DIRECTORS from businesses across Scotland’s industry and geography are set to contest this year’s IoD Director of the Year Awards after a shortlist of 37 bosses was unveiled.

They will compete for awards across nine director categories and five regional categories. These include large, medium and small businesses, charities and the public sector.

There will also be recognition for creativity and innovation in the workplace as well as, for the first time, a family business category. The Institute of Directors’s six Scottish branches in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Tayside, Fife, Aberdeen and Highlands and Islands each have their own category.

The large business category shortlist features Craig Anderson at The Scottish Salmon Company, Martin Armstrong at Wheatley Group, Alban Denton at Loch Duart and Mark Williams at NWH Group.

On Tayside, the regional director shortlist is Tony Banks of Balhousie Care Group, Cara Mackay of Gillies and Mackay, and Helen Sykes of Helm Training. In Glasgow and the west of Scotland, the shortlist is Ann Allen of the University of Glasgow, Martin Armstrong of Wheatley Group, and Charles Vincent of Ascendancy Water.

David Watt, executive director of the Institute of Directors in Scotland, said: “The Awards are an excellent opportunity to honour those at the top of Scotland’s businesses. But these women and men don’t just run businesses.

“They are leaders, and their skills are vital to building Scotland’s future, particularly during economic and political uncertainty. These leaders are at the top of their game, and have much to share, not only within the confines of their business or sector, but also to society as a whole. The lessons they have learned along the way can contribute to finding solutions to wider social issues.”