More than 200 entrepreneurs have backed independence in a letter published in The Herald today, including a Labour supporting Asian in the English Midlands calling for Scotland to lead the way against London domination of the UK economy.

As in the case of yesterday's lists of pro-Union backers led by the likes of Keith Cochrane and Amanda Harvie, the Yes list has many figures who are unsurprising, such as Brian Soutar and Dan MacDonald.

But that made some contributions more eye-catching, such as Professor Nathu Puri, founder of Purico, a former Labour donor in the English Midlands, backing Scottish independence as a mechanism for tackling the domination of the South East.

"The London-centricity of Britain's economy is unsustainable," he writes. "We must reindustralise the nations and regions outside of the South East of England.

"We must rebalance the British economy by sector and geography to ensure sustainable economic growth.

"Scottish independence will be a major step forward towards that goal in the interests of not just Scots but business and jobs in Wales, Northern Ireland, the Midlands and the north of England."

Tony Banks, chairman of Business for Scotland, said: "There are now more than 2,500 members of Business for Scotland, from all across Scotland in all sectors, from large PLCs to smaller, family-owned and micro-businesses, which are of course the lifeblood of the economy.

"More and more business people are moving to Yes after looking at the facts and figures. Our members know Scotland's balance sheet is relatively stronger than the UK's but we have the potential to be stronger. We know Scotland will thrive as an independent country, because key economic decisions will be made by those who truly understand and care most about our Scotland's distinctive economic needs, that's the people who live and work here."

The roll call of 200-plus company bosses covers some 50,000 employees but it was stressed that they did not speak for their employees.

The letter states: "We are involved in business and entrepreneurship at different levels in Scotland and around the world. We believe independence is in the best interests of Scotland's economy and its people.

"An independent Scotland will recognise entrepreneurs small and large as the real wealth and job creators of the nation's economic future.

"It will encourage a culture in which innovation, endeavour and enterprise are nurtured. It will place power in the hands of Scotland's people to channel the huge resources of our country in the interests of those who live and work here."

The list in full:

