Eilidh Gibson, a Glasgow School of Art graduate, aimed to revolutionise the fashion industry with her brand, Party Pants. Frustrated by the lack of trousers that fit well and reflected her style, she took matters into her own hands. With her design flair and self-taught sewing skills, she began creating trousers adorned with quirky trims like frills and tassels. The positive reception to her creations led to the birth of Party Pants.

Planet G (PG) is a mobile catering venture co-founded by Gemma Costa and her partner, Marta Negro Puig. PG is committed to offering unconventional handmade vegetarian breakfast options with a focus on sustainability. The business operates from a mobile food truck, catering primarily to events and public spaces. Its mission is not only to provide delicious meals but also to contribute to reducing carbon footprints associated with traditional breakfast options.

In a landscape where traditional funding from mainstream banks often isn’t enough, DSL provides business loans in Scotland, backing entrepreneurs like Emma Loen. Emma now runs two thriving salons with the help of DSL’s financial support.

Mollie Powney, a qualified personal trainer, identified a crucial gap in health and wellbeing services for individuals suffering from long-term neurological or chronic conditions in Elgin and surrounding areas. Project Neuro was born out of Mollie’s passion to provide a private facility catering specifically to this group. Despite little advertising, the business quickly gained popularity, highlighting the pressing need for such services in the community.

Glenn and Jen, are a board game-loving couple from Aberdeen who transformed their passion into a thriving business known as “Rent, Shuffle & Roll Ltd.” Faced with the common challenges of limited space and underused games in their growing collection, they conceived a creative solution.

Paul Cannavan, a former criminal defence lawyer based in Edinburgh, embarked on a remarkable journey that took him far from the courtroom to the serene woodlands of Speyside, Scotland. Recognising an untapped market for high-end cabin accommodation, he transformed an abandoned clay pigeon shooting site near the Glenlivet Distillery into a welcoming haven for tourists and holidaymakers. To bring this vision to life, he approached DSL Business Finance for a loan to as part of his comprehensive funding plan.