A young Frenchman and his Brazilian partner have struck a hole in one by winning The Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ award at a ceremony in Glasgow.
Raphael Metayer (30) and Carina Neubert Favero (23), founders of the St Andrews Golf Experience in Fife beat off competition from almost 900 businesses from all over Scotland who were eligible for this year’s PSYBT ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ Award. The pair are fluent in five languages and have successfully used these skills, along with their industry knowledge and golfing expertise to establish a successful business offering bespoke golf packages in the UK aimed at the European and the American markets. A self confessed golfing enthusiast, Mr Métayer left France five years ago to study a BA in Golf Management at Dornoch College in the North of Scotland. He then spent a further two years managing the Spey Valley Golf Club in Aviemore, prior to moving to St Andrews with the desire to start his own golf tours business. After meeting Carina together they identified a gap in the market for a multi-lingual travel operator which could offer golfing holidays in Scotland, and cater for those interested in combining this with English speaking lessons or other educational /cultural experiences.
They launched their business in 2008 with advice and funding from PSYBT and despite the highly competitive market they operate in, they have catered for over 500 visitors to Fife and the rest of Scotland and have exceeded the original targets set for the business. The runner - up title was awarded to 22 year old Gregor Mackintosh from Glendaveny in Aberdeenshire. The former Scottish Agricultural College graduate produces Glendaveny Extra Virgin Cold Pressed RapeseedOil grownon his family’s farm in Glendaveny. Previously, the rapeseed was harvested for vegetable oils and biofuels for export, and it was during his research for his final honours dissertation that he learned about its enormous health and culinary benefits, giving him the idea for starting his new business.
In 2009, Mr Mackintosh approached PSYBT for advice and received funding to help with the building of a bottling plant within walking distance of his oilseed crops. The crops are harvested and the oil is pressed, filtered and bottled without any industrial processes, thereby ensuring a 100 percent natural product, which is full of Vitamin E, Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids which are said to help lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. Earlier this year, the young entrepreneur extended the range with a variety of infused oils with lemon, garlic and jalapeno chilli and entered into collaboration with a local seafood processor who incorporate the Glendaveny oils as a locally sourced ingredient for added value products destined for Marks & Spencers, Asda and Sainsbury’s. The Mackintosh of Glendaveny Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Oil is also sold in Asda, selected farm shops, delicatessens, and butchers throughout Scotland. Mr Mackintosh is currently investing significantly in expanding the facilities at the farm to be able to increase output and secure national listings for the Glendavenay range.
The awards ceremony, which is now in its fifteenth year, took place in the Glasgow City Chambers and Mr Bob Keiller, chief executive of PSN gave the keynote speech, with 300 members of the business community attending. Presenting the winners with their awards and cheques for £2000 and £1500, Mr Keiller, said, “Our winners tonight have shown themselves to be true entrepreneurs in their approach to building and expanding their business. They are ambitious, they know how to market their products and they know what their customers want. These are key ingredients to running a successful business and they illustrate the exceptional young talent Scotland has to offer.” Mr Mark Strudwick, Chief Executive of the PSYBT said, “These young entrepreneurs are an inspiration to everyone, most especially other young entrepreneurs fulfilling their self employment career plans. We congratulate them on their success tonight and we look forward to watching their businesses grow in the years to follow.”
A special award was also given to the PSYBT ‘Volunteer of the Year’, and this was won by retired Aberdeen businessman Michael Craig, who was selected from almost 800 PSYBT volunteers across Scotland. Mr Craig, who retired from the Clydesdale Bank after 35 years, joined the Grampian PSYBT volunteer team in Grampian in February 2005. Congratulating him, Mr Strudwick said, “Mr Craig’s expertise, mentoring and inspiration has helped countless young people in Grampian and we are delighted to present him with this special award.”