Ian and Thea McMillan, Directors, Chambers McMillan Architects Ltd

Harvey Aberdein, Managing Partner Aberdein Considine

Sandy Adam, Chairman, Springfield Properties plc

Mohammed Afzal Ali, Director, Toor Investments

Irshad Ahmed, Director, Manspeak Ltd

Andrew Aird, MD of Border Couriers

Alistair Aitchison, Director, Kilted Kangaroo

Tony Aitken, Director, AP Aitken

Kenny Anderson, Co-Founder of Anderson Construction

David Anderson, Chief Executive, AP Systems

Ann and William Angus, Proprietors of Clunie Guest House

Lesley Ann Parker, Owner of Leap Scotland Ltd

Richard Arkless, Founder of LED Warehouse

Raja Aziz ur Rehman, Owner of R & M wholesale LTD

Tony Banks, Chairman of Business for Scotland and Balhousie Care

Tom Barrie, CEO of Currie European

Frances Barron, Owner of Dessert Depot

Alistair Barron, Director, Barron Wright Partnerships

Alan Beck, Owner of Alan Beck Product Design Ltd

Craig Bedworth, MD of CGB Translations

Jim Bennett, Director of SIS Scotland

Ian Blackford, MD of First Seer

Ian Bremner, MD of Youngson Insurance Consultants

John Buchan Skipper, Fairline Surveyor, Aberdeen

Patrick Byrne, CEO of Pursuit Marketing

David Cairns, Chairman of Prism Tech

Alistair Cameron, Managing Director, Scotmas Group

Gen Cannibal, Director, Pro Genus Environmental

Mary-Anne Case, Proprietor, Blackhall Framing Gallery

Allan Chalmers, Director Chalmers Commercial Finance Ltd

Neil Clapperton, Managing Director, Springbank Distillery

Laurie Clark, Founder of ASC Group Ltd

Alan Clark, Owner of Clark's Bakery

John Clark, Owner, Belmont Communications Ltd

Graeme Coghill, MD of Aberdeen Group Ltd

Ben Cooper, Owner, Kenetics

Bob Costello, Sidlaw Executive Travel

Bill Coull, CEO at Comtest Wireless Europe

Gillian Cowan, Owner of The Jewell Room

Paddy Crerar, CEO of Crerar Hotels

Gordon Darge, Proprietor of MAK Architects

Adam Davidson, Bo Concept

Peter De Vink, Chief Executive, Edinburgh Financial General Holdings

Alan Dickson, Director, Bradshaw's Nursery

Elaine Donegean, MD of Wedding Wise

Andy Donnell, Owner of Lightning PCs

Scott Downie, Managing Director of Hungry Boy Productions Ltd

Peter Drummond, Director, Peter Drummond Architects

Colin Dunn, Plexus Media

Brian Durkin, Braid Wines and Altar Supplies

David Dwyer, Inspire Web Development

Andrew Fairlie, Restaurant Andrew Fairlie

Shahid Farooq, Director, Smartways

Athole Fleming, MD of Athole Design

Paul Fletcher, Managing Partner of Enabling Innovation

Alasdair Forbes, Primary Partner Achvaneran Farm Partnership

Hugh Fraser, Managing Partner (Middle East), global energy law firm, former Group Head of Legal Wood Group

Kevin Gibney, Director, Get-A-Reel.com

John Gibson, Director, Broxburn Properties

Alistair Gilchrist, Founder, AJG Business Consultancy Ltd

Donald Gillies, Owner, Gillies Transport Islay

Andrew Graeme, CEO of Inchbrakie Group

Sir Patrick Grant of Dalvey, MD of Grants of Dalvey

Cynthia Guthrie Joint MD of Guthrie Group

David Halliday, Owner of David Halliday Solicitor

David Hanley, Director, Competence Matters

Kat Heathcote, Director, Witherby Publishing Group

Gordon Henderson, Owner, Foxlane Garden Centre

Joe Henry, Founding Director, Planys Cloud Limited

Bobby Hill, Chief Executive, Hydracrat

John Hunter-Paterson, Owner of John Hunter Paterson Insurance

Dr Arshi Ilyas, Director of Innovation Business Ltd.

Carole Inglis, Owner, Isle of Skye Fudge and Chocolate Company

John Innes, British Venture Capitalist of the Year and Venture Capital Chief Executive of the Year, former Chief Executive Amor Group

David Keegan, Director of Bothy Bikes

Kevin Key, Director, A Star Sports

Alan Knight, Director of Invisible Emperors

David Lafferty, Owner, Aqua Energy

Joe Lafferty, MD of Lifetree

Steven J Lawrence, Director, TCD Architects

Ian Lawson, MD of Pest Protection Services

Derek Louden, Financial Director& Company Sector, ITP Solutions Ltd

Alison Mabon, Founder, DM Roofing

Iain Macbeath, Owner, Macbeath Architects

Dan MacDonald, Chief Executive MacDonald Estates

Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, CEO Business for Scotland

Professor Sir Donald MacKay, Former Chairman, Scottish Enterprise, founding director of an oil company and a bank and former non-executive director, Malcolm Group

Colin MacKinnon, Owner, Strathaven Airfield

Marie Macklin, Chief Executive, Klin Group

Donald Maclean, Business Cost Consultants

Niall Maclean, Founder, Geo-Rope

Lewis Maclean, MD of Maclean's Highland Bakery

Alex MacLeod, Director, AG Tech Limited

William MacMillan, Director, Firth Plumbing, Heating and Roofing.

Graeme Macmillan, Owner, Macmillan Financial Planning

Mohammed Mahmood, Director, M & K Scotland Ltd

Mark Mair, Skibo

Khalil Malik, Director, K Malik & Co Accountants

Nasim Malik, Managing Director, GFS Mortgages

Derek Mallon, MD of the Restaurant Group

Brandon Malone, Solicitor Advocate and law firm partner

Jack Marshall, Owner, Tapside Coffee

Sir George Mathewson, Chairman, Toscafund and former Chairman and Chief Executive, Royal Bank of Scotland plc

Jim McColl, Chairman and CEO of Clyde Blowers plc

Gerry McCusker, Owner, Dog Digital

Helen McDonough, Owner, Kennedy + Co Hair

Ian McDougall, Owner, McDougall Johnston

Gordon McFarlane, Owner of Uplift Media

James McGoochin, Director, J.M. Builders.

