A SEARCH to find Scotland’s start-up business of the year was launched today.

Virgin StartUp opened its inaugural competition to start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, with one of the prizes being support from a leading Scottish law firm.

The top ten finalists will be shortlisted in February, with the winner revealed in March.

Judging the process are four of Scotland’s most renowned entrepreneurs – Jackie Waring, Leah Hutcheon, Bob Kieller and Cally Russell – who will also mentor the overall winner as part of the “money can’t buy” prizes on offer to all ten finalists.

Scotland’s Business Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “Scotland has a proud tradition of entrepreneurship, and today we have the highest number of registered businesses recorded in Scotland since records began.

“This is a trend that we would like to see continue and I am delighted that Virgin StartUp continue to contribute so positively to entrepreneurship in Scotland.”