Scotland’s top businessman praises Ken Chitty

SCOTLAND’S leading businessman Sir Tom Hunter praised Ken Chitty, of Douglas Community Bakery, after a mentoring session at his Ayrshire HQ.

Ken is one of seven would-be entrepreneurs who have reached the finals of the Coalfields Community Challenge.

They are undergoing intensive business support and mentoring, including meeting Sir Tom, before pitching against each other for the £25,000 top award.

Sir Tom told them: “You have reached this stage because you have the enthusiasm and get-up-and-go to launch your own social enterprises and bring them to this level.

“Your actions should be an inspiration to others and a reminder that we can no longer wait for local or national governments to do things for us – the money just isn’t there.

“We have to do things for ourselves, ideally with self-sustaining initiatives by the community for the community as you are doing.”