Businesses set to vie for north top awards

The 1998 Highlands and Islands Business Awards are open to firms large and small, offering the chance of winning fame and fortune.

Hundreds of companies have taken part over the years in the awards, which this year are co-sponsored by the Highlands and Islands office to accountants Ernst and Young, the Press and Journal and, new sponsors for 1998, HIE Ventures Ltd.

Reflecting the diversity of the area's businesses, they offer four catego­ries:

Larger business, smaller business, tourism and the most promising new­comer — and an overall prize of Highlands and Islands Business of the Year.

The larger business category is open to businesses operating with an annual turnover exceeding £1 500,000 or more than 20 employees.

The winner will receive the Ernst and Young Acorn Award, designed by Caithness Glass, a parchment scroll, cover plaque and publicity from Press and Journal, and another prize to be announced.

Firms with an annual turnover of up to £1 500,000 or up to 20 employ­ees can enter the smaller business category. The winner will receive another original Ernst and Young Acorn Award, similar recognition from Press and Journal and another prize to be announced.

The Highlands and Islands Tourism Award will go to businesses, regard­less of size, operating in the area's vital tourism market.

The criteria, in addition to the basic of a good and potentially enduring business, will include quality of product or services and success in identi­fying, meeting the needs and attracting target markets. The winner will receive the Ernst and Young Acorn Award, Press and Journal publicity and a prize to be announced.

The judges will assess answers to the questions listed on the entry form to help them establish how well each business plans for the future, designs its products or services, monitors its performance and addresses its mar­ket.

All responses will be helpful in judging the potential of each firm for sustained development as a contributor of the economy of the Highlands and Islands.

Interested firms can pick up entry forms at Ernst and Young's Inverness office in Moray House, bank Street, or from the Press and Journal offices in Academy Street, Inverness. More details can be obtained by calling (01343) 237581.

The 1998 Highlands and Islands Business Awards will be presented at the Awards Luncheon to be held at Eden Court Theatre, Inverness, on a date to be announced.

Vocabulary

to vie – соперничать

award – присуждение (награды, премии); премия

to win fame and fortune – завоевать славу и богатство

diversity – разнообразие

promising – подающий надежды

annual – ежегодный

turnover – оборотный капитал

parchment scroll – пергаментный свиток

cover plaque – почетный знак

regardless – не взирая на

contributor – содействующий, помощник

Exercise 9: Work with a partner. Recollect the sentences where the following words and phrases were mentioned. One phrase wasn't given in the article at all.

1) to win fame and fortune; 2) Islands office of accountants; 3) four categories; 4) an annual turnover exceeding £1 500,000; 5) publicity from the Press and Journal; 6) regardless of size; 7) quality of product or services; 8) retail sector; 9) to monitor performance; 10) a contributor to the economy of the Highlands and Islands; 11) Eden Court Theatre.