Aspiring entrepreneurs celebrated at the UHI Business Competition 2025

The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) Business Competition 2025 held on Wednesday 26 March, at UHI Inverness, celebrated the region’s most innovative entrepreneurs.

Fifteen finalists presented a diverse range of business ideas aimed at addressing real-world challenges and driving positive economic and social change.

The top prize of £1,000, along with accountancy and legal packages from sponsors Harper Macleod LLP and Johnston Carmichael, was awarded to Samantha Hill from Elgin for her business, Wilcock Studios.

Named in tribute to Geoff Wilcock, a champion of creativity and community, Wilcock Studios aims to become a transformative hub for filmmakers, artists and entrepreneurs in the North of Scotland.

By offering state-of-the-art sound stages, event spaces, and creative services, it will help retain local talent, reduce travel emissions, and attract major productions to the region. The studio’s training programmes, in collaboration with UHI, will also provide hands-on experience, supporting the next generation of creative professionals.

Samantha, a UHI Moray alumna (First-Class BA (Hons) Business Management, 2018), shared her gratitude upon winning the top prize:

“I’m completely overwhelmed, shocked and incredibly grateful to have won. UHI has been fundamental to my personal and professional growth, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support and opportunities it provided.

“Now, I want to give back by creating a facility that enables students to learn, train and develop their careers from start to finish. Wilcock Studios isn’t just about film production – it’s about building a thriving creative ecosystem that supports talent, community, fuels the local economy, and fosters innovation and sustainability in the Highlands.”

Guests were welcomed by Professor Chris O’Neil, Principal and Chief Executive of UHI Inverness, who highlighted the competition’s significance:

“This competition is so important because it helps define the Highlands and Islands as a critically important region for the UK and beyond. The skills of creativity, entrepreneurship and disciplined thought are vital, whether you go on to run a business, pursue a career or strengthen your community.”

The total prize fund was £9,500, with the following 10 finalists receiving a prize from one of the sponsors:

• Best Community Award (£500), sponsored by Tuminds: Stephanie Malcolm, HNC Accounting student at UHI Perth, for an affordable and sustainable alternative to branded school uniforms.
• Youth Entrepreneurship Award (£500), sponsored by The Apprentice Store: Nathan Strang, BA (Hons) Business Management student at UHI Perth, for addressing the lack of products that work for disabled people.
• Best Sustainability Award (£500), sponsored by silver sponsors: Vladyslav Kudriavtsev from Inverness, for ReTech, a non-profit initiative promoting the reuse of outdated technology.
• Best Culture and Environmental Award (£1,000), sponsored by the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport: Szabolcs Pap, a researcher at the UHI Environmental Research Institute, based at UHI North, West and Hebrides Thurso campus, for a phosphorus recovery solution using biochar, a carbon sponge-like material.
• Best Computing Solution (£1,000), sponsored by Engineers in Business Fellowship: Christopher Kaan Caudwell, HNC Computing student at UHI Perth, for an AI-powered software that translates sign language into text and speech in real time.
• Best Tech Idea (£1,000), sponsored by Engineers in Business Fellowship: Martin Cameron, BSc (Hons) Applied Software Development student at UHI North, West and Hebrides, for Teia, a visual aid that recognises some of the unique challenges experienced by those with visual impairment.
• Best Social Impact Award (£1,000) sponsored by Whyte and Mackay: Jonathan Golder from the Isle of Lewis, for the Heather Isle Coffee Company, promote the island’s culture and language through speciality coffee.
• Best Engineer Award (£1,000), sponsored by Engineers in Business Fellowship: Andrew Gibb, HNC Engineering Systems student at UHI Orkney, for a distillery producing vodka from whey, with a strong connection to Orkney, its culture and its landscape.
• Best Student Award (£1,000), sponsored by UHI, and an Information Technology Package (£1,000) sponsored by The Apprentice Store: Fergus Leith, HNC Architectural Technology student at UHI Inverness, for an eco-conscious company producing pure honey and natural cosmetics, supporting rewilding and wilderness restoration projects.
• Best Commercial Award (£1,000), sponsored by Northern Innovation Hub: Jodi and Zoe Lemmon from Dingwall, for Pour + Pair, a mobile wine-tasting and food-pairing service.

The evening also featured a keynote address by David Massey, founder of The Apprentice Store, a social enterprise dedicated to creating sustainable employment opportunities for young people. He told finalists:

“I have seen how young people flourish once the opportunity of employment is given to them to gain skills, experience and confidence. As you start your journey, really think about what your purpose is and how it aligns with what you want to achieve."

This year, the competition attracted a record number of 104 entries from students across the UHI partnership, as well as entrepreneurs living in the Highlands and Islands, Moray, Perthshire and Argyll – a 38% increase from the previous year. The other finalists were:

• Liana Bondarenko, Digital Design and Game Development student at UHI Perth for an AI-driven healthcare platform.
• Chandra Hepburn, HNC Bioscience student at UHI Perth, and Holly Richardson for KinetiQ, an AI-powered exoskeleton for rehabilitation.
• Holly Richardson from Blairgowrie for PowerPlant, an artificial tree that captures CO2 and generates clean energy.
• Bogdan Todorow, Applied Software Development student at UHI Inverness, for a dynamic game fusing farming simulation and economic strategy.

Rojan Kumar Subramani, Founder and CEO of DigiTechtive Limited, and UHI Inverness Board Member, and competition judge, praised the finalists:

“It was an honour to be a part of the judging panel for this prestigious event. It was an incredible to witness the creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of all the finalists. Each demonstrated a remarkable ability to turn ideas into impactful ventures, showcasing the kind of innovation that drives meaningful change in our communities. Congratulations to all involved, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for these brilliant innovators!”

Shane Healy, Distilling Director, Whyte and Mackay and competition judge, added:

“The UHI Business Competition is an inspiration. The judges and I had the privilege of reviewing all the brilliant entries. The 15 finalists have all thought through their business ideas and showcased the incredible entrepreneurial spirit thriving across our Highlands and Islands.”

Alli Vass, PowerHouse Manager, Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, also on the judging panel, said:

"Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport are thrilled to have been involved in the UHI Business Competition. The final presentations were inspiring, and it was fantastic to celebrate the achievements of all the applicants at the awards ceremony. Congratulations to the winners and well done to everyone who took part!"

Organised by CREATE, the Highlands and Islands Hub for Enterprise and Innovation, based at the Centre for Living Sustainability at UHI Inverness, the competition has been discovering and empowering aspiring entrepreneurs, helping them bring their innovative ideas to life since 2006.

Vicky Johnson, Director of the Centre for Living Sustainability closed the ceremony by thanking all the applicants, sponsors and those involved in running the competition:

“This event never ceases to inspire, as students, staff and community members pitch such exciting and original entrepreneurship to our fabulous judges from the across our regions. It is exciting to see all the innovative ideas that can translate into social and environmental solutions to help make our communities more sustainable across the Highlands and Islands and beyond!”