THE Inspiring City Awards have paid tribute to the people and businesses who make Glasgow great.

Around 400 luminaries gathered at the Radisson Blu Hotel last night for a gala awards ceremony organised in conjunction with The Herald and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.

Now in its fourth year, the prizegiving kicked off with a performance by De Quorum, Glasgow’s saxophone quartet, and was hosted by BBC newsreader Catriona Shearer.

Councillor Frank McAveety, leader of Glasgow City Council and chairman of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: “Glasgow is ambitious, inventive, entrepreneurial and welcoming because our people and businesses are – I was therefore delighted to see so many outstanding individuals and organisations recognised at these prestigious awards.”

The ceremony, run in association with the People Make Glasgow brand, had 11 partners including AHR Architects, amiExecutive, Glasgow Airport, Glasgow Caledonian University – Glasgow School for Business and Society, Glasgow 2018 European Championships, Glasgow Taxis, Developing the Young Workforce Glasgow, Loretto Care part of Wheatley Group, Virgin Trains, The Watson Foundation and Hacking & Paterson Management Services.

The Herald:

Pinkston Watersports Centre won the Legacy Award supported by Hacking & Paterson for creating a facility for athletes and the local community.

Professor Anna Dominiczak of the University of Glasgow was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award, supported by Glasgow Airport, for her work in life science and the precision medicine industry.

Amanda McMillan, chief executive of AGS Airports and Managing Director of Glasgow Airport, said: “I would like to congratulate all the winners at this year’s Inspiring City awards. There was such a diverse array of individuals, charities and companies who entered this year and these awards are a fantastic way of giving credit to all those who make this city such a fantastic place to live, work and invest.”

The Art and Culture Award, supported by AHR Architects went to the Glasgow Women’s Library.

The Herald:

Richard Blair, Director, AHR Architects: said, "2016 has been another great year for Glasgow. It has been interesting to watch the awards gain momentum with a significant number of new contenders and indeed winners. AHR are proud to support this major event for celebrating Glasgow".

The Environmental Award, supported by Virgin Trains, was presented to Revive Eco.

Andy Sparkes, Virgin Trains Director of Business Development, said: “Helping the environment is really important to us at Virgin Trains and we were delighted to see so many strong contenders in this category this year who are helping to make Glasgow a better, greener city. They all deserve our thanks and praise.”

The Outstanding Contribution by a Young Business Leader Award, supported by The Watson Foundation, went to Andrew Duncan, managing director of SwarmOnline.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist John M Watson OBE said: "This was a night to remember when this city's finest rightly took a bow. Their endeavour, inspiration and success is an example to us all and the winners and those who were nominated remain outstanding ambassadors for our great city."

Petra Wetzel of WEST Brewery won Outstanding Contribution by a Business leader, supported by amiExecutive.

Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award, supported by Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow School for Business and Society, went to IT firm Seric Systems for allocating time for staff to work with local charities and giving part of their profits to charitable groups.

Professor Toni Hilton, who on behalf of Glasgow School for Business and Society at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) presented the Best Corporate Social Responsibly Award said: “Glasgow School for Business and Society, GCU, would like to congratulate the finalists and all organisations shortlisted for tonight’s Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award. To be shortlisted is itself an impressive achievement and we look forward to hearing how their organisations continue to enhance lives and business in Glasgow.”

The People Make Glasgow award was presented to Richard McShane, who founded the Easterhouse Phoenix charity and community centre.

The Judges Award was presented to Dr Mozammel Huq for his services to charity, education and work on equality overseas.

