THE man behind a business created after a record-breaking row has scooped a second national award.

Jamie Douglas-Hamilton founded Actiph Water after rowing across the Indian Ocean.

The alkaline ionised bottled water, which is already being sold throughout the UK and the Europe, helped Jamie scoop the Food and Drink Entrepreneur of the Year for Scotland and Northern Ireland at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

It’s the second Great British Entrepreneur of the Year award that Jamie, of North Berwick, has won, having been named Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year for Scotland and Northern Ireland in 2018.

The 39-year-old said: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to win such a high-profile award as the Great British Food & Drink Entrepreneur of the Year, as it has been a monumental effort from our team to get here.

“In the beginning, everyone told us we were crazy to create a new beverage concept within such a competitive category, and two-and-a-half years later we are now in 6,000 retailers and exporting to 15 countries and are aiming to more than double that over the next nine months.”

Jamie – son of Lord Selkirk of Douglas, former Minister of State for Scotland James Douglas-Hamilton – founded the business after discovering the power of optimum hydration on performance.

After realising that fresh water mixed with salt water was more hydrating than fresh water alone – instantly increasing power, energy levels and reducing hallucinations – Jamie, who attended Belhaven Hill School in Dunbar, started a quest to produce the healthiest and most effective water possible.

The award win comes after a hugely successful year for Actiph Water, which very recently secured £1.2 million in crowdfunding and has seen sales surge during the coronavirus pandemic.

Actiph now plans to continue leading the growth of alkaline waters across Europe and the Middle East, helped by its strong foundations built in the UK.

Now in its eighth year, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, in partnership with Starling Bank, celebrate the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs in the UK.

With Covid-19 restrictions preventing the regional finals taking place at a live event, Jamie won the award during a virtual award ceremony, joined by finalists across every region.

Francesca James, founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, said: “I’m delighted to see Jamie continue on the story and success that saw him win the Start-Up category in 2018 and congratulate him on a second win.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what the next few years bring for him.”

The winners of each category will now go to the national final of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, with a date to be announced due to restrictions on large events.