- Leaders from 21 Scottish businesses in the running for EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021 UK
- Technology, consumer, energy, and health sciences represented highlighting the strength of entrepreneurship across Scotland
TWENTY-one Scottish businesses have been announced as regional finalists for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2021 UK.
One hundred and twenty-six entrepreneurs from 102 businesses across the UK will start their journey through the programme, with the chance to represent the UK at EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year.
Scotland’s entrepreneurs have been selected from a range of different sectors including technology, consumer, energy and health sciences, highlighting the strength of entrepreneurship across the country. Judging will take place this month by a panel of prominent Scottish business leaders – including previous winners and Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni. They are:
- Colin Robertson CBE, Vice Chair of the Board, NFI Group
- Tom Bruce-Jones, Chairman, James Jones & Sons Ltd
- Carole Cran, Chief Financial Officer, Forth Ports Limited
- Darina Garland, Co-founder and Co-CEO, Ooni Pizza Ovens (EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 UK One to watch)
- Poonam Gupta OBE, CEO, PG Paper Company Ltd (EY Entrepreneur Of The Year UK Scale-up Award and Overall Scottish Winner in 2019)
Mike Timmins, EY Scotland Entrepreneur Of The Year lead Partner said: “Entrepreneur Of The Year UK celebrates ‘unstoppable entrepreneurs’ who are making a positive impact on the economy through their remarkable resilience and innovative spirit.
“The regional finalists from across Scotland are proof that many of our entrepreneurs continue to display their incredible ambition to make a difference and solve some of business and society’s biggest challenges.”
Scotland’s finalists are:
- Dave Acton and James Gregg, CEO and COO, Motive Offshore Group Ltd – Banff
- Ray Milne and Lewis Sim, Operations Director and Managing Director, Legasea – Westhill
- Nick Jones, CEO & Co-Founder, Blockstar Developments Limited (Zumo) – Edinburgh
- Peter Badger, CEO, Clevermed – Edinburgh
- Ali Stewart and Assean Sheikh, CEO and Co-Founder, Flavourly Limited – Edinburgh
- Neil MacDonald, Managing Director, Forecast Data Services Ltd – Edinburgh
- Amy Williams, CEO, Good-Loop – Edinburgh
- Myles Stephenson, Founder & CEO. Modulr Holdings Limited – Edinburgh
- Volodymyr Levykin, CEO, Skyrora Limited – Edinburgh
- Graeme Carling and Leanne Carling, CEO and Mergers & Acquisitions Director, United Capital Investments Limited – Edinburgh
- Grant Fraser, CEO, Digitonic Ltd – Glasgow
- Colin Kennedy, CEO, ICS Learn – Glasgow
- Neil Nicolson, CEO, Systal Technology Solutions – Glasgow
- Laura Davidson and Craig Davidson, Director and Director, Tag Digital Ltd – Glasgow
- Jo-Anne Halliday, CEO, Talking Medicines – Glasgow
- John Devlin, CEO & Co-Founder, Ascensos – Motherwell
- Mark Scott and Tony Ottley, CEO & Founder and COO, Bella & Duke – Blairgowrie
- Chris Walker, Managing Director & Founder, Muirhall Energy Ltd – Carnwath
- Craig MacCallum, CEO, Developing IT Limited – Stirling
- Michael Rolland, Managing Director, The Paint Shed – Stirling
- Brigitte Read, CEO, Snag Group Limited – Livingston
The judging panel will convene virtually over this month to select the regional winners. These entrepreneurs will then progress to represent their region at UK judging in October, with the announcement of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year UK overall winner in November. The UK winner will then represent the UK at the ‘EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year’ in 2022, which recognises inspiring entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries.
Lynn Rattigan, EY’s Chief Operating Office for the UK & Ireland and EY Entrepreneur Of The Year UK Partner Sponsor, said: “This year’s finalists are truly inspirational. At a time when many businesses have had to rapidly respond to the challenges posed by the pandemic, these entrepreneurs have shown they can innovate and adapt while also creating long term value for their clients and broader stakeholders. I’m delighted to welcome this year’s regional finalists to our entrepreneurial community and look forward to seeing their continued success.”
David Durlacher, CEO, Julius Baer International Limited, the Entrepreneur Of The Year UK Headline Sponsor said: “Meeting the applicants for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year UK programme over the last few weeks has been truly inspiring – the strength of entrepreneurism across the UK is simply outstanding, particularly given the difficulties faced over the last 18 months from the pandemic. A huge congratulations to those who have made it through to be finalists – no easy feat amongst such tough competition.”
