MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Smiles all round for Perthshire’s top business It was smiles all round as Blackhills Specialist Dental Clinic lifted Perthshire’s premier business award.
named runner-up to the Business of the Year. Judges agreed that, despite being relatively new to the area, the country’s leading independent water retailer has created “an incredible impact” and supports a large number of jobs.
The Aberuthven-based sector leader got its teeth into the Perthshire Chamber of Commerce “Business Of The Year 2017” title at a glittering Star Awards ceremony in Crieff Hydro.
Blackhills Specialist Dental Clinic is a purpose-built, state of the art clinic where seven registered specialists - most hospital consultants and senior university academics in the main disciplines of adult dentistry work together.
Blackhills clinical director Paul Stone and his staff celebrated winning both the Business Innovation and the Business Growth category awards before going on to claim the coveted overall trophy.
By seeing patients in this way, Blackhills can deliver the highest quality dental treatment for the complex, demanding cases referred by dental practitioners from all over Scotland and beyond.
A sell-out audience of nearly 400 heard how Blackhills captured the judges’ vote for their “excellence, innovation and expertise” in every aspect of their business.
An elated Paul Stone, who established the business 10 years ago, revealed that the delighted staff attending the awards ceremony were “completely blown away” by their success in two separate categories.
In total, 17 new Business Stars shone at the 2017 showcase, recognising and rewarding outstanding contributions across the whole spectrum of local business – from tourism, food and drink production and independent retailing to e-commerce, sustainability and business growth.
“Then to be announced as Perthshire Business of the Year 2017 was surreal,” he said, “and very humbling. We’re absolutely thrilled. It means a lot to every one of us.”
Chamber Chief Executive, Vicki Unite, said this year’s event - sponsored by Binn Group - had proved “an outstanding celebration of business excellence”.
Chamber President Ross Graham described the winner as a unique concept in private healthcare and praised the 21-strong workforce for the company’s impressive growth and sustainability. “Blackhills stood out due to the truly groundbreaking work they do,” he said,
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“not just on a local basis, but on a global level. The business demonstrates top-notch customer service, sustained and impressive growth though innovation and is a cuttingedge example of excellence in their field.”
Blairgowrie-based Castle Water, who lifted the Beyond Scotland category award, was
The Chamber again decided to present an Outstanding Achievement Award and this year the honour went to Lucinda Russell. The Kinross-shire trainer’s “One for Arthur” became the first Scottish winner of the Grand National for nearly 20 years and put the area firmly in the sporting spotlight.