The inaugural RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellows: Twenty of Scotland’s most talented entrepreneurs eager to start up their business right here in Scotland form the inaugural RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship. They are the employers of tomorrow, innovating for the future and complete the 40 entrepreneurs participating in the Unlocking Ambition, a £4m challenge fund as announced by Scotland’s First Minister. For the full list and media release click here.
Why not find out more about Unlocking Ambition and watch this short video…
Backed by Scotland’s First Minister, Unlocking Ambition is a £4m challenge fund created by the Scottish Government as part of the Programme for Government ‘A Nation with Ambition’.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is working with 20 new Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellows in the inaugural programme based on the highly successful Enterprise Fellowship Programme that the RSE has been running for 20+ years. We are investing in 20 early-stage high-potential entrepreneurs with innovative projects, with the aim of forming start-up businesses in Scotland in the new RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship Programme.
These Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellows will receive an RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship which operates over a period of a year and includes a host of bespoke benefits including total grant funding of up to £900,000 (up to £45,000 grant per Fellow – £25,000-£50,000* maintenance grant and up to £20,000 business development fund), a total of over £150,000 comprehensive and cutting-edge training programme personally tailored to develop business skills delivered to the highest of international standards, membership to Entrepreneurial Scotland, a dedicated mentor for each Fellow and access to professional, financial and entrepreneurial networks.
The RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship Programme presents the ideal start-up changing opportunity by supporting promising ideas with the necessary skill sets to build them into successful companies.
Unlocking Ambition – strand two with Scottish Enterprise
There are two programmes to Unlocking Ambition: both are focused on supporting 40 highly ambitious entrepreneurs based on their individual entrepreneurial potential, the quality and innovation of their business and the contribution they can make to an inclusive, Scottish economy. The RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship programme is for 20 talented earlier stage start-ups hosted by a number of Scottish Universities or Research Institutes led by the RSE Enterprise Fellowship and the Scottish Enterprise programme is supporting 20 established entrepreneurs to help them accelerate the growth of their business and develop their personal potential as the leader of a scalable business.
Please meet the 20 new RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellows – one minute video introductions:
*pending VISA situation
Fund deadline passed
This fund is currently closed for applications.
Fund duration
Starting at the end of June 2018, 20 high-potential entrepreneurs will be awarded the opportunity to take advantage of this 12-month cutting-edge company start-up programme: benefits will include bespoke advice, grant funding and business-development support.
Twenty of Scotland’s most talented entrepreneurs eager to start up their business right here in Scotland are announced as the inaugural RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellows. They are the employers of tomorrow, innovating for the future and complete the 40 entrepreneurs participating in the Unlocking Ambition a £4m challenge fund, backed by Scotland’s First Minister, created by the Scottish Government as part of the Programme for Government ‘A Nation with Ambition’.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is working with 20 new Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellows in the inaugural programme based on the highly successful Enterprise Fellowship Programme that the RSE has been running for 20+ years. We are investing in 20 early-stage high-potential entrepreneurs with innovative projects, with the aim of forming start-up businesses in Scotland in the new RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship Programme.
The start-ups range from a novel online education platform for children to support financial learning to creating new breeds of commercially farmed insects; from an innovative food business following the FODMAP diet to a cost-effective eco-brick; and from a new support learning management system for the aviation industry to a resource to aid the visualisation of venue information to improve the delivery of events. There are four social enterprises included in the 20 start-ups and 30% of these new Enterprise Fellows are female.
The appeal and interest in this fresh new programme caught the imagination of a wide range of entrepreneurs. The nationalities of the talented participants leading these start-ups include Azerbaijani, British, Indian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Nigerian as well as Scottish! And aiding the development of the 20 new RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellows are 13 Scottish Universities and Research Institutes who provide visiting status to each.
Scotland is ambitious and committed to establishing itself as a diverse world-leading entrepreneurial nation. The Royal Society of Edinburgh Enterprise Fellowship (RSE), as Scotland’s National Academy encourages the advancement of learning and useful knowledge through projects and activities such as the prestigious Enterprise Fellowship programme aimed specifically at enabling the development of new, high-growth businesses based in Scotland.
To support future opportunities, The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is delighted to be working with the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem in the inaugural Unlocking Ambition Challenge to support entrepreneurs who want to start and scale their businesses in Scotland.
The Unlocking Ambition £4m challenge fund is delivered by key stakeholders from Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem as part of the Scotland CAN DO initiative, backed by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. The programme provides funding support to 40 highly ambitious entrepreneurs chosen for their individual potential, the quality of their ideas and the contribution their companies can make to the Scottish economy and wider society.
