The black tie award ceremony held at the Glasgow Hilton was attended by over 600 representatives from the regions most successful businesses, including First Scotrail, Lloyds TSB Scotland and Kwik-Fit Insurance Services.

2008 is the third year that The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been selected as charity partners with The National Business Awards. The total raised through the partnership to date is in excess of £106,000.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award increases employability and is the most looked for addition to a CV after academic qualifications by employers.

A recent survey into the impact of the DofE on young people has again proved its benefit for skills for business. From the 300 respondents 79% stated they had learned how to work as a team leader and 83% stated that doing their DofE taught them how to work with different types of people.

Chris Gorman, businessman and entrepreneur, Founder of Reality Group spoke on behalf of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: “As an entrepreneur with my own share of successes and failures over the yearsI can appreciate how important the DofE is to give young people experiences that will give them valuable skills for both work and life. I personally know how successful the formula is as my own 14 year old son started his DofE programme only yesterday and is positively brimming with excitement at what the next two years will bring for him.”

Chris’s speech encouraged guests to donate generously to the raffle on the night and sparked interest in longer term support for the charity.

Mike Faulkner, Group Director of the National Business Awards, spoke with great enthusiasm about this important alliance:

“The National Business Awards' support for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has been established through the synergy that exists in recognising leadership. The work that the DofE does with young people, preparing them for the challenges of working life, is something that the National Business Awards is proud to support.”