Aberdeen Swimming champion creating ripples for business leaders at ‘Making it Happen’ conference

Business incubator Elevator says it is welcoming some of Scotland’s best motivational and inspirational speakers this week for its ninth ‘Making it Happen’ conference.

Taking place at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre (AECC) on Thursday October 11th, the free-to-attend conference hopes to inspire students, future business owners, leaders and business representatives.

Double Commonwealth Games champion and triple Olympic swimming finalist, Hannah Miley, will deliver the keynote speech, sharing her experience of success and the lessons she has learned with future entrepreneurs and aspiring business leaders.

The conference is split into a morning session for secondary school pupils and an afternoon session for the wider business community, and college and university students. A two-minute live pitching competition will take place during both sessions where finalists will battle it out for a £1000 cash prize.

Sponsored by Developing the Young Workforce North East and the University of Aberdeen Business School, the morning competition will see five schools go head to head to present their ideas. The successful winner will put the money towards a new initiative to help develop essential skills to take into the workplace.

The finalists are: Aberdeenshire Schools, People Participation Programme, Albyn School, Sustainable Smoothies, Alford Primary School, Attachi-Bottle, Bridge of Don Academy, Leadership Team and Peterhead Academy, Puglet Adventures.

In partnership with the University of Aberdeen Business School, the afternoon will see five businesses face tough competition to pitch in front of 450 delegates, with the money supporting their business idea or existing business. The finalists are: Dinky Doctor, Cheryl Jones, Michelle Mitchell & Dr Potty, Hungry Squirrel, Susan Yule, iBreath, Federico Gambedotti, Intuitive Design Sessions, Hayley Barr and Udrafter, Daryll Morrow.

Andrew Burnett, Elevator’s operations director, said: “Earlier this year, a report announced that Aberdeen was the leading UK city for growing entrepreneurial talent; the North East inhibits innovative and ambitious characteristics for start-ups.

“Our Making it Happen Conference is set out to inspire the business leaders of today and tomorrow by engaging them with motivational guest speakers, who have all been on their own entrepreneurial journey. Attendees can take advantage of the lessons learnt, which will in turn help expand and promote their business ideas and ambitions.

“The enthusiasm from each Scottish entrepreneur in sharing advice to future business leaders, together with the opportunity for aspiring business unicorns to walk away with £1,000, has encouraged a surge of entrepreneurial talent, making Aberdeen and the North East a hot bed for developing the next generation of business-tycoons.”

Also speaking at this year’s conference will be some of Scotland’s most exciting and successful entrepreneurs, including Jeanette Forbes, chief executive of PCL Group, Ros Marshall and Kirsty Lunn, who set up breastfeeding friendly underwear company Molke and Sandy McKinnon, founder of Foodstory.

Those looking to learn more about how Elevator can assist them in their business planning and progression or looking to register an Elevator event can do so at www.elevatoruk.com.