There are two programmes to Unlocking Ambition: both are focused on supporting 40 highly ambitious entrepreneurs based on their individual entrepreneurial potential, the quality and innovation of their business and the contribution they can make to an inclusive, Scottish economy. The RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship programme is for 20 talented earlier stage start-ups hosted by a number of Scottish Universities or Research Institutes led by the RSE Enterprise Fellowship and the Scottish Enterprise programme is supporting 20 established entrepreneurs to help them accelerate the growth of their business and develop their personal potential as the leader of a scalable business.
By coming together, the 40 participants will benefit from mentorship from established and successful entrepreneurs and business advisors, networking opportunities and peer-to-peer support.
The 20 RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellows will benefit from a tailored business development training delivered to the highest standard of international excellence and significant business development budget enabling them to bring their propositions to market.
Mr Hepburn, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills said:
“Applications for Unlocking Ambition opened in March this year and only three months later, with the addition of the RSE Enterprise Fellowship entrants, this first cohort is ready to begin its journey.
“This demonstrates the appetite for growth and the innovation potential of businesses in, or wishing to locate in, Scotland. It is particularly pleasing to note this international talent that Unlocking Ambition is attracting and retaining.
“They are showing faith in our vision for the Scottish economy and we will ensure that through Scotland CAN DO our business support and the business environment is the best in the world.”
Edward Cunningham CBE FRSE, Chairman, The Royal Society of Edinburgh Enterprise Fellowship Programme commented:
“We have the potential and we have the ambition to enable innovation in Scotland’s future investment and internationalisation. The RSE will draw upon our strengths and multidisciplinary expertise to match the ambition and ingenuity of the Unlocking Ambition programme to work with our new Enterprise Fellows to develop and launch new businesses and help them become outstanding entrepreneurs.”
The 20 entrepreneurial start-ups participating in the RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship programme and completing the Unlocking Ambition Challenge (alphabetic order) are:
Rachael Bews – ALICAS: Ali’s Coats and Shoes Ltd. Hosted by CREATE, the Centre for Enterprise and Innovation at Inverness College UHI part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. ALICAS is a survivor-led social venture that gifts bespoke clothing parcels to women who have fled abusive relationships;
Roy Bitrus – RAB-Microfludics. Hosted by the Oil and Gas Technology Centre/University of Aberdeen. Commercialising cutting-edge microfluidic lab-on-a-chip technology to deliver onsite, real-time, testing and analysis of lubricating oil for businesses with heavy machinery;
Colin Campbell – Unlocking Potential. Hosted by the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Innovations. A cloud-based Impact Evaluation and Management tool that measures social capital to demonstrate delivery against stated targets and outcomes;
Alan Clark – Take Your Marks. Hosted by Abertay University. An online resource for schools to improve attainment and health & wellbeing of students through regular in-class physical activity;
Thomas Farrugia – Beta-Bugs Ltd. Hosted by the Roslin Innovation Centre. Creating new breeds of commercially farmed insects for the alternative protein industry and bio economy;
Pooja Jain – CogniHealth. Hosted by the University of Edinburgh and Edinburgh Innovations. CogniHealth aims to transform the way both family and professional carers look after people with dementia (PwD) at home. Their first product, CogniCare, is a healthcare app for carers of PwD, enabling personalised dementia care;
Joan Kangro – Kingdom Technologies Ltd. Hosted by the University of Glasgow. An autonomous gardening robot that can mow the lawn, remove weeds and collect leaves from your garden;
Tadas Labudis – Prodsight. Hosted by the University of Glasgow. Prodsight helps companies make well-informed product decisions by extracting actionable insights about customers’ needs from support tickets;
Barry Leaper – LiberEat. Hosted by the University of Aberdeen. The LiberEat app makes life easier for people with dietary restrictions, while also improving businesses’ sales and healthcare patient outcomes;
Lauren Leisk – Fodilicious Ltd. Hosted by Queen Margaret University. An innovative food business providing the UK’s first freshly prepared ‘free from’ meal options which follow the low FODMAP diet for digestive health and wellbeing;
Claudio Marturano – Nubis Aviation Training Ltd. Hosted by the Open University in Scotland Nubis Aviation Training has developed an online, continuous-support Learning Management System (LMS) aimed at aviation maintenance personnel for regulatory training;
Louise McHattie – Ekobriq Ltd. Hosted by Heriot-Watt University. They will supply the most advanced and cost-effective bricks the building industry has seen in a generation…using waste materials;
Ross McLeod – Specialist Safety Systems Ltd. Hosted by the Oil and Gas Technology Centre/University of Aberdeen. Specialist Safety Systems is a company that’s been engineered to transform the crane & lifting industry, through intelligent work-platforms;
Cavid Nadirov – GETGUIDED Ltd. Hosted by the University of Edinburgh & Edinburgh Innovations. An innovative platform helping travel businesses, such as hotels, travel agencies and event organisers, find and book local, unique tours and experiences provided by verified guides & suppliers or instantly book local guides for custom tours;
Elijah Nazarzadeh – AcuWave. Hosted by the University of Glasgow. A novel acoustic pulmonary drug-delivery technology that enables precision therapeutics for established drugs and advanced nanomedicines for gene therapy;
Lorna Paul – Giraffe Healthcare. Hosted by Glasgow Caledonian University. A Community Interest Company providing a state-of-the-art online platform for the remote delivery of high quality, personalised healthcare programmes backed by expert advice and support;
David Phin – Paragon Inspection. Hosted by the Oil and Gas Technology Centre/Robert Gordon University. An innovative inspection system to reduce hydrocarbon leaks from small bore tubing in the oil and gas industry;
Anna Renouf – Orrin Equestrian. Hosted by CREATE, the Centre for Enterprise and Innovation at Inverness College UHI part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. Pioneering new saddle produced from composite materials that offers superior fit and improvements for horse welfare;
Stephen Roe – Stageport. Hosted by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Stageport provides unlimited access to venues, and the tools to plan and visualise events at any location;
Usman Yaseen – Sonik Pocket. Hosted by the University of Strathclyde. Sonik Pocket is an innovative, online education and shopping platform for children that supports financial learning, in a fun, safe and secure environment.
