ScotEdge Awards Boost Scottish Start-Ups
Scottish start-ups were given a huge financial boost last night, when the ScotEdge fund awarded over one million pounds in loans and grants to exceptional start-up businesses. The awards were given to the new Scottish businesses which were best able to demonstrate their ability to grow and bring valuable turnover and jobs into the Scottish economy.
Judges L-R: Evelyn McDonald, ScotEdge, Bill Morrow, Angel’s Den, Eleanor Mitchell, Scottish Enterprise, Sir Tom Hunter, The Hunter Foundation, Kevin Dorren, Diet Chef and Alison Rose, Royal Bank of Scotland.
Event Highlights and Award Distribution
The event, which took place at RBS Gogarburn HQ in Edinburgh, saw a panel of some of Scotland’s leading business people award up to £100k per business to winners. The winning businesses pitched for three minutes to the panel of judges in front of a live audience of 300 people and then faced a Q&A of nine minutes. Sir Tom Hunter, The Hunter Foundation; Alison Rose, Royal Bank of Scotland; Bill Morrow, Angel’s Den; Kevin Dorren, Diet Chef and Eleanor Mitchell, Scottish Enterprise all deliberated hard to reach a decision on the most worthy winners.
Selection Process and Judging Criteria
The scoring criteria for applications covered Business Growth Potential, Entrepreneurial Spirit, Innovation, Ambition, Internationalisation and Risk / Cost Awareness.
The final follows on from a number of regional heats which took place across Scotland. TV presenter and founder of Diary Doll which previously won a ScotEdge award, Carol Smillie acted as host for the day.
Impact of ScotEdge on Scottish Economy
These awards follow on from a successful four previous rounds, which saw 69 Scottish businesses awarded funds. To the end of September 2014 this investment has generated 207 jobs, £8.4m turnover and £4.25m investment.
Sir Tom Hunter, chairman West Coast Capital and The Hunter Foundation, commented:
“Entrepreneurial businesses are the lifeblood of Scotland and its economy. The Scottish EDGE offers ambitious entrepreneurs a leg up the ladder towards long-term success. We were delighted with the quality of applications and the winners have demonstrated their edge and ambition to grow a business in Scotland. We look forward to working with all of the applicants with wrap-around support to help them scale up.”
Government Support and Future Ambitions
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:
“Since the launch of Scotland CAN DO, we have created a platform to allow our ambitious entrepreneurs to excel. This has been driven-forward by the collective impact of public, private and third sector partners.
“ScotEdge exemplifies what can be achieved with a collaborative approach and shared ambition of becoming a world-leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation.”
The awards were supported by a number of partners and ambassadors including Harper Macleod, Johnston Carmichael, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Samsung who were on hand to offer free support to Scotland’s up and coming entrepreneurs.
