AN ENTREPRENEUR is hoping to enjoy the sweet taste of success at a prestigious national ceremony.

Sheila Hogan, who founded Biscuit Tin, has been recognised as one of the best in the business after being named as a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

More than 5,000 businesses from across the country have been whittled down and Biscuit Tin has been named one of six in the running for the Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The awards, in partnership with Starling Bank, champion the hard work and uplifting stories of business owners across the UK, with an emphasis on their resilience over financial achievements.

Each region will see 12 awards given out, and Sheila, who lives in Dunbar, was thrilled to be in the running.

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious award, and to be recognised on a UK-wide level is just fantastic.

“This has given the team and me a real boost and we are very much looking forward to the finals in November.”

Digital legacy vault

Biscuit Tin was set up in 2020 following Sheila’s own experiences of closing down the lives of her parents.

It is the UK’s first digital legacy ‘vault’, securely holding valuable information such as account details, post-life wishes and memories all in one place.

These are then released to nominated family members in the event of death.

Biscuit Tin aims to help people prepare for their deaths, giving family members left behind peace of mind and minimal stress after bereavement.

The entrepreneur award winners will be announced at a grand final at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on November 21.

This year is the 10th anniversary of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

To mark this milestone year, entrants will have the chance to win over £30,000 worth of marketing support, and a tree will be planted for every application submitted with the support of Ecologi.

Francesca James, founder of the awards, said the quality of this year’s entrants exemplified the strength of entrepreneurship across the UK.

She said: “The quality of applications is consistently excellent year on year, but we have been especially blown away by the innovation, drive and determination demonstrated this year.

“Shortlisting from so many inspiring contenders has been more challenging than ever, with many deserving cases put forward and an ever-growing business community thriving.

“From the pandemic to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, business owners haven’t had it easy over the past few years, but it’s a testament to the tenacity and perseverance of these entrepreneurs that they have continued on their path and refused to give in.”