An innovative platform to staff the hospitality industry has won University of Glasgow student entrepreneur Cian Smith and Napier University graduate Callum Leith first place in the 2025 Scottish Young EDGE awards.

The pair founded startup ‘Shifted’ after years spent working in hospitality, both on the front lines and behind the scenes. The app instantly connects venues who need to fill shifts with pre-vetted staff. There are no agencies or paperwork required.

One of Scotland’s most respected startup competitions for entrepreneurs under 30, 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 supports early-stage Scottish businesses with over £25m in award funding.

Shifted is currently running a closed beta with real venues across Scotland, gaining incredible feedback and growing demand. A full public launch is planned in late 2025.

Cian, who is studying for a Masters of Global Business, said: “Currently around 70% of UK hospitality venues are struggling with staff shortages. It’s a silent epidemic of lost profits and customer dissatisfaction, which is damaging the industry we love. Our mission is to make hospitality staffing fast, fair and flexible for everyone. We want workers to enjoy true freedom and control, and venues to stop scrambling for last-minute cover. We’re not just solving a staffing issue but aiming to redefine how hospitality works.

“Working out of the Advanced Research Centre (ARC) at the University of Glasgow - it’s a true sanctuary for innovation and early-stage ideas - the energy, ambition, and achievements of those around us made it feel like home from day one.

“To have emerged as the first-place winner out of a fiercely competitive national field is not only a huge honour, but it’s also a powerful validation of Shifted’s potential. For early-stage founders like us, it’s more than a prize, it’s a platform.

“Winning Young EDGE sends a strong signal to partners, investors, and future customers. We’re building something with real potential and this achievement has opened doors we couldn’t have knocked on a few months ago. Now it’s on us to make it count. Winning wasn’t just about having a good idea, it was about proving we could build something that lasts.”

Feedback from the judging panel was impressive, with Cian and Callum receiving high praise for their high level of customer engagement. Judges observed that “the founders are well aware of their challenges and have done a lot of good groundwork to build measure and learn”.

Cian and Callum have been invited to exhibit at The Hospitality Tech Expo 2025 in London this September - one of the UK’s most influential industry events.

It’s a platform where major players like Hilton Hotels, JD Wetherspoon, Accor, and IHG connect with the latest innovators in hospitality technology.

This will give them a direct opportunity to get Shifted in front of CEOs, decision-makers, and industry leaders who are shaping the future of the sector.

They are also exploring pre-seed funding opportunities, which would enable them to commit full-time to scaling Shifted and build a team to meet the hefty demand they’re already seeing.
Scottish Young EDGE is one of Scotland’s most respected startup competitions for entrepreneurs under 30.

First published: 21 May 2025

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