Winner of Hustle Hub

A Pitch with Clarity and Confidence

At Portobello Business Centre, one of our biggest priorities is helping ambitious entrepreneurs take their next step forward. Through the Ready Set Grow programme, we’ve had the privilege of meeting some truly inspiring business owners who are working hard to turn their ideas into sustainable success stories.

This year, we created a £5,000 grant pot in collaboration with Hill Group, who generously donated to support small business owners pitching their vision at Hustle Hub. The competition was strong, but five winners stood out each with clear goals and a strong understanding of how extra support could help them scale.

Today, we’re shining a spotlight on one of those winners: Denise, founder of Scotch Rocket.

At this year’s Hustle Hub, Denise, founder of Scotch Rocket, delivered a pitch that stood out for all the right reasons. Speaking with passion, clarity and growing confidence, she shared the journey behind her business a hot pepper sauce based on a 150-year-old family recipe passed down through three generations.

Denise didn’t just tell her story she let people taste it. The judges sampled her sauce and it was such a hit that they asked for seconds. It was a pitch that combined clarity, confidence and authenticity, leaving a lasting impression on everyone in the room. Denise has shown determination and a willingness to step out of her comfort zone. Over the past year she has tested her product at Portobello Market trial days, gaining valuable feedback from real customers and building her confidence as both a maker and a business owner.

About the Ready Set Grow Award

From our £5,000 Ready Set Grow grant pot, Denise has been awarded:

• £592 towards 10 boxes of bottles – giving her the resources to scale production and meet growing demand

• A Quick Brown Fox video package worth £800 – a half-day shoot to help her share her story and strengthen her brand identity

• A free personal branding session – tailored guidance on positioning herself and her business with confidence

  
  

This support will enable Denise to increase production capacity, present her product more professionally and tell her story through video in a way that reaches new customers. Ready Set Grow is a grant and support programme designed to help local entrepreneurs take their next step. Through Hustle Hub pitch days, business owners present their ideas to a panel of judges, competing for a share of funding and tailored business support. This year’s winners represented a range of sectors, from food and drink to creative services, each bringing unique ideas and ambition.

Why It Matters

Denise’s journey highlights exactly why programmes like Ready Set Grow matter. Many entrepreneurs have the drive and ideas but lack the resources or confidence to take the next step. With support from Portobello Business Centre and our partners, we can help bridge that gap. By awarding Denise this package, we’re not just helping her buy bottles or film a video we’re investing in a story that connects heritage, culture and community. Her sauce isn’t just a product; it’s a family legacy being brought to new audiences. For our local business community, Denise’s journey is an inspiring example of resilience, creativity and the power of telling your story. It shows that when entrepreneurs are supported with the right tools, their businesses can thrive in sustainable and meaningful ways.

Looking Ahead

With this support, Denise is in a strong position to take Scotch Rocket to the next level. In the coming months, she plans to focus on scaling production and using her video package to share the heart of her story more widely. We’re excited to see how Denise continues to grow her brand, inspire her community

and honour her family recipe.

A big thank you to Hill Group UK for their generous support of Hustle Hub and to The Quick Brown Fox Video Production Ltd for making this prize possible!