Chief Compliance Officer Julie Howe collected the award at the celebration dinner in the King’s Hall at Edinburgh Castle, where ESP Group also received its commemorative plaque as one of the businesses named in the inaugural Sunday Times Scotland Fast 50.
ESP Group has won the Female Leadership Award at the first Sunday Times Scotland Fast 50 celebration, one of only five special commendations presented on the night.
Chief Compliance Officer Julie Howe attended the celebration dinner on Wednesday 4 November, hosted in the King’s Hall at Edinburgh Castle, which is normally only used for the Royal Family or government. Julie collected ESP Group’s commemorative Fast 50 plaque, recognising the company as one of Scotland’s fastest-growing independent businesses, before the Female Leadership Award came as a surprise on the night. ESP Group is owned by Theresa Lawson and led by Chief Executive Officer Ashley Meston.
The evening brought together the businesses recognised in the first Scottish edition of the Fast 50. The list is published by The Sunday Times in partnership with Cazenove Capital and S&W and recognises independently owned businesses headquartered in Scotland that have achieved average annual sales growth of more than 20% over two financial years.
The other special commendations on the night went to Vieve, Sir Jim Milne of Balmoral Group, RSE and Allied Vehicles.
Julie also had the chance to meet some of the leading figures in Scottish business, including Emma Dawson, Chief Executive of Vieve, Ana Stewart, Scotland’s Chief Entrepreneur and Bob Hair, Head of UK Regions at Cazenove Capital.
The recognition follows a strong year for ESP Group, which has continued to invest in its people, technology, services and customer relationships.
Julie Howe, Chief Compliance Officer at ESP Group, said: “It was a fantastic evening at Edinburgh Castle and a real honour to collect our Fast 50 plaque alongside the Female Leadership Award. Being part of the very first Sunday Times Scotland Fast 50 means a lot to us, and it was great to be in a room full of inspiring Scottish businesses and to see ESP Group recognised among them.”