SCOTLAND’S FINEST WOMEN-LED BUSINESSES COVER THE COUNTRY

Women led businesses from across Scotland were recognised in front of a sell-out audience at the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2023.

The glittering Awards ceremony took place at Glasgow’s voco Grand Central Hotel, with established and emerging business leaders being celebrated in ten categories. The keynote speech was delivered by BAFTA Award winning television journalist Kirsty Wark.

In notable highlights, Aberdeen based Ann Johnson of Blaze Manufacturing Solutions took the coveted Inspiring Leader of the Year Award whilst The Tartan Blanket Company, based in Edinburgh and led by Emma Macdonald, was named Outstanding Business of the Year.

Deer Manor Gourmet Mushrooms, based in Newton Stewart, took the award for Start-up Business of the Year and the first space sector success in the history of the WES Awards went to Omanos Analytics, who picked up the Funded Business of the Year Award, sponsored by N4 Partners.

MI:RNA, founded by Dr Eve Hanks, was named Business to Watch of the Year whilst Perthshire based sustainable underwear manufacturer Molke picked up the Purpose-Led Business of the Year Award.

Shauna Powell, Partner at N4 Partners said;

“We are committed to supporting the advancement of female led businesses, something which we believe is hugely important for the Scottish economy. This year’s winner, Omanos Analytics, which operates in a male-dominated sector, has demonstrated a hugely impressive track record of sourcing funding from various avenues, which has included bootstrapping its first proof of concept in order to gain funding from the European Space Agency (ESA), to subsequently securing a host of competitive public grants available throughout the Scottish ecosystem. ”

Yvette Hopkins, Board Member at Women’s Enterprise Scotland, commented,

“Huge congratulations to the finalists, and ultimately the winners at last night’s awards.

Their grit to power through hardships is an inspiration to all of us. Scottish businesses in general have faced enormous pressures over the past few years. Add to this the additional challenges faced by women-owned and led businesses and we rightly celebrate their resilience and determination to emerge wiser and stronger.

The Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards showcase women business leaders who embody our country’s diverse, innovative and adaptable business ecosystem.

These visible and vocal leaders are Scotland’s future. They are entrepreneurial in spirit, and precise in action. These women are exactly the role models to inspire our next generation of business leaders. Seeing beyond boundaries, they are so key to closing the persistent gender gap in Scotland’s business landscape.”

The Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards was attended by over 250 guests from across Scotland and supported by Business Gateway, Royal Bank of Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, HFL Holistic Financial Leadership, N4 Partners LLP and The University of Glasgow.