Made in Scotland 2019
A Debrief of the Awards Evening
By Anna Murphy, Head of Community
“Do you think she’s here with her Dad? Maybe he’s a finalist or something,” I commented to my colleague, referring to a very young girl I clocked as we entered the hubbub of black-tie and bubbly. Maybe she was just keen to check out the Glasgow Science Centre, I thought. I must confess the idea of sneaking off to explore the museum myself had crossed my mind (of course I’m glad I didn’t in the end).
A couple of hours later and there was eight-year-old Molly Rose McLean on the big screen; the youngest ever ‘Made in Scotland’ entrant, explaining her product. I shouldn’t have made assumptions.
This year the Made in Scotland Awards illuminates the breadth of exciting ideas and action exploding out of Scotland in 2019. While host Fred MacAulay may not have done Scottish humour complete justice in my view, thankfully the finalists and prizewinners more than made up for it.
There were a range of titles up for grabs, ranging from the likes of Engineering Company of the Year to Remade in Scotland (for entrepreneurs growing the circular economy) and Young Innovator of the Year, to name just a few.
Some Project Heather Favourites
Kalopsia Collective — Manufacturer of the Year Winner
Kalopsia, the Leith-based textile product manufacturer, puts sustainability at the heart of everything they do, aiming to create a sustainable alternative to traditional production systems. They minimise waste themselves, as well as creating opportunities for customers to turn surplus material into products. Read more about their approach to sustainability here.
Renewable Parts — Remade in Scotland Winner
A leading supply chain specialist for the wind industry, Renewable Parts refurbishes wind turbines, thereby making the wind industry greener by reducing waste. It looks for highest levels of operational performance and to reduce cost of ownership, making wind energy more accessible to everyone.
Moock Environmental Solutions Ltd — Remade in Scotland Finalist
This ‘proper recycling’ company supports the transition to a circular economy through the complete recycling of printer consumables. Cartridges and all the items needed for printing must now be recycled under the WEEE (Waste of Electric and Electronic Equipment) recycling legislation — making it a company of high importance for everyone.
Orbital Marine Power — Made in Scotland Winner! And Engineering Company of the Year
Orbital Marine Power, in partnership with the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre, is working to provide low cost tidal technology through cost-effective installation and a simple, efficient maintenance process. “Orbital has a technology which is eminently scaleable anywhere,” said the judges, a comment which made us prick up our ears.
Wise Words from Jim McColl
Well-known Scottish entrepreneur Jim McColl, who rose from an engineering apprenticeship to the head of global Scottish engineering business Clyde Blowers, provided some words of wisdom after dinner. He had strong words regarding the disparity between confidence and competence in Scotland, saying,
“Too often we set our sights too low, we underestimate what we can achieve…but if we set our minds to it, we have a lot more to give than we might think.”
In his eyes the evening’s finalists provide incredible role models not only for their creativity, but for their confidence, tenacity, can-do attitude and utmost belief in their projects.
Concluding Thoughts
As we build a stock exchange for the 21st century - Scottish based, global facing and impact-focused - it’s inspiring to see these businesses creating solutions to social and environmental problems. Indeed, it is these companies solving social and environmental challenges through their core operations, and who can do that profitably and with potential to scale, that we seek as issuers on our exchange.
For more information on Project Heather please email contact@projectheather.scot.
About Project Heather
Project Heather is building a Scottish Stock Exchange: an exchange shaped for the 21st century, adding ‘impact’ to the traditional capital markets model of ‘risk and reward’.
Scottish based, yet global facing, it will act as a bridge between values-aligned investors and companies.
The Scottish Stock Exchange will be the first Recognised Investment Exchange worldwide for which companies have to measure their positive social and/or environmental impact before listing, and an annually updated impact report publicly available on their website.
Through a recently agreed technological and strategic partnership with Euronext, the Scottish Stock Exchange is setting out to bring access, visibility and liquidity to businesses — building on a Scottish tradition of entrepreneurship, ingenuity in raising capital and as a hub for renewables, sustainability and social enterprise.
Subject to approval from Europe’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the Exchange hopes to launch in the second half of 2019.
