Rural Community Gateway

From Clive Grewcock

A Highland entrepreneur this week walked away with a top business award and cash boost of £600. Steven Gillies, a 26 year old Lochalsh boat builder has beaten off the business talents of Highland's best young start-ups to win the 2004 regional final of the Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT)/The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Business Awards.

Steven learnt his trade locally and in Portugal before setting up Isle of Skye Boat builders in 2001. He was supported in his new venture by PSYBT, which provides seedcorn finance and professional support to 18-25 year olds who want to start their own businesses. Steven undertakes glass fibre repairs and fabricating for a variety of items, including fish farm tanks, furniture, vehicle and boat components and recently secured a contract to build a fishing boat. Steven currently employs four full time and several part time members of staff and has moved to larger premises in Kyleakin.

Steven will now be in line to represent the Highlands at the national finals in Glasgow next month. Six of the 18 regional winners will be selected to compete for the coveted national title of 'PSYBT/Royal Bank of Scotland Young Entrepreneur of the Year' and the opportunity to scoop another £1,500.

At the same event, Joanna Hunter (29) was awarded a special prize to mark the success of her designer clothing business "Branded", which now has three stores in the north. Joanna was a finalist at the Awards in 2001 and was selected from all the finalists across ten years of the award.

Alan Maddock, RBS Area Business Manager, paid tribute to the winners:

"Their energy, enterprise and determination are an inspiration to any young person who is thinking of setting up their own business."

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