Recruitment Industry Lines up for Awards Success

The recruitment industry is being well represented with several of Scotland's top players being announced as finalists in this year's National Business Awards for Scotland, sponsored by Orange.

The finalists are:

- Wendy McDougall managing director of 9-20 Recruitment, Glasgow - The Entrepreneur of the Year Award

- John Hailstone managing director of First People Solutions Group, Glasgow - The Entrepreneur of the Year Award

- Head Resourcing, Edinburgh - The AXA Small to Medium Sized Business of the Year Award

- Monster Scotland, Glasgow - The Hymans Robertson Business of the Year Award

- Recruitment Zone, Edinburgh - The Danwood Growth Strategy of the Year Award

The firms' teams will now prepare to make their presentations in person to a further panel of expert judges, including senior executives, academics and business specialists, in mid to late July. Made up of fourteen categories, winners will be unveiled at a glittering gala awards evening at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel on Thursday 13 September 2007.

Neil Laidler, Interim Vice President Business Services, Orange UK, said: I am constantly impressed by the quantity and quality of the entries for the National Business Awards for Scotland. The entrants demonstrate enthusiasm and motivation to succeed and I challenge anyone who doesn't believe Scottish businesses are at the vanguard of innovation and growth to meet with these finalists. All the finalists of the awards have shown passion, determination and originality - we wish them all luck in the final rounds of judging.

The National Business Awards for Scotland recognises and rewards excellence, innovation and success. Uniquely open to organisations of all sizes and from any industry sector - public or private, the programme allows the best businesses to showcase their achievements and benchmark their successes.

The total entry in the 2006 event had a combined turnover of 22billion, generated profits of 8.3billion (which accounts for around 30 per cent of Scotland's GDP) and employed over 300,000 people.

To obtain further information and see the full list of finalists please visit: