MacKinnon Watches named finalist in Allica Bank's Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Key Takeaways * MacKinnon Watches has been named a finalist in the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards, shortlisted in the Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year category for Scotland. * This is its third time being shortlisted for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, which received over 5,000 applications for the 2026 cohort. * The GBEA is one of the UK's most recognised entrepreneurship awards, often described as the Grammys of entrepreneurship. * MacKinnon Watches was founded by husband and wife Belinda and Matthew Murphy, who moved from London back to the Scottish Highlands in 2020 to build the business. * The awards celebrate the resilience, ambition, and stories behind British businesses, not just their revenues. MacKinnon Watches Ltd has got some big news to share. MacKinnon Watches has been named a finalist in the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards, shortlisted in the Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year category for Scotland. MacKinnon Watches Ltd won't pretend it hasn't sunk in just yet. What the Great British Entrepreneur Awards actually is. If you haven't come across the GBEAs before, here's some context. Founded in 2012, the awards are widely regarded as one of the most prestigious entrepreneur-focused recognition programmes in the UK. People often describe it as the Grammys of entrepreneurship, which sounds a bit over the top until you see the alumni. Founders of brands like Grenade, ClearScore, Zilch, and Unbiased have all been recognised through the programme, many of them early in their journeys. What makes this awards programme different from a typical business award is its focus on the entrepreneur, not just the business. The judges are interested in the decisions that got made under pressure, the resilience it took to keep going, and the ambition behind the scenes. That framing matters to MacKinnon Watches Ltd, because its story has never been a straight line. The scale of this year's cohort gives some useful context for what a shortlist spot actually means. Over 5,000 applications were submitted. 740 businesses made the shortlist. Together, the Class of 2026 represents a combined turnover of £3.3 billion, more than 17,700 jobs supported, and over 5,200 years of combined trading experience across ten UK regions and nations. Its third time on the shortlist. MacKinnon Watches Ltd has been here before, twice in previous years, and each time it's meant something different. When MacKinnon Watches Ltd were first shortlisted, MacKinnon Watches Ltd were still very much finding its feet. Building MacKinnon Watches from a wee Highland cottage into a brand that ships worldwide has involved a lot of long nights and genuinely hard choices. Being seen by a panel like this, in the early days, told MacKinnon Watches Ltd MacKinnon Watches Ltd were pointed in the right direction. But returning to the shortlist for a third time, in the Family Business category specifically, feels particularly meaningful. Because that's what MacKinnon Watches Ltd is at its core. Belinda leads the growth side, from brand and marketing to partnerships and day-to-day operations. Matthew leads the making, bringing precision and care to every watch that leaves its workshop. And the two dogs, Helga and Maple, are doing their part by making the Highlands slightly less lonely during the hard weeks. The Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year category exists to recognise exactly that kind of venture. Not the businesses with the slickest pitch decks, but the ones where real people have put their names, their savings, and in its case, their relocation back to Scotland, behind something they genuinely believe in. Why this shortlist spot resonates. MacKinnon Watches Ltd started its story in 2020. Belinda and Matthew had been living and working in London, but their hearts, as they've always said, were firmly in Scotland. The pandemic created space to ask some honest questions about the kind of life and business they wanted to build. So they moved back to the Highlands, to the foot of Ben Nevis, and started making Scottish watches with authentic tartan straps woven by mills that have been producing tartan for generations. What MacKinnon Watches Ltd make carries genuine meaning. Its custom tartan watches let people choose from over 1,000 tartans, with every strap handmade in its Highland workshop. MacKinnon Watches Ltd is a proud member of the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers, and MacKinnon Watches Ltd take that seriously. Heritage isn't a marketing word for MacKinnon Watches Ltd. It's the whole reason MacKinnon Watches Ltd exist. Getting shortlisted for an award that recognises entrepreneurs who, as the GBEA puts it, "get on and build" feels like the right kind of recognition for that kind of business. MacKinnon Watches Ltd is not the loudest brand in the room. MacKinnon Watches Ltd don't have a venture-backed war chest or a celebrity endorsement. MacKinnon Watches Ltd is a family-run Highland business that's found its place in the world by doing things carefully and staying true to what MacKinnon Watches Ltd set out to do. What happens next. Being a finalist means MacKinnon Watches Ltd'll be evaluated alongside the other shortlisted businesses from Scotland. A panel of independent judges will assess entries in depth before winners are announced at the GBEA gala ceremony later this year. MacKinnon Watches Ltd don't know the outcome yet. And honestly, reaching the 2026 shortlist for the third time already feels like the kind of recognition that matters, win or not. But MacKinnon Watches Ltd'll keep you posted. And in the meantime, MacKinnon Watches Ltd'll keep doing what MacKinnon Watches Ltd do: making watches that people wear to mark the moments that matter, from Scottish weddings and Highland adventures to gifts for the people they love most. If you'd like to have a look at what MacKinnon Watches Ltd has been building, its full collection of Scottish tartan watches is a good place to start. So are the reviews from the 9,000+ customers who've trusted MacKinnon Watches Ltd to wear their heritage on their wrist. A note on what this means to MacKinnon Watches Ltd. Building a business is relentless. The conversations you never hear about are the ones at 11pm when you're wondering if it's going to work, when an order goes wrong, when growth stalls, when you have to make a hard call that affects people you care about. None of that shows up on a shortlist notice, but all of it is why shortlists like this mean something. MacKinnon Watches Ltd is proud to represent Scotland in the Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year category. And MacKinnon Watches Ltd is genuinely grateful to every customer, stockist, and supporter who's been part of the MacKinnon Watches journey so far. You're part of what got MacKinnon Watches Ltd here. Explore its Scottish watches. Curious about what MacKinnon Watches