Great Glen Distillery near Loch Ness shortlisted for Scotland StartUp Award
Article and image courtesy of Inverness Courier
A small craft distillery run by two friends in the Highlands has been shortlisted in the Scotland final of a UK awards scheme recognising the booming start up scene.
Great Glen Distillery in Drumnadrochit is run by Daniel Campbell and Adam Dwyer and has been producing award-winning spirits for nearly two years.
It has been named in the Scotland finals of the StartUp Awards taking place in Glasgow on April 27.
The business has been nominated for both the Drink StartUp of the Year and Rural StartUp of the Year.
Co-founder Adam Dwyer said: “We’re thrilled to be shortlisted for the StartUp awards despite the challenges we faced since our launch in 2021.
“2023 doesn’t look any easier with the deposit return scheme and alcohol advertising ban ahead, but this recognition gives us a morale boost to keep pushing towards success.”
The StartUp Awards were launched last year to recognise the booming startup scene across the UK which has accelerated since the 2019 pandemic.
Over 800,000 new businesses were founded in the UK since 2021, a 4.3 per cent increase from the year before.
A record number of businesses applied to this year’s StartUp Awards, with 1100 firms shortlisted across 10 UK nations and regions.
The contribution of these firms – which were started in the last three years – is significant, having created over 5000 new jobs since they were established and generating annual sales of £584 million.
Supported nationally by Starling Bank, British Business Bank, BT, Creative Ideaz, GS1 UK, Jeeves, Join Talent, ScoreApp and The Purposeful Project, the programme will celebrate the achievements of individuals who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.
The finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, the creator of the StartUp Awards, said: “Start-up businesses are the lifeblood of any economy, being responsible for new jobs, innovation and in supporting communities in every nation and region across the UK.
“All of the finalists this year represent the best of those entrepreneurs who have spotted an opportunity and through their sheer hard work, talent and perseverance, have created an amazing new business that is creating real impact in its sector.”
The StartUp Awards were created in collaboration with the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, one of the most successful awards programmes in the UK.
