Now in its 17th year, VIBES recognises and rewards businesses employing environmental best practice in their daily activity to cut down on resource use, increase sustainability, improve reputation, enhance competitiveness, support wider sustainable developments and benefit their overall bottom-line.

Businesses throughout Scotland have until Thursday 30 June to complete their submission for the awards which are free to enter.

To date VIBES awards have been presented to over 100 companies from a variety of sectors and sizes illustrating the diversity of businesses that are contributing to Scotland’s sustainable development. Organisers are looking forward to seeing the fantastic work being carried out across the country this year and are urging businesses to enter.

There are eight award categories this year; Management Large, Management SME, Green Team, Transport, Circular Economy, Environmental Product or Service and a special Hydro Nation charity award in collaboration with WaterAid. This year will also see the addition of a new theme category for the first time which will reward innovation in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

A Micro Business Award will also be presented to the best entry to any category from a company with less than 10 employees.

Previous VIBES Award winners include Fife HARCA Ltd. (Housing Association Regeneration Community Alliance), which works closely with Fife Council on a number of key regeneration projects around Fife, and Kingdom Housing Association, also based in Fife.

Gillian Bruce, chair of the VIBES Awards, said: “The VIBES Awards offer a fantastic platform for businesses to showcase and gain recognition for the hard work they are doing to make Scotland more environmentally aware.

“Every year we are impressed with some of the ideas that Scotland’s businesses come up with and we’re looking forward to introducing our special innovation award to help recognise the creative approach many companies are taking to tackle environmental and indeed business issues. We’d encourage all businesses to enter for their chance to join the country’s growing list of sustainable VIBES champions.”

VIBES is also offering businesses the opportunity to hear from former winners at a series of free events across the country. The events will provide businesses with more information on the awards as well as offering an opportunity to pick up helpful tips from previous sustainable champions.

Award sponsors to date include Scottish Government, ScottishPower, Chivas Brothers Pernod Ricard, Anglian Water and Scottish Centre for Sustainable Practice and Living. The University of Stirling Management School is a venue sponsor.

VIBES is a strategic partnership between Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Scottish Water, Scottish Enterprise, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Zero Waste Scotland, Energy Saving Trust and Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group.

The Awards are further supported by CBI Scotland, the Institute of Directors, the Federation of Small Businesses, Bright Green Business and Quality Scotland.

The Awards are accredited by the RSA Environment Awards Accreditation Scheme.

For more information on VIBES or to obtain an application from, please visit www.vibes.org.uk. To request your attendance at one of the events, please register through Eventbrite www.vibesawards.eventbrite.co.uk or email: vibes@sepa.org.uk