Welcome to the Edinburgh Enterprise Scene

On behalf of Global Entrepreneurship Week, this post briefly introduces readers to the enterprise scene in Edinburgh Scotland.

Here in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh there has never been a better time for new enterprises to take hold. As Scotland continues to increase its start-up potential, Edinburgh is one of the leaders in a new wave of development. Entrepreneurs at every age and in every field will find themselves welcome here to collaborate and create.

A major education hub, Edinburgh’s Universities and Colleges attract top talent from all over the world, and at these institutes enterprise is thriving. From The University of Edinburgh and its Centre for Entrepreneurship Research, to Heriot Watt and Napier Universities, entrepreneurship is on the rise among students. Known for their work in science and technology, these institutes contribute a vibrant energy to the local scene.

Bolstered by strong ties to education, the Edinburgh bioquarter hosts one of the highest rates of new biotech start-ups in the UK. Just one example is University of Edinburgh student Michael Yiin Shih Jie who this year won £50,000 and a year of business support in the Young Innovators Challenge run by Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) for his work in microbes and corrosion. Also in this sector recent start-up UWI Technology received Venture Funding in 2012, and has developed label technology measuring risk of material degradation, with applications from refrigerators to aerospace.

The city is also renowned for its festival season, bringing in millions of visitors annually. Edinburgh local Rosalind Romer is also a former SIE competition winner, having been awarded the top prize in The New Ventures Arts & Cultural category in 2013. Rosalind has developed her idea, Punchline Comedy, into a successful event featuring the rising stars of comedy.

I asked Michelle Rodgers, Director of the Crowdfunding Centre and former Bloom VC CCO her view: “Anywhere with active Universities and active entrepreneurial support has huge potential. Edinburgh in particular is a tech hub with a great number of start-ups coming out.”

New start-ups will find the city boasts a positive support network. Organisations such as SIE, Entrepreneurial Spark and E-Club encourage the right environment for growth, and with new incubators and workspaces such as The Melting Pot, Creative Exchange Leith and Edinburgh Hacklab available, the scene is more active than ever.

As enthusiasm, investment and new ideas continue to grow, Edinburgh entrepreneurs have the potential to add tremendous value to the world.

60-second interview with Mahala Le May

Picture from Mahala’s site of the sugar skull workshop

Hi Friends,

The Young Innovators Challenge deadline for entries is NOON on May 31st, which is currently… 60 hours from this very minute (Thank you Siri). As The YIC has a Food & Drink category, here is a sweet interview with Mahala Le May to keep your Idea-Machines running!

Mahala is a designer based here in Scotland who creates beautiful and delicious eating experiences.  She was kind enough to share her joy and passion with me, and so I am happy to share it with you too.

I met her at The Mini Makers Faire in Edinburgh last month where she was hosting an excellent workshop decorating Mexican Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls! Check out this video of the skulls made that day, they were excellent.

 

• Your site mentions you create eating experiences – What was your inspiration?

I’m really interested in how food brings people together, how everyone is effected by it and that everyone has a relationship with eating. And I love food.

 

• Of your creations and events to date, do you have a favorite?

Create: Eat was an incredible event to be involved with, 25 collaborators – from chefs to lighting designers and mixologist all worked together to put on a only night only dining extravaganza. It was brilliant to meet and work with so many talented people. The piece I made for it ‘canopy of canapés’ turned out exactly how I hoped, it was wonderful to see peoples’ reactions too it.

 

• Did you get any business advice/assistance from anyone/any group that helped you?

I’ve had business and financial support from Starter For 6 – a programme that helps innovative businesses and from PSYBT, I found business mentors particularly helpful . Also Cultural Enterprise Scotland – who run S46 – arrange lots of courses, advice sessions and had a website packed full of endless help-sheets and resources.

 

• Do you feel you’ve had errors or failures that you’ve learned from?

Yes of course, it’s part of the process, you almost learn more from what doesn’t work and even though it’s disappointing at the time, experiences -good and bad-  allow you to develop and strengthen as a business.

•  What gave you the idea to create Mexican sugar skulls?

I originally made the some sugar skulls to decorate a friend’s cake at their Mexican themed wedding. It been really successful as a workshop with both adults and children. I’d like to do an adults only mexican night with tequila, I’d love to see how the skulls would turn out. I want to make my events hands-on and accessible to encourage as many people as possible to get involved and have fun.

