New Start Business of the Year Award!

The Big Cheese Making Kit was named New Start Business of the Year at the fifth annual WeDo Scotland awards at the Sheraton Hotel in Edinburgh on Friday (22^nd November 2013). The award recognises the achievements of company founder and entrepreneur Ailsa Proverbs in successfully developing and marketing a range of cheese making products aimed at the burgeoning gastro gift market.

The Big Cheese Making Kit was launched in Edinburgh in 2012 to sell kits containing everything needed to make delicious cheese at home in around an hour. Sales took off immediately thanks to a social media frenzy and the products quickly caught the attention of major retailers including Harrods and Selfridge’s.  The company, also winner of ’Best New Idea 2013’ at the Farm Shop & Deli Show, has continually smashed through its sales targets during its first 12 months of trading and now sells throughout Europe.

Commenting on the award Ailsa said, “I am delighted to have won this accolade and recognition from fellow entrepreneurs at the WeDo Scotland awards. The business is going from strength to strength and I have had a lot of support from Business Gateway, Scottish Enterprise and Scotland Food & Drink. I have significant business growth in my sights and am very excited about the export potential of the product range.”

WeDO Scotland is a networking group for entrepreneurs in Scotland. With around 150 members, the exclusive group is by invitation only and works with small, young start-ups through to larger and more established businesses.

The judging panel for the awards included Graham Langley, founder of GL Capital, Russell Dalgleish, Founder of Exolta Capital Partners in London and Jack Ogston, Non-Executive Director of Davidson Chalmers LLP and the Scottish Building Society