All entries for this year’s VIBES Awards, which recognise and showcase businesses that are taking significant steps to reduce their impact on the environment, must be submitted by 5pm on Thursday 30 June 2016.

Open to organisations of all sectors and sizes, the awards, which are free to enter, recognise and reward 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.

There are eight award categories; Management Large, Management SME, Green Team, Transport, Circular Economy, Environmental Product or Service and a special Hydro Nation Challenge 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.

Since its inception in 1999 VIBES has presented awards to over 100 companies which have each displayed commitment to reducing their impact on the environment no matter how big or small their operations are. Previous industry winners have included FIFE HARCA Ltd (Housing Association Regeneration Community Alliance) and Kingdom Housing Association.

The VIBES Awards hope to showcase that even the smallest changes like better insulation, cycle to work schemes and increased recycling can positively impact the environment and indeed the business, as many of the winners have found.

Gillian Bruce, chair of the VIBES Awards, said: “We want to hear from new and established businesses that are working hard to incorporate sustainability into their daily operations no matter their size. Sustainable practices are crucial to businesses of every kind and through the VIBES Awards we want to show Scotland’s companies how easy it can be to support the environment by implementing even the smallest changes.

“This year we have a number of new categories and we’re looking forward to seeing the fantastic innovative ideas from Scotland’s businesses. We’d encourage anyone thinking of applying to get in touch with us if they have any questions or require support.”

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.