Entrepreneurs and businesses in Glasgow Constituency are being urged to enter the search for Scotland’s startup Business of the Year.

Virgin Startup10: Scotland is open to startup businesses and entrepreneurs, the competition will offer ‘startup can’t buy prizes’ including mentoring and support from a leading Scottish law firm.

The top ten finalists will be shortlisted in February and recognised as Virgin StartUp’s 10 Scottish ambassadors. The overall winner will be revealed at an awards ceremony in March and will receive a mentoring session from an all-star judging panel of leading Scottish entrepreneurs.

John said: “Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the Scottish economy and I want to see a finalist from Glasgow Shettleston showcase the talent that we have here. I encourage local entrepreneurs to take the challenge and download the entry pack as soon as they can, and I wish them the very best of luck.”

Judging the process is four of Scotland’s most renowned entrepreneurs, who will also mentor the overall winner as part of the ‘money can’t buy’ prizes on offer to all ten finalists. They are:

• Jackie Waring – the founder & CEO of Investing Women and leader of Scotland’s only all-female business angel group
• Leah Hutcheon – the founder and CEO of Appointedd, an Edinburgh-based tech company revolutionising the way bookings are made online
• Bob Kieller CBE – Chairman of Scottish Enterprise
• Cally Russell, Founder and CEO of Mallzee, the UK’s leading multi-retailer shopping app

To find out more and submit an entry, visit www.virginstartup.org/10-scotland . The closing date for entries is 8^th January 2018.

That the Parliament notes the celebration of the first birthday of the premature twins, Tillie and Lottie Fowler, who were born on 11 August 2016 at only 23 weeks and three days, weighing 1lb 6oz and 1lb 9oz respectively; congratulates their parents, Jenna and Stuart, as well as the staff of the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital in Glasgow and health colleagues elsewhere; notes that these are Scotland’s youngest surviving premature twins, and hopes that many more babies born before 24 weeks will survive and thrive as Tillie and Lottie have been doing.

That the Parliament welcomes the celebration of Scottish Interfaith Week 2017, which was officially launched on 13 November; notes that the week aims to provide an opportunity for people from all backgrounds to celebrate Scotland’s religious heritage and diversity; understands that Scottish Interfaith Week has been celebrated since its inauguration in 2004; further understands that the theme for this year’s week is “creativity and the arts”, which aims to highlight the positive impact that the arts can have in breaking down barriers between people; wishes the event every success, and hopes that it will achieve its goal of helping foster a more tolerant and connected society.

That the Parliament notes the news that West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA) has officially ended its partnership with the Gentoo Group; understands that this came after a lengthy demerger process involving approval from the Scottish Housing Regulator and a vote of more than 3,500 WSHA members; believes that this represents a positive move for WSHA, which will allow it to focus more on the unique needs of the communities that it serves; considers that a move away from large housing groups to more smaller community associations would be a positive development for tenants across Scotland, and hopes that the experience of WSHA can be used by other associations that are also looking to move towards a more accountable model of social housing.