Ron McGregor, Co Founder McGregor Garrow Architects

Ivan McKee, Partner, Greenfold Partners

Duncan McKellar, Owner, McKellar Sub Sea

Fiona McKenzie, Director and Co-Founder, Centre Stage Music Theatre

Sheila McLean, Director, Muriel Management Ltd

Brian McManus, Managing Partner Pisces Engineering Services

Isabell McNicoll, Owner, Business Time Saver

Les Meikle, Owner, Wise Property Care

James Meldrum, Proprietor of Mel Décor

Robert Miller, Director, McAdam King Glasgow

Morag Milligan, Operations Manager, Milligan's Coach Hire

David Morrison, Director, Sangobeg

Barry Morrison, Owner of Barry Morrison Timber Harvesting Ltd

Stephen Mulhern, Owner of Lendrick Lodge

Brian Munro, Owner, Pat Munro Construction

Jil Murphy, Co-Founder Thin Red Line Design

Alan Murphy, Owner of Inverness Cash Registers

Ron Murray, Founder, Safety Scotland

Yvonne Murray, Director, Northern Roots Events

Omar Nabi, Director, Ahmad & Nabi McMulan

Muhammad Naveed, Managing Partner, Clyde Accountants

Mian Naveed Qasar, Chief Executive, Vision International Ltd

Alan Neill, Director, Neill Technical Services

Richard Nicol, Chief Executive Commsworld

Douglas Norris, MD Of Datec

Mairi Oakley, Owner of Darach

Eunice Olumide, Entrepreneur

Eddie O'Neill, Owner, Translations for Industry

Gillian & Kevin O'Neill, Founder of 29 Studios

Sandy Orr, Co-Founder, Mint Hotels

Mike Peddie, Owner of Secret Scotland

Professor Nathu Puri, Founder, Purico

Jamie Rae, Chief Executive Craignish Development Group

Frank Ralph, Shorline Motors and Property Limited

Mohammed Ramzan, Chairman, United Wholesale Grocers

Anne Rendall, Dundee Group Leader

Nighet Riaz, Owner of Riaz Property

Andrew Richardson, Owner Tax Assist Accountants

Mark Riddell, MD of M3 Networks

Jan Robertson, Manager of Willow Bank House

Andrew Robertson, MD, 1st Eco Tech Ltd

MIchelle Rodger, Founder of Tartan Cat Communications

Vivienne Rollo, Owner, Kishorn Seafood Bar

Bill Samuel, Private investor

Jim Savage, Chemikal Records

James Scott, Former Executive Director, Scottish Financial Enterprise

Adrian Searle, Co-Founder of Freight Books / Freight Design

Ashfaq Shaq, Director, A Shah & Co Ltd

Kenneth Shaw, Owner, Canape Wines

Mark Shaw, Chief Executive, Hazledene Group

Kevan Shaw, Owner of KSLD

Tommy Sheppard, Director of Salt'n'Sauce Promotions

Muhammad Shoaib, Shoaib Associates

Alan Simpson, Owner of Minute Man Press Paisley

Helen and Mark Smith, Directors, Montana Home Care

Mark Sorsa-Leslie, Director, Zargonic

Sir Brian Souter, Chairman of Stagecoach Group plc

Stewart Spence, Owner of Marcliffe Hotel

Jim Spowart, Founder, Standard Life Bank and Intelligent Finance

Alasdair Stephen, Director Owner, Hebridean Homes

Neil Stephen, Partner, Dualchas Building Design

Craig Stevenson, Director, Braehead Foods

Philip Stewart, Owner, Kangaroo Print

Gary Sutherland, Director, Harrowden IT

Neil Sutherland, MD of Makar Ltd.

William Tait, Director, Klondyke Fishing Company Limited

Frank Taylor, Owner of Indigo Sun

Robert Taylor, Director, Iformis Ltd.

Michelle Thomson, MD Business for Scotland

Christine and Robert Thomson, Owners of Cairngorms Solutions Ltd

Ralph Topping, retired as Chief Executive of William Hill plc this month

Angus Tulloch, Edinburgh Fund Manager

David Urquhart, Founder of David Urquhart Travel

Malcolm Wadia, Director, Plysim

Abdul Wahid, Director, Kashmir Stores Ltd

Dr Jim Walker, Chief Executive, Asianomics Group

Gerry Wallace, MD, GEM Lift Services

James Wallace, Owner of Alba Business Service

Euan Walls, Owner of Innovate Create

Terry Walls, MD of TEW Stationers

Ron Warbrick, MD of Frame Shop and Gallery

Dennis Webster, MD of Fireisk

Fergus Weir, MD of Teclan Ltd

Robertson Wellen, Proprietor, Ferintosh

Allan Whiteside, MD, Direct Line Timber

Willie Wilson, Founder, Thistle Pharmacies

David Wood, Owner, Northern Oils Group

Ivan Wood, Director, Ivan Wood and Sons Ltd

Ronnie Young, Director of Aquatron Ltd

Lorna Young, Owner, Indigo Words

Muzaffar Yusaf, Owner, Yusaf Co. Ltd