Regis Banqueting Welcomes First Minister John Swinney for The King’s Trust Start Up Challenge
Regis Banqueting was proud to welcome First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, to our venue as part of the King’s Trust First Minister’s Start Up Challenge Launch, celebrating young entrepreneurs and the power of inclusive enterprise across Scotland.
The visit marked a powerful moment not only for our team but also for the inspiring entrepreneurs, community leaders and business founders gathered to showcase how opportunity, support and belief can transform lives.
A Full-Circle Moment for Regis Banqueting
For our co-founder and director Shirley Ann Longmuir, the event held special meaning. Over 20 years ago, Shirley was herself supported by what was then The Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust, helping her build Regis Banqueting into the thriving, family-run catering and events company it is today.
Regis Banqueting is proud of its reputation for quality, empowerment and developing future leaders within hospitality. Many of our senior team members began their careers with us at a young age and have progressed through the business — a journey that reflects the very mission of The King’s Trust.
*Photo 2 displayed here*
Celebrating Scotland’s Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
The event brought together a powerful group of emerging business leaders, including:
- Deborah Lobban, founder of Dastardly Line, a sustainable textiles brand creating beautiful products from luxury textile waste.
- Jawahir Al-Mauly, founder of Ujamaa Spice, an ethical, Scotland-based spice company working directly with women farmers across East Africa to promote fair trade and transparent sourcing.
- Oladimeji Ajegbile, CEO and co-founder of FotoPool, an innovative event management and photo-sharing platform based in Scotland with global reach.
Their stories reflect resilience, creativity and ambition — values that align closely with the ethos we champion every day at Regis Banqueting.
Why This Matters to the Hospitality and Events Industry
As a leading Scottish banqueting and event catering company, we understand first-hand how entrepreneurship fuels economic growth, creates jobs, and strengthens local communities. Supporting initiatives like The King’s Trust ensures that more young people — from all backgrounds — can access the tools, mentoring and belief they need to succeed.
The presence of First Minister John Swinney reinforced the Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting youth enterprise, social mobility and sustainable business — values we proudly share.
Our Commitment Going Forward
Regis Banqueting remains deeply committed to:
- Supporting young people entering hospitality
- Championing inclusive recruitment and leadership development
- Working with organisations such as The King’s Trust
- Providing opportunities for future entrepreneurs within Scotland’s events industry
We are honoured to have hosted this important visit and look forward to continuing our role in supporting Scotland’s next generation of business leaders.
