Little but large: The investments aiding creation in Scotland

'I'M NOT going to use that BBC programme's name because I don't like it," laughs David Smith, the programme manager with Starter For 6. "But, yes, they do make their pitch in front of a panel." So, in order to secure a cash grant the successful applicants from Scotland's creative community must first enter the Dragons' Den. Or perhaps that should be the kittens' lounge – Smith says: "We like to think we are more nurturing."

Later this week Fiona Hyslop, Holyrood's culture secretary, will reveal who has emerged victorious as the successful candidates for the 2011 investment awards are announced. So what exactly is Starter For 6 and who has it helped?

In 2007, a pilot project was set up with the goal to "unearth creative talent in Scotland and help individuals make it productive". The idea was that creative people were often not best able to master the hard-nosed business side, while hard-nosed business people didn't quite understand the unique circumstances faced by the creative industries.

So, it was decided to set up a programme where those from advertising, architecture, art and antiques, crafts, design, fashion, film, interactive leisure software, music, performing arts, software and computer services, as well as TV and radio could receive assistance in developing their own business.

Since the Cultural Enterprise Office took over the running of Starter for 6, a total of 371 businesses have applied with 112 being accepted, 53 in 2010 and 59 this year. The main programme runs over five months in four areas (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dumfries and Forres) and teaches marketing, finance and presentational skills.

Smith says: "The people who attend develop a business plan, we offer peer mentoring and one-to-one advice sessions and they can pitch for as much as 10,000 in investment."

Starter for 6 is not just determined to increase the number of creative companies in Scotland but is also keen to support individuals who may not go on to employ others.

Yesterday Hyslop said: "Scotland's creative industries make a valuable contribution to our economy, supporting more than 60,000 jobs and generating 5.2 billion turnover each year.

"We are working closely with the sector as well as relevant public sector agencies, such as the Cultural Enterprise Office, to ensure our creative industries have the support they need to realise their full economic potential and reinforce Scotland's reputation as a place of innovation and creativity.

"By providing access to business skills training and investment, the Starter for 6 programme nurtures talent, creates new entrepreneurs and helps our creative industries to flourish.

"The commercial success and critical acclaim achieved by so many Starter for 6 start-ups is testament to the wealth of talent and entrepreneurship in Scotland."

For more information on the programme, visit: www.culturalenterpriseoffice.co.uk/starterfor6

'My career has gone from strength to strength'

EACH time Pea Cooper climbed the stairs in the Scottish Youth Theatre, in Glasgow's Merchant City, where the Starter For 6 programme was held, she did so enthusiastically. The Paisley milliner, 37, says: "It was a room full of entrepreneurs and everyone was so enthusiastic. If you had a problem, the chances are someone had a solution."

Cooper's goal is simple – "world hat domination" – though the execution may prove more difficult. But she is determined to become a household name so that in the future, whenever anyone reaches for a hat, it will be one of hers.

"I try and use as much vintage and recycled materials as I can – the top hat I made from an old car seat is spectacular!"

While a student at Kensington & Chelsea College in London, she studied under the finest milliners in the world, and as a result is fluent in all aspects of the hat-making process from fashion to theatrical, block-making to illustration.

After graduating, she moved to Australia and worked with milliner Richard Nylon, producing hats for Melbourne Fashion Week and racing events such as the Gold Cup.

"My career has gone from strength to strength since Starter for 6 finished. In September 2010, Textiles Scotland named me as one of the top 40 designers/manufacturers in Scotland alongside Harris Tweed and Mackintosh and to celebrate this they organised an exhibition of our work at the ICA London. This year my work has been exhibited in the Collins Gallery, Glasgow and appeared in British Vogue. Turkish Vogue have also used my hats for photo shoots and Russian Vogue have so far used my work in three editions.

"I also design for an Ecuadorian company who make Panama hats and I have been asked by Harris Tweed to design for their centenary exhibition next year. I am hoping to collaborate more with Harris Tweed as I am a great fan of their work.