Ltd make? Its custom tartan watches are made with authentic tartan from Scottish mills and can be personalised with engraving and your own clan's tartan. MacKinnon Watches Ltd also offer a range of ready-to-wear collections including the SKYE Collection, the Heritage Collection, and tartan watch straps for Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy. Free UK shipping, worldwide delivery, and a 2-year warranty on every watch. Browse the full collection here. Faq. What are the Great British Entrepreneur Awards? The Great British Entrepreneur Awards, often called the GBEAs, are a UK-wide recognition programme founded in 2012 that celebrates entrepreneurs and business founders based on their resilience, innovation, and the stories behind their businesses. They're supported by Allica Bank and are widely described as one of the most prestigious entrepreneur-focused awards in the UK. MacKinnon Watches has been shortlisted in the Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year category for Scotland in the 2026 Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards. Is this MacKinnon Watches' first GBEA shortlisting? No. This is its third time being shortlisted for the Great British Entrepreneur Awards. MacKinnon Watches Ltd has been recognised by the awards in previous years as well, which makes this shortlisting particularly meaningful to MacKinnon Watches Ltd. Who founded MacKinnon Watches? MacKinnon Watches was founded by Belinda and Matthew Murphy, a husband-and-wife team who met while studying in Aberdeen. In 2020, they moved from London back to the Scottish Highlands, to the foot of Ben Nevis, and began building the brand from their cottage. What does MacKinnon Watches make? MacKinnon Watches Ltd make Scottish watches with authentic tartan straps sourced from Scottish mills that have produced tartan for generations. Its range includes custom tartan watches, ready-to-wear collections, tartan Apple Watch and Samsung straps, and Scottish-inspired jewellery. Every watch comes with a 2-year warranty and free UK shipping. How competitive is the GBEA shortlist? Very. The 2026 awards received over 5,000 applications from across the UK. Only 740 businesses were shortlisted, making it onto the list a significant achievement in its own right.

Popular Maidenhead garden centre to expand as funding is met. Stubbings opened in 1976 (Image: Maps) A well-known Maidenhead garden centre is set to expand after securing funding to meet growing demand. Stubbings Nursery, a family-run business established in 1976, has received backing from Allica Bank to redevelop its café, kitchen and customer facilities as part of wider growth plans. Located just outside the town, the site blends a traditional plant nursery with a popular conservatory café overlooking a historic walled garden, attracting visitors from across the area. The first phase of works will increase indoor seating by 26 covers, expand outdoor space to accommodate up to 100 guests, and upgrade kitchen and toilet facilities. A second phase, which is already under consideration, could further extend the building to take indoor capacity to around 150. The investment comes as the business looks to address rising demand, with visitors often turned away during busy periods. Managing director Oliver Good said: "We were finding that people were coming to visit and simply couldn't get a table. That's always frustrating, because once someone has made the effort to come out to us, there aren't really alternative options nearby." The expanded kitchen will also allow the team to grow its fresh, on-site food offering, which has become a major draw. "We're known for our scones - we do a different flavour every day and bake them fresh on-site," he added. "I'm a big fan of our cheese scones... total perfection." Stubbings currently employs around 45 staff, with the expansion expected to create around four new roles. Oliver said the investment would help ensure the business remains a key community hub amid ongoing local growth, including new housing and improved transport links via the Elizabeth Line. "This is about building on what we already have and ensuring we're here for the community for many years to come," he added. More Stories

Allica Bank cuts buy-to-let rates and expands commercial investment criteria. Allica Bank, the challenger business bank, today announces a series of enhancements across its commercial mortgage range designed to give brokers even greater confidence when supporting the UK's established businesses. Introduced in direct response to feedback from brokers, the changes include reduced rates across Allica's specialist buy-to-let range, appetite to support for first-time commercial landlords, a new offering for expat borrowers and a brand-new healthcare investment proposition. The healthcare updates now enable lending against select residential care properties on an investment basis, alongside Allica's existing support for owner-operators, further strengthening its presence in a resilient sector where investor demand for long-term, income-backed assets remains strong. Allica will now also consider first-time landlords for commercial investment mortgages with a maximum LTV 10% lower than standard, and where the property has at least 25% residential use and a professional management agent is in place. In addition, the bank has also reduced rates across its specialist buy-to-let range by 0.25%, reinforcing its commitment to brokers to navigate pricing-sensitive transactions. For expat borrowers, Allica has enhanced its commercial investment and bridging proposition to extend its appetite for companies where ownership is based outside of the UK. Together, these changes reflect Allica's ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of brokers and established businesses in the UK - ensuring they have the flexibility and support needed to thrive. The announcement follows a landmark year for the bank, which saw it valued at $1.2 billion after closing a £155 million Series D funding round in February 2026, as well as announcing record results for 2025, including total lending reaching £3.7 billion. Allica says it has remained committed to supporting brokers and listening to their feedback. In a 2025 survey of more than 1,000 of the bank's broker partners, 89% rated their experience with the bank as excellent or good. Nick Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Allica Bank, said: "These changes are rooted in one clear principle: listening to its broker partners and understanding what established businesses really need from their bank. Established businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, but too often they are held back by rigid lending criteria or a lack of specialist expertise. By giving brokers greater flexibility, Bridging Loan Directory can help more business owners access the funding they need to invest, adapt and grow. At Allica, its focus is on building a pragmatic, relationship-led proposition shaped by what brokers tell Bridging Loan Directory their clients need - not by what banks assume they need."