IN A boost to Scotland’s entrepreneurial landscape, the 22nd round of the Scottish EDGE Awards provided a financial infusion of £1.5 million into 38 high-potential businesses, offering a beacon of hope amid economic challenges. Hosted by the Royal Bank of Scotland, this significant event marked its return to Glasgow for the first time since 2019, celebrating innovative businesses and their vital contributions.
Simon Hannah, attending his first official engagement as the Chair of the organisation, joined Mark Scott, CEO of pet wellness brand Bella & Duke, in gracing the ceremony. A highlight of this year’s awards was the introduction of the Scottish Government-backed £100,000 Pathways Award, aimed at supporting ambitious female entrepreneurs. The deserving recipient was Good Nude Food, a multi-award-winning probiotic fermented sauerkraut company.
Among the major winners, Brose Oats emerged triumphant in the Food and Drink Category, sponsored by Food & Drink Scotland, while Conneckt Charging, an EV charging network, secured victory in the Net Zero category, supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland. Both winners were awarded prizes worth £100,000. GLORIAH, specialising in sustainable intimate care products for women experiencing menopause, secured an £80,000 prize in the Circular Economy category, supported by Zero Waste Scotland.
Sustainability took centre stage, with Oir Soap winning £65,000 alongside the STV Award of £75,000 in advertising airtime. Biotech start-up Prozymi Biolabs secured the £65,000 IBioIC award to further their quest to revolutionise the gluten-free market. Edinburgh Open Workshop, providing affordable and flexible access to workshop machinery and tools, received £75,000 in the Social Enterprise category, supported by The Postcode Innovation Trust.
The Young EDGE and Wildcard categories made a return, supporting companies led by Managing Directors under 30 and providing a grant to pre-trading businesses bringing products to market. Young EDGE winners included Selki Store, Tabrifics, and Chocolatia, receiving the top Young EDGE awards. Wildcard winners included Claymore Surgical Ltd and Practest, developing a software platform to automate the diagnosis of childhood sleep apnea and revolutionise GPs’ communication with patients, respectively.
Evelyn McDonald, CEO of Scottish EDGE, emphasised, “As businesses across Scotland find themselves facing challenging circumstances, there’s never been a more urgent need to drive creativity and innovation. The winners of the 22nd round of Scottish EDGE are a testament to the incredible potential within Scotland’s start-up landscape.”
