Rutherglen firm shortlisted for prestigious Great British Entrepreneur Awards
A former professional basketball player has been named a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards which recognises the most exciting, innovative and impactful entrepreneurs in the UK.
Adam Pearce, founder and director of Rutherglen-based Minerva Innovation Group, has been shortlisted in the Scale-Up Entrepreneur of the Year category.
The awards, sponsored by Allica Bank, are known as 'The Grammys of Entrepreneurship' and celebrate the most exceptional and inspiring business stories across the UK.
In 2024, the R&D funding and tax specialists firm located at the Red Tree Magenta offices on Glasgow Road, scooped the SME News Business Elite Awards for the second year running. It recently trailblazed the industry by introducing equal parental rights - with all staff, regardless of gender, entitled to one year and five weeks off to be with their newborn babies.
Mr Pearce said: 'It's an incredible honour to be recognised alongside some of the UK's most exciting and ambitious businesses and is testament to the hard work of our team and the high standards we set ourselves to deliver sources of R&D funding, namely tax relief, for our clients.'
Minerva's R&D tax consultants deal predominantly with small and medium-sized businesses. Their diverse clients include veterinary medicine and livestock farming, racehorse breeders, architecture, construction and engineering firms.
And Mr Pearce added: 'Our expertise comes from understanding the finance and the complex processes around research funding regulations. So many different businesses can benefit from R&D grants and tax relief without having to spend all their business hours on R&D.
'Short-term initiatives to improve the delivery of services or the development of goods also qualify under the legislation if there is an 'appreciable' improvement. It doesn't have to be significant and is not limited to laboratories or scientists.
'On average, our clients can generate cash benefits equal to 2.72 per cent of their turnover and 7.30 per cent of their wage bill.'
This year's shortlist includes more than 800 entrepreneurs, all recognised for their innovation, impact and resilience.
Past winners include the founders of BrewDog, Grenade, ClearScore, Zilch and Unbiased, many of whom were recognised early in their entrepreneurial.
The term 'The Grammys of Entrepreneurship' was first coined by serial entrepreneur and Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett to describe the awards event which brings together 1500 entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders from all corners of the UK.
Conrad Ford, chief product and strategy officer at Allica Bank, said: 'We're consistently inspired by the energy and strength of UK SMEs. This year's finalists – from early-stage start-ups to established and family businesses – represent a vital force in the British economy, driving innovation, creating jobs, and making a real difference in their communities.
'We're proud to support the awards, recognising outstanding business leaders who are not only demonstrating resilience in a challenging business environment but are paving the way for future entrepreneurs to follow.'
Frankie James, founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, added: 'This year's shortlist are a remarkable group of founders who are changing lives and transforming industries. The quality of entries gets stronger every year, and it's clear that the entrepreneurial spirit in the UK is more alive than ever.
'Many of our finalists go on to become household names, and we can't wait to watch what this year's cohort achieves next.'
Winners will be announced at a prestigious awards ceremony on Monday, November 17, at London's Grosvenor House.
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