The shortlist for the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2024 has been unveiled.

The winners will be announced at the voco Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on 3 October, with Sheila Flavell CBE, chief operating officer and executive board director at FDM Group serving as this year’s keynote speaker at the event.

Among the 48 finalists – across 10 categories – are Hamilton-based Jigsaw Travel, shortlisted in both the Resilient Business of the Year and Family Business Champion categories, Cawdor based StrategyStory, shortlisted in the Business to Watch category, and sustainable luxury brand Oir Soap, shortlisted for the Start up Business of the Year Award.

“Our Awards recognise the considerable contribution women-led businesses make to Scotland’s economy,” Carolyn Currie, chief executive at WES.

She added: “It is our opportunity to come together and celebrate success, as well as to provide visible role models for the women and girls who follow.

“Both the volume and the calibre of entries for the awards were very high and the judging panel had a very challenging task to compile the list of finalists.”

Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES) is a not-for-profit organization that advocates for women-led and women-owned businesses, promoting evidence-based policies and expert support to help women achieve their entrepreneurial goals.

Established in 2011, WES aims to create a gender-equal and inclusive business environment in Scotland. Women-owned businesses contribute £8.8bn to the economy and have created over 230,000 jobs, yet they make up just 20% of the business base in Scotland. WES collaborates with partners at all levels to drive innovation, productivity, and economic growth.

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The 2024 shortlist for the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2024 is made up of:

Start-up Business of the Year, sponsored by Business Gateway

• Defankle Innovation
• Oir Soap
• Planner Bee VA Services
• ProfessorMe
• Unicorn Markets CIC
• Willow Health

Growth Business of the Year, sponsored by QuickBlock

• GSP Digital Solutions
• Kandala Travel
• The Aesthetics Club
• ThermaFY Eco Solutions
• Wow (Scotland)

Outstanding Business of the Year, sponsored by Holistic Financial Leadership

• D and H Law
• The ESP Group
• Q Fire Protection and Carpentry
• YOURGB

Inspiring Leader of the Year

• Dr Alison Chiwara, Human Focused
• Inga Elder, Image Orkney
• Lesley Landels, Love Scottish
• Sara Thomson, The Leith Collective CIC

Business Investment of the Year, sponsored by N4 Partners

• Bespoke Fabrics
• Flexibility Works
• Planner Bee VA Services
• Studio Lutalica
• ThermaFY Eco Solutions

Resilient Business of the Year

• AstroAgency
• Fairlie Curved
• Jigsaw Travel
• Laughing Ducks Soft Play
• MoneyMatiX
• Small Fish Brand Co

Family Business Champion of the Year

• Lesley Sim, Jigsaw Travel
• Joyce Onuonga, John White & Son
• Jess Hartwell, Skyeskyns
• Anne Gracie Gunn, Sonas Hospitality

Sustainable Business of the Year, sponsored by Scottish Enterprise

• Cashmere Circle
• Kingdom Scotland
• Stitch the Gap CIC
• The Leith Collective CIC

Business to Watch, sponsored by Holistic Financial Leadership

• Sarah Stewart
• StrategyStory
• The Aesthetics Club
• The Craft Pottery

Purpose-Led Business of the Year

• egg
• Fairlie Curved
• Flexibility Works
• MoneyMatiX
• Stitch the Gap CIC
• Studio Lutalica