AND the other set of SMEs entrepreneurs participating in the Scottish Enterprise programme in Unlocking Ambition are:
Alan Mahon – Brewgooder (Edinburgh); Calum Haggerty – Coco Chocolatier (Edinburgh); Celia Hodson – Hey Girls (Edinburgh); Deborah Wake – MyWay Digital Health (Dundee); Douglas Martin – MiAlgae (Edinburgh); Hannah Fisher – The Start-Up Drinks Lab (Glasgow); Iain Findlay – Aurora Sustainability Ltd (Moray); Ian Arbuckle – Linian Supply Co Ltd (Glasgow); Jo Halliday – Talking Medicines Limited (Glasgow); Joan Johnson – Bespoke Fabrics (Elgin); John Robertson – Drinkly (Edinburgh); Kenny Arthur – Kaliaaer Ltd (Strathaven); Lisa Thomson – Purpose HR (Edinburgh); Loral Quinn – Sustainably (Edinburgh); Paul Blackler – Drink Baotic (Glasgow); Scott Dickson – Phox Water (Glasgow); Scott Simpson – IndiNature (Edinburgh); Scott Weir – Pillow (Kilmarnock); Stephanie Terreni Brown – Clean Water Wave (Edinburgh); Steve Regis – ARX Maritime (Edinburgh).
• NOW CLOSED TO APPLICATIONS: This is an invitation to entrepreneurs from Scotland, UK and from right across the world to submit ideas which have the potential to be transformative.
• One-year package of benefits – up to £900,000 total grant funding across the 20 Fellowships, over £150,000 comprehensive and cutting-edge training programme personally tailored to develop business skills delivered to the highest of international standards, a dedicated mentor and access to professional, financial and entrepreneurial networks
Benefits – at a glance
Successful applicants will form the inaugural new Fellowship Programme, thus becoming RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellows. You will also benefit from some invaluable time to dedicate and focus on your start-up, with personalised support and the grant. An RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship will be awarded to each of the 20 Enterprise Fellows operating over a period of 12* months and consisting of the following elements:
● A total of up to £900,000 grant funding is available across all 20 Fellows. Up to £45,000 grant per Fellow – £25,000 – £50,000* maintenance grant and up to £20,000 business development fund
● A total of over £150,000 worth of comprehensive business training to develop business skills, delivered to the highest standard of international excellence by individuals who have a proven track record of commercial success – cutting-edge programme tailored to fit the requirements of each covering important topics including: financial plan, business plan, start up and spin-out process, marketing and sales, securing investment, investor pitching, building your team and scaling your business
● Access to professional, financial and entrepreneurial networks
● A dedicated mentor will support you throughout the programme from one or more of the stakeholder organisations
● Visiting status within an agreed university or research institute
● One year membership of Entrepreneurial Scotland
Note: The RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship is a 12-month programme. Those demonstrating timely progress and a strong case for further support may be eligible to receive support for a further 12 months.
● Be ambitious to learn and eager to start-up and scale up your business!
