Heart of Midlothian owner Ann Budge became the 13th recipient of the #EdinburghAward at a City Chambers reception hosted by the Lord Provost earlier this week.
Ann was joined by around sixty friends, colleagues and family at the celebration and guests also included previous recipients including Sir Tom Farmer and Ian Rankin OBE, who was the first recipient in 2007.
Ann was nominated for the award by Edinburgh Science, who’s Director of Development Hannah Schlesinger Brodie told guests: “I am absolutely delighted be standing here today to say a few words about one of the most remarkable women I have had the honour of meeting.
“Ann Budge has been an inspiration to many, and my colleagues at Edinburgh Science and I were delighted to nominate Ann for the Edinburgh Award for a number reasons, some of which I would like to briefly mention.
“At the start of her career, Ann was visionary and trailblazing enough to pursue an apprenticeship in computer programming upon hearing that computers would be “the future”.
“After spending some years excelling in post at Scottish and Newcastle and being appointed as the first woman to the senior management grade, Ann decided that instead of flying from city to city, working for someone else, she would put all of her efforts into working in Scotland.
“At a time when computers were still relatively new to the world at large, and there were very few female entrepreneurs setting up tech companies, Ann Budge co-founded an IT company that became one of the fastest growing private companies in the UK before it was sold.
“If I stopped here, you might consider the story so far to be achievement enough! But there was more to come …
“In 2005, a newspaper article described Ann as the “Hearts-supporting IT guru”, as she had been a fan of the team for many years after being persuaded to join her daughter for a match. Ann was not to know that less a decade later, she would be saving the team and bringing them out of administration.
“When approached by fellow fans who needed her support to ensure the team’s survival, Ann stepped in to rescue Hearts Football Club and has been known since to many as the Queen of Hearts.
“Over the last five years, Ann Budge has turned her talented hand to the business of football, and has turned around the brand perception of the club.
“Not only has Ann ensured the survival of the men’s team at Tynecastle, but has also been hands on in promoting women’s football, with the Hearts Women Football Club promoted at the end of the last season.
“Ann has also put brave policies in place to make football and Tynecastle Park, more family and community friendly, and even ensured the Heart of Midlothian Football Club was the first football club in Scotland to become an officially accredited Living Wage employer.
“Ann is dedicated to ensuring a far-reaching community impact for the club. To that end, Ann is on the Board of the Big Hearts Community Trust which is a family-focused charity, aiming to improve the lives of people who are at risk of social isolation across the community.
“The Trust is the club’s main vehicle for delivering community development projects and requires the club, through the charity, to engage with local community leaders in order to offer opportunities and a wide range of activities for the benefit of local people. Those in need are supported through projects relating to their families, poverty, health, and more.
“Ann is also well aware of the importance of improving science capital, and technological skills, given her personal career path, and so Ann has been instrumental in benefitting children and young people in the local area through ensuring the delivery of digital skills activities, as well as coding clubs taking place at the stadium.
“In terms of wider engagement, Ann has developed the infrastructure at the club, redeveloping the main stand and ensuring that Tynecastle Park can integrate in many ways into this great City of Edinburgh, through encouraging local and international events to come to these new and diverse spaces.
“These are places that can be used for meetings, parties and even the opening event for Edinburgh International Festival last summer when the LA Philharmonic took over Tynecastle Park Stadium for a free event that just won the ‘Best non-matchday use of a venue’ at the prestigious annual Football Business Awards.
“In addition, Ann has brought together different sectors from Edinburgh, Scotland and further afield by attracting large meetings to Tynecastle, including a recent conference, about how sport can help improve the health of our nation.
“I read that when Ann was leading her company, she always put the relationships with customers first whilst taking a long term view. That is exactly the approach I feel she has taken with every aspect of her broad and successful career.
“Setting up a niche business during the dot com boom and now doubling revenue and building a solid and sustainable future for Hearts, whilst working closely with the local and wider Edinburgh community around the club as well as the Fans.
“From winning Entrepreneur of the Year to being a strong role model for women in science and technology, to building the City of Edinburgh’s sporting prowess and providing a venue for Edinburgh’s Festivals, conferences and events, Ann is an inspiration as a business woman and entrepreneur and a supporter of the communities around her.
“Ann, Congratulations on receiving this very well deserved Edinburgh Award.”
Responding, Ann Budge said: “I think we all know that when people get awards, very very rarely is it down to the individual themselves – it’s always down to teamwork and I have been very fortunate.
“Fortunate to have been born into a fantastic family, four generations of whom are here tonight – and the vast majority of whom are Hibs supporters! – and also fortunate to have had the help and support of colleagues, some of whom have supported me on a variety of projects for almost fifty years.
“The people in the room all know why they are here tonight and I want to say thank you for all the support you have given me over the years.”
Additional Pictures: Carol Melrose, Brian Pickering
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