The director of Scotland’s leading chauffeur company has been recognised as one of the most prominent female business leaders in the country. Heather Matthews, Managing Director of family-run firm Little’s, which co-ordinates chauffeur services throughout the world, has been shortlisted for Female Business Leader of the Year at the Scottish Business Awards 2015. The nomination follows an unprecedented year of business for Little’s, which involved an extensive re-brand of the company and maximising the opportunity of a phenomenal rise in visitor numbers to Scotland due to major events including The Commonwealth Games and The Ryder Cup. Little’s won key contracts throughout what tourism chiefs hailed the ‘Year of Homecoming’ as well as building upon its already well established client base, yielding impressive results for the firm. At the core of the company’s success was Heather’s forward thinking approach to modernising the company in anticipation of what she knew would be a landmark year for business in Scotland.

Heather Matthews, Managing Director of Little’s commented: “It fills me with great pride to be nominated for Female Business Leader of the Year.“Over the last couple of years Little’s has made some big changes to ensure that we maintain our position at the top of the industry as we listen and respond to our clients’ evolving needs.“These have been bold and quite pioneering changes for our industry, however what has been of utmost importance to me is that we keep our core family values at the heart of the company, offering our clients an exceptional level of personal service. “To be recognised by the Scottish Business Awards in a category of such high calibre and influential fellow businesswomen is a real honour and I look forward to attending the ceremony in November”.  As well as a new brand identity, a relaunch of its website and a new online portal for clients, Little’s also introduced a new range of hybrid vehicles to its luxury fleet in Spring 2015, in a drive to become a more environmentally friendly enterprise.

Josh Littlejohn, Founder of the Scottish Business Awards commented: “The Scottish Business Awards is now a major fixture of the Scottish business calendar and this year the Scottish business community will have a lot to celebrate at our ceremony with George Clooney. Heather’s nomination in this prestigious category reflects her growing influence and achievement as a female business leader.”

The prestigious Awards, which last year welcomed Sir Richard Branson, will play host to Scotland’s business elite as well as this year’s speaker Hollywood actor and activist George Clooney. Renowned as the UK’s biggest business dinner the event will take place on November 12 2015 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Established almost 50 years ago, Little’s is headquartered in Glasgow but has an international reach, providing chauffeur services in worldwide locations. The company specialises in corporate travel, including airport and rail transfers and event delegate transport for movements of all sizes. The Little’s team is also experienced in the logistical organisation of single and multiple venue roadshows, taking care of all transport, luggage and passenger requirements. For leisure travellers, they are able to provide bespoke visitor leisure tours and itineraries for worldwide destinations.