Young Enterprise Scotland has appointed a leading entrepreneur and business support expert as its new chair.
Andy will begin his new role on 13th March as outgoing chair Bill McDonald steps down, having completed six years in the role.
Andy is a dynamic entrepreneurial leader with a proven track record in founding, leading and growing successful businesses with 25 years of experience. In 1998 Andy was runner up as Scotland’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
In 2014, Andy was engaged by Elevator to oversee the delivery of a new, state of the art Centre for Entrepreneurship in Aberdeen, going on to head up the company’s business support programme delivery. Joining the board in 2020 as Commercial Director at Elevator, Andy oversaw both the commercial and strategic direction of the company.
In 2022, Andy became a Founding Trustee of The Elevator Foundation, a Charity dedicated to supporting young people with funding at the start of their entrepreneurial journey. In 2019, Andy was awarded an honorary Doctorate from the University of the West of Scotland.
Speaking of his new role, Dr Andy Campbell said: “It’s an honour to be appointed Chair of Young Enterprise Scotland. I was fortunate to be introduced to enterprise education when I was at high school and it had such a positive impact on my future. The critical work Young Enterprise Scotland carries out in our schools and colleges, from enterprise to financial education, supporting teachers and students, is incredibly transformative.
“I would like to thank the outgoing Chair, Bill McDonald for his dedicated service
over the last six years. I look forward to working with Emma, the CEO and the rest of the wonderful board to continue and progress the essential work of the organisation in Scotland.”
Photo: Dr Andy Campbell, Chair of Young Enterprise Scotland
Photo Credit: Young Enterprise Scotland
Outgoing Chair Bill McDonald said: “After nine years as Trustee of which six have been as Chair, it is now time to step down. This has been singularly the most rewarding role of my career. Young Enterprise Scotland has supported enterprise and financial education for young people in Scotland for over thirty years, creating business and life skills that have transformed the lives of many.
“I have had the great privilege to work with talented and supportive trustees over that period for which I am particularly grateful. I would like to thank personally the two CEO’s I have worked with, Geoff Leask and Emma Soanes, and the wider Young Enterprise team for their leadership, energy and enthusiasm that has made my term so enjoyable.
“Together we have achieved great things including the accreditation of the Company Programme; alliances and partnerships such as with Elevator UK. However, seeing first hand the delivery of our programmes in schools and colleges across Scotland and the engagement of young people in these is what drives this organisation forward. It is with a heavy heart that I now hand the reins over to a new Chair but with the full confidence that Young Enterprise Scotland is in great hands and ready to serve young people for another thirty years.”
Welcoming Dr Campbell to the role, Chief Executive Emma Soanes said: “We are delighted to announce Andy as our new Chair. As a well-known figure in the business community and with a passion to empower young entrepreneurs, his support will be of immense value for the young people we work with.
“I also want to thank Bill for his tireless work and contribution to Young Enterprise Scotland; his impact has been immeasurable and there is no doubt that he has transformed the lives of many young people”.
Young Enterprise Scotland is an accredited national charity that works with volunteers from the business community to deliver a future-proof programme of blended learning that is accessible to all. They work with young people in primary, secondary and tertiary education, providing a wide variety of programmes and development opportunities.