DHI Intern Wins National Funding
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
Bobby Laing, Graduate Innovation Intern at the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, recently secured £15k of grant funding, from the Young EDGE category in the latest round of the Scottish EDGE national funding competition, to support the development of his passion project, NCLSV - an accessible footwear brand catering to people with dwarfism.
A journey to better footwear
For years, Bobby has faced the frustrating challenge of finding shoes that not only fit but also suit his personal style as an adult. Children’s footwear, while close in length, is designed for younger wearers and often lacks the necessary width - resulting in a cramped, uncomfortable fit. Larger sizes provide more room but are disproportionately long, making walking impractical. Bespoke options offer a precise solution, yet their high costs make them inaccessible, leaving little choice for those seeking both style and comfort in off-the-shelf footwear. Tired of the endless disappointment - and knowing many in the global dwarfism community faced the same struggle - he set out to create a solution. That determination led to NCLSV, a brand offering stylish, ready-to-wear footwear designed specifically for dwarf feet, built on a proprietary sizing chart informed by extensive community data to ensure both comfort and sophistication.
Scottish EDGE
Scottish EDGE is a funding competition aimed at identifying and supporting Scotland’s innovative, high-growth potential entrepreneurial talent. Funded by the Hunter Foundation, the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and private donors, the competition is delivered twice per year and has supported 569 early-stage Scottish businesses with over £25m in award funding.
Round 25 of the competition received 247 applicants. Following a pitch by shortlisted applicants to a panel of industry experts, 12 were selected as winners, with the best two applicants receiving £15k prizes.
Further success
In addition to securing the £15k top prize from Scottish EDGE, Bobby has been selected to join the 2025 cohort of the Converge Create Change challenge. As Scotland’s leading initiative for academic entrepreneurs, Converge empowers university staff, students, and graduates to turn innovative ideas into thriving businesses.
From over 300 applicants, Bobby was chosen as one of the founders to join this transformative programme. It is an incredible opportunity to gain expert-led training, connect with inspiring entrepreneurs, and engage with Scotland’s dynamic business ecosystem, with the chance to compete for up to £30k in equity-free funding and exceptional in-kind business support.
From internship to innovation
Bobby is a member of the Communications & Marketing Team at DHI. He credits his internship experience as a pivotal factor in securing funding for NCLSV. The funding will support an extensive marketing and operations strategy to maximise reach within the dwarfism community, including brand development, pop-up shops at key events, and growing a strong social media presence.
Bobby Laing, commented:
"I'm truly grateful to have received funding from Scottish EDGE. As a solo founder, it's incredibly rewarding to have my hard work recognised in such a meaningful way. The experience I have gained with the DHI team has been invaluable - being exposed to a range of marketing platforms and learning best practices in stakeholder engagement has provided the foundation for a robust launch plan, which ultimately proved to be the key factor with the judges in securing this funding."
Moira Mackenzie, Deputy CEO/ Director of Innovation, at DHI said:
"The whole DHI team is delighted for Bobby and wish him every success for an exciting future. We are also pleased to benefit from his reflected glory, evidencing that our Graduate Innovation Intern programme enables young innovators and entrepreneurs to thrive."
From refining marketing strategies to navigating stakeholder engagement, Bobby’s time at DHI has played a crucial role in shaping NCLSV’s trajectory. With funding secured and a clear vision in place, the brand is set to make a tangible impact - fuelled by expertise gained through DHI and driven by a commitment to accessibility.
