Hollywood star George Clooney and world famous astronaut Buzz Aldrin will hear all about a small Aberdeenshire business next month (November).
Élan Hair Design, which can lay claim to being the UK’s most eco-friendly hair salon, has been named as a finalist in three national business award events.
The Inverurie-based salon has been nominated in the National Business Awards, the Scottish Business Awards and the British Chamber Awards.
The business is a finalist in the Sustainable Business Award category at the National Business Awards, which take place in London on November 10 (2015). The keynote speech will be given by Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon in 1969.
Hollywood A-lister, George Clooney, who starred as an astronaut in the science fiction film Gravity, will be guest speaker at the Scottish Business Awards. Élan is in the running for the Green Business of the Year category. The ceremony, which will be hosted by television star Rob Brydon, is taking place in Edinburgh on November 12 (2015).
Following their success in the Business in the Community category at the Scottish Chamber Awards, Élan will also compete at the British Chamber Awards, hosted by BBC business presenter Steph McGovern. The event will be held in London on Thursday November 26 (2015).
Lorna Milton, who runs Élan along with husband Gordon, said: “We’re delighted to be nominated for three prestigious national awards. To even be finalists is a tremendous achievement.”
Élan completed a major refurbishment project of its Inverurie town centre premises three years ago. The £250,000 renovation of the salon looked at almost every element of the business with a view to making it more sustainable and eco-friendly.
As a result of the green features applied during the renovation, the salon has made energy efficient savings in commodities including water, heat and electricity.
Some of these features include the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels which generate electricity, solar-thermal panels to provide energy for hot water, an air-source heat pump and LED lighting.
The salon also returns unused energy to the National Grid – creating further cost benefits – and uses biodegradable/compostable towels and capes, therefore, reducing the use of washing machines.
The business has won 19 awards in the past three years, having been nominated for more than 60.
Gordon and Lorna Milton run Élan Hair Design with their daughters Lanice and Lauren. The business, which currently has a team of 13, was established more than 40 years ago.