of the Business Awards, entrants must have been trading for a minimum of 18 months and be headquartered in Scotland. They must also provide clear evidence of projects that they have implemented and the results (or expected results) that they obtained.

If these criteria can be met, a project can be considered for one of the following prizes:

• Best Green Services Provider: for a company providing advice to organisations or individuals that helps them achieve best environmental practice;
• Best Small Company Initiative: for a small business (with a turnover up to £20 million) ‘which has implemented an environmental improvement strategy and has seen positive impacts for either the company itself or the wider community’;
• Best Large Company Initiative: as above, except limited to a business with a turnover of more than £20 million.

The Community Awards follow a similar path, with all entrants required to provide examples of their green projects. They can then be considered for one of the following awards:

• Best Community Initiative: for an individual or group project that demonstrates the most positive environmental impact within the local community;
• Best School/Youth Group Campaign: for school or youth group projects that demonstrate a commitment to protecting and improving their environment;
• Best Green Public Service or Public Sector Provision: for service providers whose work improves the environment in Scotland for the public’s benefit. This award is open to local authorities, health authorities, non-government organisations and community councils, as well as other community initiatives.

The deadline for nominations is 12 July 2013.

Read more about the Scottish Green Awards 2013.