 

• How is the Food and drink industry in Scotland doing in your opinion? A good area to be involved or could it use some shaking up?

There’s a lot about the food industry in general that needs to change, but people are becoming more aware of these issues. In Scotland there are lots of amazing producers and people doing exciting things with food, there’s going to be lots to look forward too as long as everyone keeps communicating.

 

• Do you have a future dream project you would love to create?

I’ve got lots of ideas and a few projects coming up so I don’t want to give too much away.

•  A piece of advice you’d give to a budding edible entrepreneur?

Get out and speak to people, get them tasting and trying out what you make, the best way to know what works and it will give you confidence to grow your business and build up a network of fans – word of mouth is key to your food reputation. Good luck.

 

Mahala has worked on a variety of projects in the UK and in the Netherlands with Edinburgh University, Jelly and Gin and the Makers Faire among others. She combines a sense of delight with the visual and tactile pleasures of food to produce events, workshops and tastes with a joyful flair. Her creations look gorgeous and extremely tasty!! Eating is such a pleasure, it was delightful to meet someone who has as much fun with it as possible.

I will be very keen to attend the adult mexican-night. My attempts at making sugar skulls at The Makers Faire were trounced by the amazing skills of the children sat next to me – my skulls were somewhat geometric and spartan by comparison to the creativity on display! A second round (And perhaps a little tequila-based courage) and a chance to gobble some treats would suit me fine!

Thanks again, Mahala!

 

<p><a href=”http://vimeo.com/58667046″>Sugar Sugar boogie woogie</a> from <a href=”http://vimeo.com/user15810950″>Mahala Le May</a> on <a href=”http://vimeo.com”>Vimeo</a&gt;.</p>

*Videos and picture taken from http://www.mahalalemay.co.uk

60 Second Interview: The Chocolate Tree

Hi Friends,

They say variety is the spice of life, well how about the CHOCOLATE of life instead? Ali Gower one of the founders of The Chocolate Tree was kind enough to grant me a 60-second interview. Thanks very much Ali! This could be the first of many Food & Drink interviews to come!

* Disclosure: I have not been compensated by The Chocolate Tree in any way.

Ali Gower. Picture taken from The Chocolate Tree

• What inspired you to start your own business?

Hobby / Passion that turned into business

• Did any particular organizations or individuals help you start The Chocolate Tree?

Business gateway grant

• Did you do much research before you began your business?

Yes. Lots. Still do

• Do you feel you’ve learned from any failures or challenges you might have had?

Absolutely. Recognition of failure is the path to improvement

• What has been your favorite achievement to date?

Bean to bar chocolate making, Direct relationship with cacao growers

• What advice would you give to people thinking about starting a business today?

Be prepared to work a schedule beyond what would be deemed reasonable to make it succeed, miss out on many of the normal luxuries working for someone else can offer (ie. holidays, consistent pay), to take risks and lose sleep.

• Do you have a favorite Chocolate Tree product?

No… I have at least four:

Bar: Bean to bar Madagascar 72%*

Cake: tiramisu
Bonbon: coconut & passionfruit
Gelato: almond & honey

(*Note: I purchased two of the bean-to-bar Madagascar bars as Christmas gifts for a friend, I ended up giving him just the one… I have no regrets about this at all.)

Origami chocolate box. Picture taken from The Chocolate Tree

The Chocolate Tree was founded in Edinburgh/East Lothian, and has in just a few years grown from a hobby to one of the best  indulgences you can lay your hands on. With their emphasis on ethics, be it their banking partners or their relationships with cocoa farmers, their values provide a strong foundation for their business growth, with no signs of slowing down. The love they clearly have for their business shows through not only in their relationships but also in the high quality of their products.

The Chocolate Tree can be found on http://www.the-chocolate-tree.co.uk and their products are now sold in over 50 stores in Scotland, England and The Netherlands. They can also be visited in person at markets in Edinburgh and Haddington or at their cafe in Edinburgh. If you visit them in person I highly recommend the Peruvian hot chocolate, it is my favorite and if it disappeared from the menu I might do terrible things 🙂

If you are a student in Scotland and you have an idea you want to see become reality then you should enter the Young Innovators Challenge! With six categories to choose from (Including Food & Drink!) each with a prize of £50,000 investment + One YEAR of business support, you could see your business go from just an idea to the sort of thing that makes stomachs growl across the land. For all the info you need visit www.sie.ac.uk/YIC