Entrepreneur’s gets £110k business boost
Turtle Pack award
A We s t Lothian entrepreneur has been awarded £ 110,000 to develop his business which aims to build a new swimming aid for children.
Michael Harkins ( 24) from Livingston, was awarded the funding for his Turtle Pack design at the Scottish Edge awards ceremony. He 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 the IP and grow the brand. Michael said: “I am truly thrilled to win this money which will help me develop my product and my business - Turtle Pack - 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 started his business whilst studying an undergraduate Masters in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Heriot Wat t 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 where he won one of their first awards of cash and space in their incubator unit The Sport Hive and free business mentoring from their team.
Dr John Rogers, chair of the University of Stirling Innovation Park and director of Research and Innovation Ser vices said: “Michael is quite rightly recognised as one of Scotland’s top young entrepreneurs. His business journey began when he took part in the Sports Innovation Challenge, and I’m certain he’ll be an inspiration to other aspiring student entrepreneurs across Scotland.”