Thirty ambitious entrepreneurs from Aberdeen and Tayside have been unveiled as the successful candidates in a prestigious programme which aims to fast track their businesses to the next level.
Elevator - the social enterprise dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs, business leaders and employees - launched Cohort 2 of its Accelerator Programme at its Centre for Entrepreneurship in Aberdeen.
Following a rigorous application process, during which 45 businesses were selected to pitch, 30 successful Founders were chosen to take part in the entrepreneurial experience.
The Accelerator Programme will cover different entrepreneurial themes each week from business models and goal setting, identifying new markets and opportunities to intellectual property, scale, growth and exit strategy.
Over the next few weeks, the successful entrepreneurs will test, research, develop, launch and refine their products or service-led business to become market and investor ready. The Programme will conclude with a Founder Showcase attended by partners, customers, investors and Business Angels.
Elevator’s Accelerator Programmes were first launched in 2015, and are for ambitious early-stage business owners and teams seeking to improve their business offering, growth and investment potential at an accelerated rate.
Candidates who apply and make it through the first round undergo a rigorous application process, during which they are invited to pitch to a panel of judges comprising Elevator Chief Executive Professor Gary McEwan, other entrepreneurial leaders and professional partners.
Gary said: “The quality of the applications for Cohort 2 was tremendous, and it was a difficult task to choose just 30 to go forward. These people are already business owners – they just need that final shove to help them realise their goal. During the Programme, we challenge them, their goals, their plans and their business ideas, while at the same time supporting their aspirations for scale and growth, teaching entrepreneurial disciplines and best practice for business growth.
“We are very lucky to have the support of thought leaders and established entrepreneurs who are willing to impart their knowledge and experience through a series of inspiring talks, workshops and practical help such as Business Model Canvas development. We are very much looking forward to starting work and helping them make some business-changing decisions.”
Forres-based entrepreneur Amanda Charteris is one of those taking part in the programme. Her online business – Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous - quotes Deborah Meaden as one of its customers and has grown from a small web retailer to a massive online marketplace with more than 300 partners.
“The Accelerator Programme is absolutely brilliant, especially in the current situation with the downturn in oil and gas; people need to be thinking outside of the box, think of how they can adapt and use their existing skills and experience to create a new future for themselves. Most important is to use the shock of redundancy, for example, as a chance to make a new start and follow a dream that has always been at the back of their minds,” she said.
“The Programme is not only reinforcing and enhancing knowledge I had in my areas of strength, it is giving me a wealth of new knowledge and understanding of business strategy and development. There is such a buzz about the place and it’s great to meet so many like-minded business owners and entrepreneurs.”
Elevator has created the UK’s first Centre for Entrepreneurship at HQ in Bridge of Don, Aberdeen where we are combining the delivery of Business Gateway with an open access public facility and business accelerator.