Entrepreneur success stories

Austin McPhee runs a football tour company for all ages and abilities called AM Sports Tours.

As a professional footballer in America he had seen football coaching taking place all around the world and on his return to Scotland he saw and seized the opportunity to set up his own business for coaching young people.

Baguette N Go is a small chain of takeaway sandwich shops in the Scottish Borders.

The business was set up by Tommy Farrell and Brian Dodds and over the next five years they hope to have 25 to 30 shops throughout Britain.

Iline Murray owns her own health and beauty business in Stornoway.

After working in a salon in Glasgow she moved back home, taking her skills and experiences with her to set up her own business. She now hopes to be able to extend her business to training others on the island in the field of health and beauty and expanding their range of treatments.

Aileen Cavers is a beauty therapist who set up her own salon in 2006.

Moving from renting space in a hairdressers, she now has her own business, called Complete Hair, Health and Beauty, a successful beauty salon in Glasgow.

Cone 9 Ceramics is a specialist ceramics gallery selling homeware and sculptural ceramics.

Ruth Colston acquired her inspiration and creativity from her father who was a potter, and combined that with her business skills to open Cone 9 Ceramics. Although it is hard work she finds it very rewarding.

John Diamond and his brother supply technical crew and labourers to the events industry through their business Diamond Event Services.

They are constantly trying to improve the business and hope to take the idea which has worked for them in Edinburgh and set up offices in Glasgow and London.

Craigengillan Stables is an equestrian centre where they train horses and riders.

Roslyn Fyfe started off studying horse management at college, then worked at a yard for a year doing freelance work. She now runs Craigengillan Stables.

David Skea from Alness supplies diver-caught shellfish through his business Fisherman Direct.

He started with delivering his catch to restaurants in London and now exports to Spain, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Tiffany Boz and Victoria Laing, the founders of Gambit Gallery, are close friends as well as business partners.

They graduated from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and decided to set up business together in Dunoon. The gallery sells greeting cards, glassware and gifts and they also run art classes for the community.

Vivien McKee and Amy Ridely produce their own eco-friendly 100% biodegradable bags.

From an idea they had whilst chatting, they now have staff, customers and a real business called Get Serious World. Their ultimate dream is for the company to become an eco-brand of the 21st century.

Philip Price used to be an environmental consultant but now runs his own sustainable business offering wildlife photography experiences to people of all ages.

To get started he took a three-day business course to prepare him for the basics such as marketing and book-keeping.

His business, Loch Visions, is now a real success and he never dreads getting up on Monday morning!

From a bike courier in Edinburgh to managing director of MB7; Iain Withers runs MB7, a business that teaches skills in how to ride mountain bikes from beginner to advanced levels.

They also run mountain biking holidays taking in all the best trails around the Scottish Borders.

Natasha Marshall set up her company in 1997 with a loan from the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust.

Her company, Natasha Marshall Fabrics and Wallcoverings, creates bespoke fabrics and wallpapers and her work can be found in hotels such as Malmaison and Hilton with her designs now being distributed worldwide.

Andrew Grant started his career working for a local nightclub operator and is now the managing director of marketing company Nation 1.

He enjoys motivating the teams and building the business, and especially enjoys working for himself.

The Oban Chocolate Company produces handmade chocolates which are sold in its shop and café.

The business was set up in 2003 by Helen and Stewart McKechnie who are both from Oban. They feel the business is an inspiration to young people and hope to open up more shops in the future.

Pauline Clifford is 24 and lives in Glasgow.

Five years ago she started to customise her own trainers with Swarovski® crystals and now runs her own business called StarSparkles, based on this idea.

Her shoes have been worn by Paris Hilton, Justin Timberlake and Pharrell Williams.

Louise Carruthers and Paula Russell are trained guitar repairers who run their own guitar shop in Glasgow called Strung Out Guitars.

Not only do they repair the instruments but they sell guitars, including second-hand and vintage ones. which makes their business unique. Their customers include musicians from Sons and Daughters and Idlewild.

SuperJam is a range of jams made entirely from fruit and fruit juice.

The company was started by Fraser Doherty when he was just 14 years old. He started out making it in his kitchen and selling it to his friends and neighbours at church fairs and farmers' markets.

Products from SuperJam are now being sold in some of the biggest supermarkets in the country.

Stuart Ebdy saw his opportunity for his own business after working for a print company in Aberdeen.

He founded White Spark Promotions in 2004 selling print services online. He has also set up other businesses that sell promotional items, personalised beer and wine and has his own web development company.