Two new awards as SWA Achievers Awards returns

The Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has announced its popular Achievers Awards will return in 2022.

After a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the annual SWA trade awards recognises top wholesale performance and innovation north of the border and will return with two new wholesaler awards.

Entries will open on 14 June 2021 for the awards event with a view to holding a face-to-face event on 10 February 2022 in Edinburgh.

Of the new awards, the Community Service Award will be given wholesalers standing out in their support for customers, staff and communities during the pandemic, while the Best Technology Initiative category focuses on digital and tech systems.

Best Business Initiative is also back to replace the previous Best Marketing Initiative while the two new awards introduced for 2020 – Rising Star of Wholesale (for employees aged 26 and under) and Green Wholesaler of the Year – are back for 2022.

A special supplier award has also been added to the line up to recognise a company, team or individual who went above and beyond anything expected of them in the past year – covering not just wholesale, but charity and community activity.

“Achievers is back after an enforced break with a full face-to-face event in Edinburgh on 10 February next year – dependent on any Covid legislation at the time and following all Government guidelines in place,” announced SWA Chief Executive Colin Smith.

“This will be our first big physical event since the first lockdown in March 2020 and it will enable our wholesale and supplier members, stakeholders and others to once again celebrate everything that is great about the wholesale sector in Scotland.

“We refreshed Achievers two years ago in response to feedback from wholesalers and sponsors, and to reflect the areas of business that are most important to our members.

“In 2022, the competition will further evolve to take cognisance of the events of the last 14 months that have forced wholesalers and suppliers to diversify into new areas and implement significant change in order to survive.”

Achievers awards Colin Smith Scottish Wholesale Association Scottish Wholesale Association Achievers awards suppliers SWA Wholesalers