Mull coffee shop owner Arlene Robbie has been named Argyll’s top young entrepreneur at the regional finals of the 2012 Prince’s Trust Youth Business Scotland ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ Awards, hosted by Argyll and Bute Council at Kilmory, Lochgilphead.

 The 22-year-old founder of Arlene’s Coffee Shop in Craignure was announced as regional winner at the ceremony, when Andrew Kean of Firstpoint USA presented her with a £1000 cash prize.

Argyll and Bute Council Provost Isobel Strong presented a £500 cash prize and runners-up certificate to 20-year-old Leonie Woolf, founder of Art and Sea based in Taynuilt.

Provost Strong said, “The council is pleased to support the ambitions of our talented young entrepreneurs and have done so for several years now by presenting the runner-up award. I wish all the winners well and hope they may go on to even greater success. They are a credit to us all.”

 Both the winner and the runner-up received funding, advice and support from Youth Business Scotland, which during the last twenty two years, has supported over 13,000 young people to start over 10,500 businesses, providing £37.8million in funding and additional assistance.

 Arlene Robbie will now be considered by the judging panel to be entered into the national final taking place at Glasgow’s City Chambers on Tuesday 13 November 2012.

 The regional awards also recognised the expertise, mentoring advice and inspiration of aftercare adviser, Linda Tighe, who was named Argyll’s regional Volunteer of the Year. She will go forward and have the chance of winning the coveted title of ‘Volunteer of the Year’ at the national award finals in November.