For further information please visit http://herald-events.com/inspiringcity

The full list of award winners

1. Glasgow Women’s Library - Winner

2. National Theatre of Scotland - Commendation

Carer(s) of the Year Award – Sponsored by Loretto Care part of Wheatley Group

1. Glasgow Council on Alcohol - Winner

Best Corporate Social Responsibility Award- Sponsored by Glasgow Caledonian University – Glasgow School for Business and Society

1. Seric Systems Limited - Winner

Education Award – Sponsored by Glasgow Taxis

1. John Wheatley Learning Network - Winner

2. MCR Pathways – Commendation

Environmental Award – Sponsored by Virgin Trains

1. Revive Eco - Winner

Industry and Business Award – Presented by The Herald

1. Allied Vehicles - Winner

2. Glasgow Airport – Commendation

Outstanding Contribution by a Young Business Leader Award – Sponsored by The Watson Foundation

1. Andrew Duncan, SwarmOnline - Winner

Outstanding Contribution by a Business Leader Award – Sponsored by amiExecutive

1. Petra Wetzel, WEST Brewery – Winner

Sport Award – Sponsored by Glasgow 2018 European Championships

1. Homeless World Cup – Winner

The PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW Award – Sponsored by PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW

1. Richard McShane – Winner

Industry & Young People Innovation Award – Sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce Glasgow

1. ScottishPower Engineering Foundation Programme (Pre-Apprenticeship) – Winner

2. We are Snook and partners Aye Mind – Commendation

Legacy Award – Sponsored by Hacking & Paterson Management Services

3. Pinkston Watersports Centre - Winner

4. Glasgow Disability Alliance – Commendation

Judges Award – Presented by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce

Dr M Mozammel Huq

Lifetime Achievement Award – Sponsored by Glasgow Airport

Professor Anna Dominiczak

Angela Morrison, Owner and Founder of amiExecutive, said: “We are so humbled and honoured to be involved in The Glasgow Herald 2016 Inspiring City Awards. The event was a fantastic success and really showcased the vast range of talent that our City has to offer. Both the winners and the finalists should all be extremely proud of themselves and what they have accomplished. I wish them all the best of luck in the future and we can’t wait for next year’s awards!”

Colin Hartley, Championships Director, Glasgow 2018 European Championships, said: "Once again the Inspiring City Awards have been a fantastic reflection of all that is good about life in Glasgow, with Homeless World Cup deserved winners in the sport category. However, all the nominees can take credit from their achievements this year.  While we have much to celebrate in terms of our sporting success we also have much to look forward to with Glasgow set to host the inaugural European Championships in 2018 - an exciting new multi-sport event that brings together some of Europe's leading sports."

Stephen Flynn, vice-chair of Glasgow Taxis, said:  “Glasgow Taxis is so pleased to be a part of the Inspiring City Awards for yet another year. We’re hugely privileged to share the room with some of Glasgow’s finest people and businesses.  “On behalf of everyone here at Glasgow Taxis we want to say a huge well done to each and every award winner, they are all a true credit to our city and should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved.”

Alison McRae, Senior Director, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “DYW Glasgow would like to congratulate ScottishPower and all finalists of this year’s Industry and Young People Innovation Award. We are delighted to see such great commitment to developing Glasgow’s young talent and we sincerely hope that other businesses will also be inspired to do so following another fantastic Inspiring City Awards ceremony.”

James Muir, Chair of Loretto Care, part of Wheatley Group, said: “We were delighted to be part of the Inspiring City awards and would like to congratulate all the winners. The quality and scope of the entries was outstanding and everyone involved deserves to be a winner.  In particular we would like to congratulate Glasgow Council on Alcohol, the winner in the carer of the year category which was supported by Loretto Care.”

Entrepreneur and philanthropist John M Watson OBE said: "This was a night to remember when this city's finest rightly took a bow.  Their endeavour, inspiration and success is an example to us all and the winners and those who were nominated remain outstanding ambassadors for our great city."

David Doran, Director, Hacking and Paterson Management Services, said: “A huge congratulations to all winners in the 2016 Inspiring City Awards, all of whom should be recognised for the difference they are making to the people of Glasgow.  We must of course offer special congratulations to the winner of the Legacy Award, who should be immensely proud of their contribution to the City.  The nominees, finalists and winners of these awards really do showcase why People Make Glasgow”