The Scotsman

Royal Bank of Scotland was among eight Scotland-based firms yesterday honoured with a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
The financial giant, which secured its award in the International Trade category, was recognised for its rapid US expansion, where it has made three high-profile acquisitions in the past year.
The awards, handed out every year on the Queen’s official birthday, attract thousands of entries from across the UK. RBS was the largest firm in a pool of 123 prizewinners, whose sizes ranged from four employees to more than 100,000.
Alongside the Edinburgh headquartered bank on this year’s podium were seven Scottish SME’s ranging from fish exporters to energy consultants.
Scottish business last year produced just five trophy winners.
RBS was honoured for the performance of its US subsidiary Citizens Financial, which enjoyed a 53 per cent jump in 2002 pre-tax profits to £766 million, based on organic growth and an aggressive acquisition strategy.
An RBS spokeswoman said the firm was “delighted” with the result, and dismissed suggestions that a company of its size was indifferent to awards mainly reserved for SMEs.
She said: “This is a fantastic accolade and an enormous encouragement for the staff involved.”
Scotland added two more winners in the Innovations category – Livingston-based technology firm RFX and East Kilbride drugs company Controlled Therapeutics – after failing to impress in the section at last year’s ceremony.
And Edinburgh based IPA Energy Consulting was also celebrating last night, picking up an International Trade award for its work in overseas markets such as Africa and Russia.
Two other winners were based in Aberdeen – Trinity International Services, which provides catering and hotel management services for the oil and gas industries, and training services company Univation.
Livingston-based Excell Biotech, and Fresh Catch, the Peterhead-based fish exporter also received awards.

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