£110k for Turtle Pack shelled out
An entrepreneur has been awarded £110,000 to develop his business which aims to build a new swimming aid for children.
Michael Harkins, 24, was granted the funding for his Turtle Pack design by at the Scottish Edge awards ceremony.
Michael – who is based at the Stirling Innovation Park – received the second highest cash prize at the ceremony as he won £100,000 in the Scottish Edge and £10,000 in the Wildcard Edge.
The funding will be used to build the Turtle Pack team, manufacture the product, expand his internet presence and grow the brand.
He said:“I am truly thrilled to win this money which will help me develop my product and my business an award winning swimming aid for children which aims to remove anxiety, build confidence and develop life skills.
“My passion is teaching children how to swim and I have had the great pleasure of doing this since I was only 15 years old.”
Michael, who is originally from Livingston, started his business whilst studying an undergraduate masters in pharmaceutical chemistry at Heriot Watt University in 2015.
He then took part in the Sports Innovation Challenge programme run by The University of Stirling Innovation Park’s Sporting Chance Initiative and won cash and space in their incubator unit and free business mentoring.
Dr John Rogers, chair of the University of Stirling Innovation Park, said: “Michael is quite rightly recognised as one of Scotland’s top young entrepreneurs and I’m certain he will be an inspiration to other aspiring student entrepreneurs across Scotland.”