"I am working on my next collection while exploring various options to help my business grow. I'd like to branch out into men's and children's wear, and I'd really like to design a set of hat blocks. My hats are my life and as long as I am doing something hat-related I'm happy!" www.peacoopermillinery.com'You are expected to be ambitious and you are given the tools to go out and build a business'

"A LOT of work gets done on the train," laughs Peter Gerard, one of the two founding partners in Distrify, a new online video player. For while this son of Missouri now lives in Edinburgh, his business partner, Andy Green, is based in Glasgow. Like a productive loom, they are forever shuttling back and forth stitching together a new and exciting business venture.

The beneficiaries of Starter For 6's fast-track programme, they were awarded 6,000 which they ploughed into developing the software for their system.

Peter says: "Distrify is an online video player, like iPlayer or YouTube, with some key innovations. Uniquely we have put a 'point of sale' within the player allowing audiences to purchase a film when they find and watch a movie trailer.

"Distrify is encouraging a revolutionary shift in online film marketing, aiming to turn the familiar film trailer into the place where audiences find out when and where the film is screening near them, or immediately rent the film for streaming to their computer, or purchase a digital download or order a DVD."

As an award-winning film producer, who made his first documentary while still a teenager, Peter moved to Edinburgh in 2000, and is aware of the previous difficulties of achieving broad distribution for film and the opportunities now offered by the web. "Distrify enables all of these services for any film producer, distributor, studio in the world to begin selling direct to their audiences anywhere in the world."

While he admits that the hardest part of setting up any new company is the months of forgoing a wage in order to reinvest in the company, he is delighted by the assistance he received.

"We wouldn't be here without Starter for 6. There are many benefits but the most important for Distrify is the overall philosophy: it makes things happen in a competitive environment and it's a meritocratic process that rewards talent. You are expected to be ambitious and you are given the tools to get out there, compete and build a sustainable business." http://distrify.com/

'I've got the financial security and confidence to develop'

THE workshop of John Galvin, which sits beside Area 51 Motorcycles in Clydebank, has been quietly thrumming with success – the designer and manufacturer of bespoke furniture has recently exhibited his work at the handmade exhibition in Milan, beside his heroes, Tom Dixon and John Pawson.

A native of Cork, Ireland, Galvin came to Glasgow to study at the College of Building and Printing, which he favoured over the Art School as it taught both design and manufacture. After working for a few years with a cabinet maker, he decided to start his own business specialising in high-end bespoke furniture.

John Galvin Design was set up in 2008 and benefited from a 2,400 award from Starter For 6, which he spent on the development and design of a new company website.

Among his designs are the Manolo Lounger, which is modelled on the heels of the shoe designer, and the Soldier Table which has toy soldiers built into it and was recently commissioned and exhibited at Los Angeles Design Week.

"It's tough work," said John, who now employs three full-time staff. "The difficult part is juggling the finances, and making the calculation to create a new design, to spend the money developing it, with no guarantee that it will be a success. But I love it."

Arguably the company's biggest success to date has been a high-profile contract with Highland Park to make display cases for the Highland Park 50-year-old single malt whisky – which was launched exclusively at Harrods in London.

"275 bottles have now been sold in exclusive destinations across the world in London, New York, Paris, Moscow, in Asia and Australasia. The added value to my business is that each box contains a booklet on all facets of the product, including the manufacture of the box.

"This contract has provided me the financial security and confidence to develop and grow the business, take on staff and focus my attention on getting a foothold in the high-end niche market of cabinet furniture making." www.johngalvindesign.co.ukFunding fabulous fairtrade fashions

Kirsteen Stewart designs a range of contemporary clothing and accessories, mixing the traditional skills of hand embroidery, block printing, embossing and most recently knitting with modern techniques including digital printing.

As a designer she aims to create bold graphic surface designs which are translated into wearable pieces for women who love clothes and fashion but are looking for something unique.

She also aims to work in an ethical way, collaborating with under-privileged women in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as well as supporting traditional skills and craftsmanship in Britain.

Based from her studio and shop premises in Kirkwall, Orkney, Kirsteen works with women at home and abroad to produce a collection of clothing, bags and accessories. The items are produced in collaboration with fairtrade workshops in Bangladesh, with ethical printmakers in England and with a small but highly skilled team of outworkers in Scotland.

She took part in Starter for 6 in 2010, and with the award she was able to attend the Margin trade show in London which led to an exchange to attend the IFF fashion fair in Japan. She is now working with a Japanese agent to expand the brand into further outlets in Japan. www.kirsteenstewart.co.uk