Kevin Gauld, a young furniture maker from Kirkwall, Orkney, has won a top prize for personal development at the newly created Jolomo Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT) awards.

Mr Gauld was announced as a winner at a prestigious ceremony held on Monday at the Kranenberg Gallery in Oban. In addition to his trophy, Kevin received a prize of £500 and took part in a workshop session with John Lowrie Morrison - Jolomo - one of Scotland’s contemporary artists.

The Jolomo PSYBT Awards were launched earlier this year with the aim of encouraging more young people in North West Scotland and the Highlands and Islands to set up businesses in the arts, craft and creative industries. The awards are the result of a unique partnership between PSYBT and Jolomo, who donated £10,000 towards the awards. So far nine new businesses in the arts and craft have been supported by PSYBT with start-up finance and advice.

Kevin competed with six other young entrepreneurs from the North West of Scotland to win the PSYBT Jolomo award for personal development/distance travelled. Two other winners were announced on the night including textile designer, Alison Macleod from the Isle of Lewis who was awarded the prize for innovation and creativity and Nicola Kelsey of NK Photography from Oban who won the award for commercial awareness.

The Orkney Furniture Maker