This month marks the completion of the first year of the Scotland CAN DO Unlocking Ambition Challenge so we thought it would be interesting to reflect on what’s been achieved during that time. Let’s go back to the start… The Unlocking Ambition Challenge was announced in November 2017 by the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and was launched in June 2018. The main aim of the scheme (which was backed by a £4m investment) was to bring together 20 like-minded and entrepreneurial Scottish companies (one of which was LINIAN), to benefit from a plethora of advice, expertise and support across all areas of their business. LINIAN’s Managing Director, Ian Arbuckle, was selected to be one of 20 ‘Business Stars’ and during the last 12 months has benefitted from a wealth of masterclasses and networking opportunities (both within the UK and internationally) as well as support from Scottish Enterprise, a mentoring programme from Entrepreneurial Scotland, access to the GlobalScot network and help from the Scottish Investment Bank. Ian explained: ‘It’s hard to believe I started this process over a year ago - it’s been a very fast but exceptionally productive first year with Unlocking Ambition. The support, both advisory and financial, has been incredible. We’ve been able to substantially drive sales of our range of 18^th Edition compliant products – seeing sales increase fourfold which has been absolutely fantastic for our business. It’s been a pleasure to be part of the Unlocking Ambition Cohort. Although every company is at a different stage of growth, we all have the same ‘can do’ attitude and approach to business – the desire to ‘do good’. That’s ‘doing good’ for ourselves on a personal level, our businesses, our staff, our customers and everyone we work with and connect with along the journey. The icing on the cake was earlier this week when I was invited to Bute House (the First Minister’s official residence) where I got to meet Nicola Sturgeon and graduate with other members of the cohort. During the first 12 months, each member of the cohort also received:

• free Membership of Entrepreneurial Scotland
• free Membership of Scotland House in London
• exclusive access to high profile entrepreneur exemplars at Round Table meetings
• access to a series of 4 world-class Purpose-Driven Enterprise masterclasses

More about Unlocking Ambition Unlocking Ambition is the Scotland CAN DO partnership at its best, working together to bring intensive wrap-around support with a celebration of the most promising entrepreneurs. The programme amplifies the success of entrepreneurs who can demonstrate their ideas can be successful, inclusive, create jobs and benefit society. About LINIAN – leading the way in innovation LINIAN is a proud family business established in 2006, based in Scotland – a country renowned for its extraordinary heritage in innovation and invention the world over. Innovation resonates within the core of everything we do and Team LINIAN is committed to creating the highest quality 18^th Edition compliant products, suitable for a variety of cables for installation into ALL substrates.