Scotland’s top entrepreneur named

James Milne CBE, chairman and managing director of Balmoral Group, has been named Scotland’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’.

Entrepreneurial Scotland hosted its 20th annual dinner and awards last night at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow where Chris Gauld, chief executive of Spark Energy, was also announced as the nation’s Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year.

The evening was hosted by Stuart Cassells, a Saltire Fellow and founder of the international bagpipe phenomenon, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, and took place at the newly refurbished Doubletree.

More than 500 representatives of Scotland’s entrepreneurial scene attended the event, including members of Entrepreneurial Scotland, alumni of the Saltire programmes and Scotland’s business community.

In association with Deloitte, Entrepreneurial Scotland’s awards feature two elite categories: ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ and ‘Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year’ – each honouring those individuals who have excelled in leading their organisations over the past 12 months.

Sandy Kennedy, Chief Executive of Entrepreneurial Scotland, said: “Awards and achievements matter because they recognise skills, determination, talent, tenacity and hard work. They highlight excellence and, most importantly, they provide an opportunity to focus on the characteristics that we want to see more of for ourselves, our businesses and our communities.

“I am thrilled to congratulate both Jim and Chris. This year we received a tremendous response to the awards resulting in the highest-ever number of nominations. Each of the finalists was chosen after a rigorous judging process and they have emerged as Scotland’s most successful entrepreneurial leaders.”

As well as a celebration of entrepreneurship and recognition of individuals at various stages of their own entrepreneurial journeys, the event raised funds for the Saltire Foundation that aims to find, fuel and spark the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders – represented by several Saltire Alumni who were in the audience.

Richard Slater, partner and head of private markets for Deloitte in Scotland, and a member of the judging panel for the awards, added: “Congratulations to all of the finalists and winners. This year we saw a real mixture of companies from a range of sectors on the shortlist for both awards, this is great news for Scotland, as the economy continues to diversify and breed new success stories.

“Uncertainty may be the word that currently pervades the Scottish economy – yet there are businesses, and people, who are finding ways to do incredible things, whatever the circumstances. The ambition and drive of Scotland’s entrepreneurial community continues to thrive.”