The world-wide success of a company which has its roots firmly in Ross-shire has been recognised with a prestigious national award.

The Global Energy Group received the Clydesdale Bank Award for Best International Business in Scotland’s International Awards, organised by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.

Global director Iain MacGregor was presented with the trophy by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani at a glittering ceremony in Glasgow attended by 850 leading figures in Scottish business and politics.

The largest private employer in the Highlands, the group, which has head offices in Inverness and Aberdeen, and extensive operations around the Cromarty Firth employs around 3,000 people world-wide providing contract services to the energy industry.

With operations in Dubai, Houston, Trinidad, Norway, Ghana, Egypt and Abu Dhabi and joint ventures in Croatia, Cameroon, Namibia and Angola, a quarter of the company’s annual turnover comes from international sales.

Global Energy Group chairman, Roy MacGregor, said:  “As we have grown it has been our customers that have taken us around the world.  This is a sustainable model for us and reduces the risk as we continue to develop.

 “We have all worked hard, through very challenging economic conditions, to achieve the success we have and it is very gratifying to again see those efforts recongised.

“We could not have done this without having the best team throughout the company, wherever we are working and the right culture and values.”

Earlier this year overseas sales growth of 416% from £1million in 2007 to £27.8million in 2009 earned the company first place in the Sunday Times HSBC International Track 100 league table of the UK’s privately-owned companies with the fastest growing international trade.