THE search for Scotland’s leading entrepreneurs will reach a conclusion on November 22 when the names of the latest winners in Entrepreneurial Scotland’s prestigious national awards programme are announced.

The Summit Entrepreneurship Awards will be presented at a dinner at SW3 in Glasgow.

Entrepreneurial Scotland chief executive Sandy Kennedy noted the awards programme has been developed to showcase and celebrate entrepreneurial leaders from all backgrounds across the public, private and social sectors and at every stage of growth.

“By increasing awareness of Scotland’s entrepreneurs, and highlighting their contribution to the economy and society we aim to inspire others to take the next step to start or scale up their own successful enterprises,” he said.

The awards are supported by professional services firm Deloitte and Barclays bank and The Herald is media partner.

Mr Kennedy said Entrepreneurial Scotland had enjoyed a phenomenal response to its call for nominations with more than 250 people entering the judging process.

With 20 finalists in the running for the seven awards, he said the entrepreneurial talent in each category was “truly impressive”.

Our preview of short-listed candidates ends with the three finalists in the Entrepreneur of the Year award, which is presented in association with Deloitte.

Gareth Williams won the Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2017 in recognition of the part he has played in developing the Edinburgh-based Skyscanner flight search business into a global success story.

Simon Hannah, chief executive of JW Filshill International Ltd

A 20-year veteran of the distribution business, Simon Hannah has led the J W Filshill wholesale operation founded by a member of his family in the Victorian era through challenging times.

The Glasgow-based firm supplies products to 1400 different businesses and operates the 185-strong convenience symbol group (KeyStore) in Scotland.

It has had to grapple with big changes in the independent grocery trade with retail giants such as Tesco putting pressure on smaller fish and targeting the wholesale business and regulatory developments in areas such as tobacco sales causing complications.

Mr Hannah noted last year the UK market was likely to continue evolving with convenience operators focusing more heavily on growth areas such as local sourcing, food to go, and fresh and chilled foods.

Part of the response has involved him leading the development of the group’s international division which operates the Craft Beer Clan of Scotland drinks exporting business.

This helped JW Filshill grow sales to £145 million in the latest financial year, from £142m and profits to £896,000 from £888,000.

Derek Pierce, managing director of J&D Pierce

After starting work with his blacksmith father as a school leaver in 1982, Derek Pierce spent 12 years working on the tools before moving in to a management role at what was then a 10-employee business.

He has gone on to grow J&D Pierce (Contracts) into one of the largest structural steelwork contractors in the UK with a huge plant in Ayrshire and 350 employees.

The company is proud to be self-sufficient with in-house design, fabrication and paint services and its own fleet of articulated lorries and mobile cranes and invests heavily in research and development.

It has been involved in a wide range of prestige projects including the transformation of the Olympic Stadium in London into a home for West Ham United football club and the new Aberdeen Exhibition Centre .

Chris Stewart, chief executive Chris Stewart Group

Chris Stewart became a property developer after realising he had a passion for architecture while studying applied maths at St Andrews university.

He started his first firm in 1996 at the age of 22, with backing from business angels, and grew it into a multi-million operation in the space of a few years by renovating derelict listed buildings.

The Edinburgh-based group built up a track record of executing complex transformational city-centre redevelopment projects, including its award-winning Advocate’s Close development off the city’s Royal Mile.

It has been involved with a wide range of projects in sectors ranging from residential to leisure.

The group won recognition from international financiers in 2014 when the Proprium private equity firm made a significant investment in the firm.

Richard Slater, partner and head of entrepreneurial business for Deloitte in Scotland, said all the finalists were extremely worthy contenders.

“They are clearly passionate about their respective businesses and demonstrate exceptional leadership skill,” he noted.

The awards are staged by Entrepreneurial Scotland and STV.

The finalists in the other six categories are:

Scale-Up Entrepreneur of the Year - Mike Wilson, Ecosse Subsea; Neil Logan, Incremental Group; Steven Gray, ROVOP.

Social Entrepreneur of the Year - Josh Littlejohn, Social Bite; Celia Hodson, Hey Girls; Alan Mahon, Brewgooder.

Intrapreneur of the Year- Hugh Edmiston, The University of Edinburgh; Mark Hunter, Sainsbury’s Bank; Robin Watson, Wood plc.

Academic to the Entrepreneur- Caroline Barelle, Elasmogen; Cait Murray-Green, CuanTec; Monika Tomecka, uFraction8.

Rising Star of the Year - Michael Corrigan, Trtl; Kristian Tapaninaho, Ooni.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year - Erin McGinley, E-mogis; Isla Leslie, Estrele; Lucy Sinclair, iBaller.