Founder and CEO, Purplex and the Ascot Group
Andrew Scott
Andrew started Purplex in 2004, the year he lost his business. He’s spent more than 30 years in building products and glazing, building, buying and selling companies.
Before Purplex
Andrew has built, bought and sold manufacturers, installers and trade counters. In 1998 he was sent into a struggling manufacturer, grew it from £1 million to £12 million in four years and saw it sold to Masco.
Then, in 2004, he lost his business. He was up to his neck in credit card debt, had no income and was losing the family home, with two young sons to look after.
So he went back to what he was good at, helping companies grow, and started again. For the next few years he was on the road, meeting potential customers across the UK.
There’s always tomorrow. There’s always a new opportunity.
What he’s built since
Purplex came first. The rest of the Ascot Group grew around it, and two of those businesses have since been sold.
- 2004 to nowPurplex
The marketing agency, at Unit 200 in Weston-super-Mare, with specialists in strategy, PR, creative, digital, web and film.
- 2006 to nowInsight Data
Market research and data for the industries we work in. Still our sister company, under the same roof.
- 2012 to 2023Business Leader
A magazine, awards and events business for growing companies, sold in 2023 to Richard Harpin, the founder of HomeServe.
- 2018 to 2023Glazing Summit
The glazing industry’s own conference, run with Insight Data and sold to Mark Allen Group in 2023.
- TodayKnightstone Capital
His investment company. He also backs other growing businesses as an angel investor.
On stage
Andrew talks about business growth, and about starting again.
- 2025TEDxBristol
Purpose: The Power to Rise Again, about the setback, the self-doubt that followed and the decision to keep going.
- Dec 2025Guest Speaker of the Year
At the Dealmaker Awards.
- 2025Forbes Business Council
Andrew is appointed to the Forbes Business Council.
- Apr 2026Live webinars
Free live sessions on growth strategies for glazing businesses.
- 2017Institute of Directors
Named Corporate Responsibility Director of the Year.
- In progressA first book
Andrew is writing his first book, part memoir and part self-help.
Start where Andrew would
With the purpose. A free marketing review is a specialist’s honest look at how your marketing brings in enquiries, and where it doesn’t.