Scottish Government: Unlocking fresh business talent

Expanded support to close the gender gap and attract the next generation of entrepreneurs

Up to £2.6 million is being invested in initiatives to make it easier for women and people from all backgrounds to start a business.

They include a pilot programme, launching initially in the South of Scotland, which will fund specialist enterprise coaches to provide a range of tailored advice and guidance to help individuals – particularly women and other under-represented groups – kick-start their business ideas.

Grants of up to £1,000 will be available to give practical help to turning business concepts into a reality.

The pilot will be delivered by South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) and run alongside a new Scottish Government-administered Pathways Fund to support entrepreneurial activity across Scotland. This builds on last year’s successful Pathways Pre-Start Fund and will provide support, mentoring and advice services for people  starting a company or seeking to expand a fledging business. Groups currently under-represented in the start-up community, including women, will be particularly targeted.

The two projects are to receive a total of up to £2.6 million funding this financial year and form part of the Scottish Government’s ongoing commitment to delivering the recommendations of the Pathways report on under-representation of women in entrepreneurship.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “Economic growth is one of the key priorities of the Scottish Government. Scotland has all the ingredients to be one of Europe’s fastest-growing start-up economies: an economy that is strong, successful and dynamic. 

“Entrepreneurship is at the heart of a healthy, vibrant and growing economy. I am clear that the Scottish Government will play a prominent role in helping build the end-to-end support our start-up business community has to develop and grow. 

“This expanded package of support for entrepreneurs at the start of their journey continues our drive to ensure everyone, from every walk of life, is given the right support and encouragement to make their business idea a reality.” 

Chief Executive of SOSE Jane Morrison-Ross said: “We are absolutely delighted to be delivering the Pathways Pre-Start pilot across the South of Scotland.

“It is a region of entrepreneurs and the Pathways pilot will be key to delivering our vision for a wellbeing and inclusive economy and accelerating the fantastic entrepreneurial pathway work our Innovation and Entrepreneurship team are already doing.

“This work can now be supercharged and will be critical for economic growth, as we will be able to tap into the potential the South of Scotland has to become a rural economic powerhouse.

“During the pilot, our new enterprise coaches will focus on pre-start up stage, and support individuals to realise their entrepreneurial potential and guide them to the next stages of business whilst helping with the development of an entrepreneurial mindset. We would urge all budding entrepreneurs who want to be part of the programme to watch this space.”

Entrepreneur and Investor Ana Stewart, author of the Pathways report on under-representation of women in entrepreneurship, said: “If Scotland is really serious about building a richer, deeper and healthier entrepreneurial economy, we must widen the funnel beyond existing routes to encourage more people to set up and scale their businesses, as opposed to sticking with existing structures and systems; systems we know are not currently reaching a large majority of the population.

“Whilst there is still much more to do to achieve equal access to entrepreneurship, it’s encouraging to see the launch of the SOSE pre-start pilot in tandem with the creation of the light-touch, micro-grant funding, giving would-be founders the best chance of successfully navigating their very first steps into entrepreneurship.”

More information on the Scottish Government’s Pathways Fund is available on the Scottish Government website.

Business Gateway launches retail recovery programme in Capital

Supporting local businesses continues to be a focus as a new Retail: Recover & Grow programme is launched to support the Capital’s retail community as challenges continue to arise from the pandemic.

Looking to help local, independent retail business owners or directors survive and thrive following the pandemic, the City of Edinburgh Council’s Business Gateway Edinburgh has developed a new pilot programme designed to assist skills development, knowledge, and foster confidence for businesses to recover and grow their operations.

Part funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), this three-day programme takes place over three months and will initially help six participants. Starting at the end of January and taking place virtually, the programme is free and will cover a variety of topics including sales, marketing, customer journey, customer service and PR resulting in a personalised retail strategy action plan. 

Councillor Kate Campbell, Fair Work Convener, said: “The last 21 months have been extremely difficult for retail businesses who have had to adapt rapidly to changing circumstances with absolutely no certainty about what the coming months, and often weeks, will look like.

“We’ve seen some amazing innovation with retailers quickly developing their digital presence and innovating in order to survive. But as the last few weeks have proven, there are many more challenges ahead.  With this new pilot programme from Business Gateway Edinburgh we hope to help support businesses by equipping people with up-to-date knowledge, expertise and advice.

“Ultimately we want to see businesses thriving again. Through the Council’s wider services we have facilitated grant funding, provided rent assistance and extended outdoor seating arrangements.

“Our Forever Edinburgh campaign has also recently launched its Resident Rewards scheme which we hope will encourage people to shop locally, and support our small businesses.”

Councillor Mandy Watt, Fair Work Vice Convener, said: “This new programme adds another opportunity for small business leaders, this time in the retail sector, to come together and get up-to-date guidance and skills training to help them succeed in what are very difficult times.

“This adds to Business Gateway Edinburgh’s wider offering, including Women in Business and Gateway to Investment, and the ongoing one-to-one and on-call support offered by the team.

“We also hope that through this programme, as we’ve experienced with others, the business owners involved will build their own networks, benefit from each others experiences, and continue a new peer-to-peer support after the course is finished.”

To apply please speak to your Business Gateway Adviser for an application form or email: bglothian@bgateway.com