http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2013/06/business-awards1...

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2013/06/business-awards19062013
"Winners of the Scottish EDGE announced
20/06/2013
More than £704,000 of funding has been awarded to Scotland’s brightest and most innovative start-ups, Finance Secretary John Swinney confirmed last night at the second Scottish EDGE Awards.

Eighteen young Scottish businesses that have demonstrated the greatest potential to grow and succeed have secured awards of up to £50k through the Scottish Government’s Scottish EDGE fund, which aims to support and encourage entrepreneurial activity in Scotland. The Scottish Government has worked closely with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, SDI, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), Prince’s Trust, Prince’s Youth Business Trust, Business Gateway and Entrepreneurial Spark in developing the new fund.

Launched in October 2012, this round of the competition received 217 applications and 30 of these were shortlisted to pitch their ideas in person tonight. Applications for funding were considered by an Investment Panel, composed of Scotland’s leading business people, who selected the finalists to go on to pitch for the prize money.

The panel of Sir Willie Haughey (City Refrigeration), Julie Grieve (Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust), Kevin Dorren (founder of Diet Chef), Crawford Gillies (Chairman of Scottish Enterprise) and Gordon Merrylees (RBS) decided on the winners.

Finance Secretary John Swinney said:

“I am seeing a new spirit of entrepreneurship developing in Scotland, building on our nation’s proud tradition as innovators, and this second round of the Scottish EDGE Awards celebrates and supports fresh Scottish business talent.

"This Government and our enterprise agencies are focused on maintaining Scotland’s position as the most supportive environment for business in the UK. Scottish EDGE targets ambitious entrepreneurs wishing to establish or grow their business and will provide real opportunities for them to contribute to Scotland’s economic success.

“The Scottish Government recognises that the private and public sector must work together to assist business growth in Scotland and the Scottish EDGE fund is able to unlock investment for entrepreneurs.

"We are focused on maintaining Scotland’s position as the most supportive environment for business in the UK. The Scottish EDGE has already awarded 17 ambitious entrepreneurs with funds to establish or grow their business and contribute to Scotland’s economic success.

“Entrepreneurial Spark has been a key part of this fund and the Scottish Government has been delighted to facilitate this innovative new approach to business support, which I consider will be crucial in developing some of the ambitious next generation entrepreneurs.

“I would like to congratulate the winners and the runners-up in this second round of funding. The eighteen successful enterprises have demonstrated their growth potential and I wish them every success in the future.”

Crawford Gillies, Chairman, Scottish Enterprise, said:

"By encouraging and supporting a growing ecosystem of entrepreneurial activity across Scotland, we can help deliver long-term sustainable growth for the Scottish economy. The Scottish EDGE sets out to do exactly this and I extend my congratulations to all of those who were successful today, as well as to all of those who pitched to the panel."

Gordon Merrylees, RBS, Managing Director of business banking in Scotland and EDGE judge said:

"We're delighted to work with the Scottish Government on the EDGE fund to help build an ecosystem between public and private sectors which supports entrepreneurship and helps provide much needed oxygen to start ups and early stage businesses in Scotland.

“The finalists of the second round of awards showed that the calibre of new Scottish entrepreneurs is extremely high and RBS will continue to support the winners by providing them with mentoring, essential advice to help protect many aspects of their business and a free banking package."
"
Winners are ......
"£32,000: iPower Action, Dory McIntosh (Stirling)

Over the winter of 2010 an additional 27,000 people died of cold-related deaths. This should be unimaginable in any developed country but is the harsh reality in the UK where 29% - over one in four of the population - are living in fuel poverty.

iPower can help to prevent these deaths and transform the lives of those living in fuel poverty through the introduction of an innovative fuel cell called BlueGen. Each

BlueGen unit is the size of a washing machine and converts natural gas to electricity.
"

That should pull a few, crikey !
Cheers