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Insider UK

Business

Peter A Walker

Scotland’s first-ever National StartUp Awards finalists revealed

Scotland David Law John Costello Glasgow

Scotland’s most exciting new businesses have been shortlisted as part of a brand new awards programme.

The StartUp Awards National Series has been launched to recognise the booming start-up scene across the UK, which has accelerated since the pandemic began. In 2020, when most of the world was shutting down, more than 400,000 startups were set up in Britain, with similar increases seen in other European countries.

This marked boost in newfound entrepreneurship is mirrored by 2,500 applications which have been received in response to the Startup Awards National Series’ first ever call for entries.

The Scottish start-ups that made the shortlist are a true snapshot of the future economy, with a collective turnover of over £26m and employing 467 people between them.

Of the region’s great passion for entrepreneurship, one finalist said: “I may be biased, but I think Scotland is the most stunning region in the whole country to live and work.

“There is a real sense of community among most entrepreneurs in the region at various stages of their entrepreneurial journey.”

The cohort of finalists announced today will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures. This includes Scotland-based Duncan Di Biase, founder and chief executive of Brillband; Mike Branney, managing director of Oh Polly; and Russell Dalgleish, founder and managing partner of Exolta Capital Partners.

Supported nationally by BT, EY, Dell and Intel, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing individuals across the UK who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.

Co-founded by the team behind the Great Entrepreneur Awards, the new series follows the success of the Wales StartUp Awards, after organisers recognised the exceptional potential in the startup scene across the other British regions.

Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, the creator of the StartUp Awards National Series, said: “New firms are important for generating economic prosperity, employment opportunities and innovation.

“Given the sheer volume of phenomenal startups we’ve heard from since then, as well as the huge post-pandemic shift in people’s desires to take their career in a new direction and set up a business against the odds, we felt it was the right time to take the programme nationwide.

“We’ve been blown away by the standard of entries from Scotland in this first year and truly look forward to crowning the winners.”

The Scottish final will take place at SWG3 in Glasgow on 7 June.

This year’s StartUp Awards National Series finalists from Scotland are:

B2B Services StartUp

Lisa May & Co, founded by Lisa May Carroll

Copy House, founded by Kathryn Strachan

Sllick, founded by Nicole Christie & Robert Davidson

Cadence, founded by Malcolm MacLennan & John Dougan

IDM Solutions, founded by Iain Macphail & Kyle Smith

B2C Services StartUp

The Black Box Approach, founded by Christo Hudson

The Queer Therapist, founded by Chris Grant