The Scottish Business Awards

Sponsored by Virgin Money, the 2014 Scottish Business Awards featured an audience with Sir Richard Branson and was hosted by acclaimed comedian Michael McIntyre. The awards ceremony recognises and celebrates dynamic Scottish businesses and entrepreneurs as well as fundraising for a wealth of charities.

Josh Littlejohn, Event Organiser, said: “After the success of last year’s Scottish Business Awards, it was an easy decision to hold the awards at the EICC for a second year running and once again, the venue excelled. We welcomed over 1,900 guests on the evening, which was over 300 more guests than last year. We were delighted that the food by Leith’s was consistently excellent and the new building accommodated the increased numbers perfectly.

"We appreciated the creative input from the team at the EICC in organising the event and they helped us stage a fantastic, memorable evening. The funds raised at the awards will enable several great charities to continue to work with businesses across Scotland to address environmental and social issues."

Credit: Robin Frowley

The Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards

On 22 May the EICC hosted 700 guests at the prestigious Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards, which is a celebration of the products and businesses that make Scotland a great land of food and drink. Winners included start-ups like Island Girl and family farming businesses, such as Graham’s The Family Dairy and Mathiesons Bakery. The event took place in the innovative Lennox suite and its moving-floor technology was set in a tiered cabaret mode so every guest had a superb view of the ceremony.

Sophie Fraser, Communications & Marketing Manager at Scotland Food & Drink, said: "We've had some tremendous feedback since the Scotland Food amp; Drink Excellence Awards and a huge congratulations is due to the Leith's and EICC staff who did a fantastic job. There have been a lot of positive comments regarding the service, food and AV on the night. With 700 food and drink professionals attending the 'Oscars' of the industry, this is no mean feat! I was really impressed, the contact and support on the night from each team was excellent too."

Credit: Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards

WAIMH

In June, the EICC hosted the 14th World Congress for the World Association for Infant Mental Health (WAIMH). Over 1700 participants from 55 countries attended the five-day congress making it the largest meeting in the history of the association.

The congress was a truly international gathering of leading experts at the cutting-edge of research and clinical practice in the field of infant mental health and speakers included Director of Warwick Infant and Family Wellbeing Unit, Professor Jane Barlow, and Professor Mark Tomlinson, Professor of Psychology and Public Mental Health, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Professor Barlow, also Chair of the Conference Organising Committee, said "We were hopeful that Edinburgh would be a popular destination for our members but the response was tremendous and proves that the city is one of the leading congress destinations in the world."

Margaret Sherry, Managing Director, In Conference Ltd, said: “With a complex programme of 15 parallel sessions running throughout each day, the logistics of accommodating a meeting of this size required very close collaboration with the Event Design Team at the EICC and ourselves as the PCO. As always, the very positive 'can do' attitude from all of the EICC team was a major contributing factor to the huge success of the Edinburgh conference.