An evening to celebrate the PSYBT Growth Fund's Annual Awards will be held on Wednesday 28th September 2011 at Club 29, Royal Exchange Square in Glasgow. This year the event is generously sponsored by Digital Goldfish, previous winner of the Growth Awards - co-director David Hamilton will be in attendance to congratulate the 2011 winners and update us on the company’s progress.
The event provides an opportunity to network with the PSYBT-supported business people who have benefited from growth and innovation funding together with those who are in the process of applying to the funds. Supporters of PSYBT, volunteers, PSYBT Staff and board members will also be present to celebrate the achievements of the rising stars of Scotland’s enterprise arena.
This year we are thrilled to announce our keynote speaker will be James Watt, from the iconic business Brewdog, with a presentation "Growing your Business". James set up BrewDog with his business partner, Martin Dickie in November 2006 with a PSYBT Start Up loan of £5,000. They started trading in April 2007 and received a Growth Fund Accelerator Loan of £25,000 in March 2008 when the business began to expand.
Four years on the company employs 64 staff and has an expected turnover this year of £7 million. BrewDog has now established itself as a leading brewery with an innovative approach to its operations and marketing.
When BrewDog started in the North East of Scotland it was a small dedicated brewing company, which produced a very different range of beers from the traditional accepted brews. Brewdog clients are discerning drinkers who appreciate the unique beverages and inspiring marketing campaigns. This outlook has been a key to the company's success. BrewDog now exports to 27 countries and is in the process of increasing its sales to UK supermarkets whilst opening more of its own bars - following successful openings in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
The Growth Fund Awards ceremony recognises the PSYBT businesses who have achieved significant growth since they received their Growth Fund Loan in both the Accelerator and Development Loan categories. There will also be an award for an individual who has developed their business in an innovative way and an award for the businessperson who has shown the greatest determination to succeed. We will also be hearing a light hearted update from the four businesses who won the awards in 2010.
If you would like to join us for what promises to be an interesting and enjoyable evening please contact Evelyn McDonald, Head of Growing Businesses, evelyn.mcdonald@psybt.org.uk before 14th September.
