The highly anticipated shortlist for the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2024 has been unveiled.
Women-led businesses from across Scotland have been chosen as finalists for the awards, with the judging panel facing the difficult task of determining just 48 finalists across 10 categories.
Carolyn Currie, Chief Executive at Women’s Enterprise Scotland, said: “Our Awards recognise the considerable contribution women-led businesses make to Scotland’s economy. It is our opportunity to come together and celebrate success, as well as to provide visible role models for the women and girls who follow. Both the volume and the calibre of entries for the Awards were very high and the judging panel had a very challenging task to compile the list of finalists. We are now looking forward to a fantastic Awards evening in October, when we will shine a spotlight on the diverse range of women led businesses which are starting up and thriving across Scotland.”
Finalists at this year’s awards include Hamilton based Jigsaw Travel, shortlisted in both the Resilient Business of the Year and Family Business Champion categories, Cawdor based StrategyStory, shortlisted in the Business to Watch category and sustainable luxury brand Oir Soap, who have been shortlisted for the Start up Business of the Year Award.
Winners of the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards, which is being supported by HFL Holistic Financial Leadership, Business Gateway, Scottish Enterprise, N4 Partners LLP, The University of Glasgow, Muckle Media and Quick Block, will be announced at a glittering ceremony which takes place at the voco Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on Thursday 3 October. The keynote speaker at this year’s event is Sheila Flavell CBE, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Board Director at FDM Group.
Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES) was established in 2012 as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) working to close the gender gap in enterprise participation. WES advocates for better evidence-based policy making and believes that delivering expert, needs-based business support will enable women to fulfil their aspirations, and unlock an £8.8bn economic potential to boost the economy.
The recent Global Economic Monitor (GEM) research highlighted men and women were approaching parity in early stage entrepreneurial activity, yet women-led businesses remain just 22% of employer businesses, down 1% on prior year according to the Small Business Scotland Survey 2022 – 2023.
WOMEN’S ENTERPRISE SCOTLAND AWARDS 2024 FINALISTS
Start-up Business of the Year, sponsored by Business Gateway
Defankle Innovation Ltd
Oir Soap
Planner Bee VA Services Ltd
ProfessorMe
Unicorn Markets CIC
Willow Health
Growth Business of the Year, sponsored by QuickBlock
GSP Digital Solutions Ltd
Kandala Travel
The Aesthetics Club
ThermaFY Eco Solutions Ltd
Wow (Scotland) Ltd
Outstanding Business of the Year, sponsored by HFL (Holistic Financial Leadership)
D and H Law Ltd
The ESP Group
Q Fire Protection and Carpentry Ltd
YOURGB
Inspiring Leader of the Year
Dr Alison Chiwara Human Focused Ltd
Inga Elder Image Orkney Ltd
Lesley Landels Love Scottish
Sara Thomson The Leith Collective CIC
Business Investment of the Year, sponsored by N4 Partners LLP
Bespoke Fabrics Ltd
Flexibility Works
Planner Bee VA Services Ltd
Studio Lutalica
ThermaFY Eco Solutions Ltd
Resilient Business of the Year
AstroAgency
Fairlie Curved
Jigsaw Travel Ltd
Laughing Ducks Soft Play Ltd
MoneyMatiX Ltd
Small Fish Brand Co
Family Business Champion of the Year
Lesley Sim Jigsaw Travel Ltd
Joyce Onuonga John White & Son
Jess Hartwell Skyeskyns Ltd
Anne Gracie Gunn Sonas Hospitality Ltd
Sustainable Business of the Year, sponsored by Scottish Enterprise
Cashmere Circle
Kingdom Scotland
Stitch the Gap CIC
The Leith Collective CIC
Business to Watch , sponsored by HFL (Holistic Financial Leadership)
Sarah Stewart
StrategyStory
The Aesthetics Club
The Craft Pottery
Purpose-Led Business of the Year, sponsored by Muckle Media
egg
Fairlie Curved
Flexibility Works
MoneyMatiX Ltd
Stitch the Gap CIC
Studio Lutalica
