Tag: Virgin StartUp

Celebrating Edinburgh’s Dyslexic Thinking in entrepreneurship

Powerful billboard at multiple locations aims to inspire the next generation of Edinburgh’s dyslexic entrepreneurs

  • A powerful new billboard at multiple locations including The Edinburgh Arch and The Edinburgh Towers in Edinburgh aims to inspire the next generation of Edinburgh’s entrepreneurs 
  • The billboard is part of a nationwide campaign from Virgin StartUp, Made By Dyslexia and Virgin Unite to celebrate the power of Dyslexic Thinking in entrepreneurship  
  • New analysis reveals that dyslexic entrepreneurs contribute at least £4.6bn to UK GDP each year*, supporting more than 60,000 jobs 
  • At least one in three entrepreneurs are dyslexic and Dyslexic Thinking powers some of the world’s most iconic brands  
  • Virgin StartUp has launched a first-of-its-kind business accelerator programme, Momentum, to support dyslexic entrepreneurs in scaling their business

Striking new billboards have appeared in Edinburgh this week, celebrating the power of Dyslexic Thinking and inspiring the next generation of dyslexic entrepreneurs in the city.  

The prominent billboard, placed at multiple locations including The Edinburgh Arch and The Edinburgh Towers in Edinburgh, is part of a nationwide campaign from Made By Dyslexia, Virgin StartUp and Virgin Unite, spotlighting the unique strengths of dyslexic entrepreneurs.

Designed to spark conversation and pride in the city’s dyslexic community, the billboard reminds passers-by that Dyslexic Thinking has powered world-changing inventions like the car, the lightbulb and the smartphone.

Dyslexic Thinking is also famously the driving force behind many of the world’s most successful brands including Apple, Ikea, Virgin and Jo Malone. 

New analysis from the global charity, Made By Dyslexia, shows that dyslexic entrepreneurs contribute a staggering £4.6 billion or more to UK GDP every year whilst supporting more than 60,000 jobs.  

At least one in three business founders are dyslexic, suggesting that Dyslexic Thinking skills (skills that dyslexics typically over-index in), such as problem-solving, creativity, visualisation, communication and big-picture thinking, are an excellent match for a career as an entrepreneur. 

Edinburgh has been selected as one of 46 locations across the UK where the billboards will appear until 7 September.  

To support those who are already carving out a career as a dyslexic business founder, Virgin StartUp – Virgin’s home of entrepreneurship in the UK – is launching a first-of-its-kind, free business programme called “Momentum”, to help dyslexic entrepreneurs scale their businesses, using their unique Dyslexic Thinking skills. 

 Sir Richard Branson has famously spoken about how his dyslexia has helped him build one of the world’s most recognisable brands; Virgin, which started in 1970 as a mail order business and now has nearly 50 businesses across 34 countries and six different sectors. 

Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group, said: “Much of my success as an entrepreneur comes from my Dyslexic Thinking. It’s my superpower.

“Dyslexic Thinking has enabled me to see the world differently and find new solutions to old problems that businesses were struggling to address.

“The world needs dyslexic entrepreneurs more than ever, so I’m delighted to support this campaign and I am looking forward to hearing the stories behind the dyslexic founders who join the Virgin StartUp programme.”  

Kate Griggs, dyslexic social entrepreneur and Founder of global charity Made By Dyslexia added: “Entrepreneurs are the engine of the British economy – and research shows Dyslexic Thinking fuels at least one in three of them.

“To boost growth, create jobs, and move the nation forward, the UK has never needed Dyslexic Thinking more.

“We hope that this campaign will inspire and encourage Dyslexic Thinkers in Edinburgh to consider how they could use their unique skills to build the innovative businesses of tomorrow.”  

For more information about Dyslexic Entrepreneurship or Virgin StartUp’s Momentum Programme visit www.virginstartup.org/1in3founders    

The Curiosity Shop: Scottish start-ups showcased at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh

Welcome to The Curiosity Shop – Virgin Hotels’ first curation of Virgin StartUp products

·        Virgin Hotels has teamed up with Virgin StartUp to launch The Curiosity Shop at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh. 

