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A Heriot-Watt spin-out company is to host one of Scotland's rising entrepreneurs.
Louise McHattie was today named as one of 20 recipients of the inaugural Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) Unlocking Ambition Enterprise Fellowship.
Over the next year, the Mechanical Engineer and graduate of Heriot-Watt University, will be funded by the RSE allowing her to learn key entrepreneurial skills while working at the Edinburgh-based firm, Kenoteq Ltd.
Thanks to the RSE we are able to help give tomorrow's entrepreneurs a head start in their career
The company was cofounded by two Heriot-Watt scientists - Professor Gabriela Medero and Dr Samuel Chapman – to develop the most advanced and cost-effective bricks the construction industry has seen in a generation. They are made from up to 90% recyclable materials and have just one tenth the carbon footprint of traditional clay-fired brick.
Professor Medero spoke of her delight after learning Louise had been selected.
“Thanks to the RSE we are able to help give tomorrow's entrepreneurs a head start in their career,” she said.
“At Kenoteq we pride ourselves in identifying great talent and Louise certainly falls within this category.
“I'm looking forward to her getting started and to learning about the business and the demands of being an entrepreneur.”
The Fellowship is part of the RSE's £4m Unlocking Ambition Challenge that supports entrepreneurs who want to start and scale their businesses in Scotland. It is working with the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Scotland's entrepreneurial ecosystem as part of the Scotland CAN DO initiative, backed by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
The programme provides funding support to highly ambitious entrepreneurs chosen for their individual potential, the quality of their ideas and the contribution they can make to the Scottish economy.
Dr Gillian Murray, Heriot-Watt's Deputy Principal for Enterprise and Business, said: “This new initiative is potentially life-changing and a tremendous opportunity for our young entrepreneurs.
“Scotland has a proud heritage in industry engagement, and I welcome any initiative that encourages future business leaders to choose to centre their operations here.
“At Heriot-Watt, we have a unique programme called the Heriot Watt Global Entrepreneurial Journey, which is tailored to rapidly scale new businesses though both expert support and global connections.
"Next year entrepreneurs like Louise will be housed in our flagship £19M Discovery and Innovation building where they will be supported to grow and flourish."