The awards will take place on November 13 at the Crowne Plaza, Glasgow.

Roy Gardner, vice principal of corporate development and innovation at City of Glasgow College, which is sponsoring the SME Innovation category, said: “As Scotland’s flagship college, City of Glasgow College is delighted to support SME Innovation. This award celebrates businesses which offer products and services tackling the impact of sustainability and I would encourage all those innovative companies to submit their nominations.”

Innovation in STEM is being sponsored by CGI. Steve Smart, Senior Vice President, CGI, Scotland, said: “CGI is proud to present the award for Innovation in STEM at the first ever Herald Pioneer Awards. CGI recognises the importance of encouraging young people into STEM subjects in order to support the growing need for expertise across these areas and our members run a number of initiatives to help achieve this.

“Congratulations to all Innovation in STEM award finalists and thank you to The Herald for recognising pioneers in this way.”

Newton Property Management are sponsoring the Young Pioneers Award. Derek MacDonald, Joint Managing Director, Newton Property Management, said: “Harnessing an idea from a core belief and a steadfast conviction is exactly how Newton started. We identified weaknesses in the way things were being done by others and resolved to do it better. This entrepreneurial spirit lurks beneath the surface in most of us. It just has to be set free. We want to see as many young people as possible realise their potential. Being part of the Herald Pioneer Awards and making an application is a tremendous thing for any young person or group of youngsters to do and will really set them apart from their peers. So, if you are thinking about applying, but aren’t quite sure, we say ‘go for it’, because you never know what could happen!”

Entries are encouraged from both businesses and individuals across a range of categories that recognise innovation, entrepreneurship, cultural change and sustainability.

The inaugural awards are quick, easy and free to enter. Once you have decided on a category or categories that you would like to enter, all you need to do is fill in our entry form.

Visit our website to submit your nomination at www.newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/pioneer/ by 3pm on Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

For more information, please call Holly Rutherford, Events Executive, on 0141 302 6019 or email Holly.Rutherford@newsquest.co.uk.