·        The six businesses are all sustainably focussed offering guests products to make their stay even more luxurious with an offering spanning skincare, apparel, gin and even silk pillowcases. 

·        The Curiosity Shop features six Scottish start-up businesses whose founders have all received funding and mentoring support from Virgin StartUp. 

·        The area is exclusive to Hotel guests who can explore and purchase products from the businesses. 

·        All the brands featured are purpose-driven with a focus on sustainability. 

Six Scottish start-up businesses have secured a place in The Curiosity Shop, a new space at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, dedicated to showcasing sustainable Scottish businesses. 

Created in partnership with Virgin StartUp, Virgin’s not-for-profit incubator for entrepreneurs, The Curiosity Shop features a wide range of beautifully crafted Scottish products, all from businesses whose founders have been supported by Virgin StartUp to start-up and thrive.  

The Curiosity Shop is exclusively available to Virgin Hotels’ guests and offers them the opportunity to discover and support new Scottish brands. All the companies featured in The Curiosity Shop have considered sustainability throughout their manufacturing and packaging processes.

From wild-harvested Hebridean seaweed to Scottish spun yarns and hand-crafted gin; The Curiosity Shop is full of Scottish treasures ready to explore. 

Andy Fishburn, Managing Director of Virgin StartUp, explains: “Virgin has always been entrepreneurial at its heart, so it’s great to see Virgin Hotels providing this space to showcase Virgin StartUp companies, particularly those that are making sustainably-driven products right on the doorstep here in Scotland.” 

Scott McArdle, General Manager at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh, comments: “We are proud to have a space of the hotel dedicated to championing small Scottish businesses and we have already received great feedback from hotel guests who are enjoying exploring the shop and discovering new sustainable Scottish products.

“All Virgin Hotels are unique and draw inspiration from their location, so the Curiosity Shop is one of many things we are doing at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh to tell the story of this spectacular country.” 

Rutland Square Gin is one of the six businesses featured in the Curiosity Shop. Nishant Sharma, the Founder, says: “We launched Rutland Square Gin last year in November with a vision to make small batch artisan gin that has Scottish spirit with an Indian soul.

“Each batch is distilled in the heart of Edinburgh, with inspiration from the far east.

“The support we have received from Virgin StartUp has been brilliant from the beginning and now, to get this opportunity to share our products with international visitors at a landmark new hotel in the city is incredible.

“We are really excited to see what interest it generates in our products.” 

The Curiosity Shop Businesses 

1.      Doctor Seaweed’s Weed & Wonderful – Founded by a Scottish marine biologist, a wide range of seaweed supplements made using organic Hebridean seaweed that is sustainably wild-harvested from pristine Scottish waters. 

2.      Genevieve Sweeney – Timeless knitwear, made in Scotland with both traditional artisan and innovative knitting techniques that showcase the natural beauty of Scottish spun yarns. 

3.      Meander Apparel – Edinburgh-based outdoor clothing brand. Around 90% of the collection is made using natural or recycled, low-impact materials. 

4.      Rutland Square Gin – Small batch craft gin, handcrafted by most talented and experienced master blender in the heart of Edinburgh. Rutland Square Gin makes the world’s first oolong white tea infused Chai Spiced Scottish Gin made using sustainably sourced oolong white tea from Assam, India. 

5.      Seilich – A small, family-run company based in the Lothians and created by botanist, Dr Sally Gouldstone. Inspired by a passion for Scottish wildlife, the family sell an award-winning range of natural skincare products, made using ingredients grown in their wildflower meadow.  

6.      Sensi – launched in 2022 by 25-year-old Jennifer Norrie. Jennifer discovered a love of silk when she tried sleeping on silk pillowslips for the first time and found that her skin was glowier and her hair less frizzy.