The Mark Williams Foundation has announced an impressive line-up of senior Scottish business leaders who will act as mentors in its Entrepreneurship Apprenticeship Programme, designed to support young people from underrepresented backgrounds in building successful businesses and creating brighter futures.
The Foundation has confirmed the following five prominent Scottish business figures who have volunteered their time and expertise as mentors:
- Craig Chambers, CEO of TBR Global Chauffeuring. Coming from an underrepresented background himself, Craig shares the Foundation’s commitment to widening access to opportunity and proudly supports its vision through mentorship and leadership.
- Grant Keenan, Managing Director of Keenan Recycling and past recipient of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award (Scotland). Grant brings extensive entrepreneurial and leadership experience, reflecting the ambition and values at the heart of the Foundation.
- Colin Rowley, Executive Chair of Dron & Dickson, which has been recognised as one of Scotland’s Top 500 businesses continuously since 2010, and past EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Scotland). Colin has played an instrumental role in the Foundation’s development and has generously committed his time as a mentor.
- Graham McKnight, Managing Director of McKnight Financial Group (TMFG). With experience building successful ventures from the ground up, Graham brings passion, practical insight and a deep belief in the Foundation’s mission.
- Nicola Williams, Executive Director at The NWH Group, and Founder of The Mark Williams Foundation. With more than a decade of senior leadership experience, Nicola mentors to honour Mark’s legacy, sharing the entrepreneurial insight and real-world experience they built together to inspire young talent.
Launched to honour the late NWH Group’s CEO Mark Williams’ legacy and values of integrity, resilience, compassion and opportunity, the Foundation exists to equip the next generation of entrepreneurs with the confidence, skills and networks to thrive – all while contributing to Scotland’s long-term economic growth.
Its structured mentorship programme has been designed by successful business leaders across the UK and delivers practical, real-world learning through one-to-one mentoring, group workshops and online masterclasses. Participants gain critical knowledge in business planning, investment, growth, innovation and leadership, alongside the mindset and resilience required to succeed.
Uniquely, each mentor had a close personal connection to Mark Williams – as either a friend, colleague or family member – and their involvement reflects a shared commitment to continuing his legacy of generosity, kindness and community leadership.
Sarah Peacock, Head of Impact at The Mark Williams Foundation, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to welcome such an inspiring group of business leaders as mentors to our Entrepreneurship Apprenticeship Programme. Each of them not only brings outstanding commercial experience and leadership, but also a genuine commitment to giving back.
“What makes this cohort especially meaningful is their personal connection to Mark and the values he lived by: integrity, resilience, compassion and empowerment. By volunteering their time, they are helping us equip young people with the skills, confidence and networks to build sustainable businesses and stronger futures for themselves and their families. This is how we create lasting change and contribute to Scotland’s economic growth.”
Though newly established, the Foundation’s ambitions are bold: to spark enterprise, create jobs and ensure that talent, regardless of background, has access to opportunity.
Initial funding for the Foundation has been generously provided by the Williams family, along with an additional £100,000 raised at a launch event in September 2025, enabling it to expand mentorship opportunities and deepen its impact across Scotland.
Mark’s legacy, the Foundation says, lives on in every entrepreneur supported and every life uplifted.
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