● Any industry, sector or start-up idea
● The company need not be incorporated by the start of the Programme
● Open to companies with a turnover or investment to date of no more than £150,000
● New or existing start-ups must be established or located in Scotland, UK
● ENTRIES ARE CLOSED: Must complete the application form providing your business proposal and personal entrepreneurial potential by the closing date of Wednesday 2 May at 17:00 (no late submissions accepted). Answer the following entry criteria: Feasibility of the technology proposed and its potential place in the market; Market potential of the opportunity presented; Commercialisation potential of the business idea proposed; The feasibility of getting the proposed product or service to the market; Potential of the individual to become a success in business
Backed by Scotland’s First Minister, Unlocking Ambition is a £4m challenge fund created by the Scottish Government as part of the Programme for Government ‘A Nation with Ambition’.
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) is working with 20 new Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellows in the inaugural programme based on the highly successful Enterprise Fellowship Programme that the RSE has been running for 20+ years. We are investing in 20 early-stage high-potential entrepreneurs with innovative projects, with the aim of forming start-up businesses in Scotland in the new RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship Programme.
Twenty successful applicants will receive an RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship operating over a period of a year with a host of bespoke benefits, including total grant funding of up to £900,000 (up to £45,000 grant per Fellow – £25,000 – £50,000* maintenance grant and up to £20,000 business development fund); a total of over £150,000 for a comprehensive and cutting-edge training programme personally tailored to develop business skills delivered to the highest of international standards; a dedicated mentor for each Fellow, and access to professional, financial and entrepreneurial networks.
There are two programmes to Unlocking Ambition: both are focused on supporting 40 highly ambitious entrepreneurs based on their individual entrepreneurial potential, the quality and innovation of their business and the contribution they can make to an inclusive, Scottish economy. The RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship programme is for 20 talented earlier stage start-ups hosted by a number of Scottish Universities or Research Institutes led by the RSE Enterprise Fellowship and the Scottish Enterprise programme is supporting 20 established entrepreneurs to help them accelerate the growth of their business and develop their personal potential as the leader of a scalable business.
The RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship Programme will nurture and support early-stage innovators, academics and researchers who have entrepreneurial potential and an innovative business idea. To succeed, we were looking for the most talented and ambitious people around the world to see Scotland as the place they want to establish their businesses.
Twenty talented entrepreneurs were chose, based on their own potential, the market potential of their business ideas, and the contribution that they might make to our economy and to wider society. They will be mentored and led by some of Scotland’s leading entrepreneurs in a year- long intensive entrepreneurial business development programme. The aim of the programme is to provide the framework within which individuals can experience the most relevant approach to develop the commercial strength of their ideas and be equipped to succeed in today’s fast-paced global business environment.
Edward Cunningham CBE FRSE, Chairman, Royal Society of Edinburgh Enterprise Fellowship Programme said:
“The Royal Society of Edinburgh is delighted to provide support to this worthwhile programme to unlock the ambition of talented entrepreneurs. Since its launch in 1997, the RSE Enterprise Fellowship scheme has supported more than 200 graduates and researchers to develop and launch new businesses. We look forward to supporting and working with this new cohort to help turn their energy and motivation, and of course their new ideas, into a reality.”
The longer-term objective is to support Scotland in becoming a world-leading entrepreneurial nation and the programme will be delivered working alongside Scottish Government agencies, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish EDGE, Entrepreneurial Scotland and other partner organisations from the private sector, and third sector who will help support the successful candidates.
The RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship Programme presents the ideal start-up changing opportunity by supporting promising ideas with the necessary skillsets to build them into successful companies.
CLOSED: If this is you, then please apply by the deadline of 5 pm on Wednesday 2 May 2018. Visit the RSE website for more information and to apply. If you have a question please email RSE’s Enterprise Officer, Hannah Chater– 0131 240 2799
We look forward to receiving your completed application form.
What happens next?
The expert selection panel will review all applications after the closing date and invite shortlisted applicants for interview between 5 and 21 June 2018.
The formal training programme will start w/c 25 June 2018 with discovery meetings when an announcement will be made about the inaugural cohort.
Unlocking Ambition – strand two with Scottish Enterprise
There are two programmes to Unlocking Ambition: both are focused on supporting 40 highly ambitious entrepreneurs based on their individual entrepreneurial potential, the quality and innovation of their business and the contribution they can make to an inclusive, Scottish economy. The RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship programme is for 20 talented earlier stage start-ups hosted by a number of Scottish Universities or Research Institutes led by the RSE Enterprise Fellowship and the Scottish Enterprise programme is supporting 20 established entrepreneurs to help them accelerate the growth of their business and develop their personal potential as the leader of a scalable business.
RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship Application Preparation Workshop – video
Do you need help completing your RSE Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship Programme application?
Would you benefit from some guidance on what to include?
The RSE organised a practical workshop to do just this!
The all-important application forms, FAQs, guidelines and T&Cs can be found here. Please do register online with the RSE if you haven’t already. It’s time to unlock your ambition!
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