Scotland’s Growth Support Ecosystem
Overview of organizations and networks that can support your high-growth Scottish business.
The most important foundation for Scottish entrepreneurs seeking to grow and expand globally is the support ecosystem locally available to them.
This includes formal programs and informal networks, supplier services and advisory mentors. These are readily available to Scottish entrepreneurs, providing invaluable support and connections to help you plan and grow your business.
Business Gateways
At the most general, nationwide level is Business Gateway, the primary support network for small and medium businesses in Scotland seeking to expand and grow. Read more in this guide.
Tech Scalers
A subset is the ‘Technology Ecosystem’, the network of companies and activities focused specifically on building high-growth technology companies. In May 2020 Mark Logan was contracted to develop a strategy for stimulating and accelerating the maturity of this sector.
It is intended to inspire the next generation of Scottish tech entrepreneurs, appointing Mark as Scotland’s ‘Chief Entrepreneur’, providing funding for a portfolio of capacity building initiatives, and culminating in £42m funding being awarded to CodeBase to implement a network of ‘Tech Scalers’ across Scotland. Mark Logan explains more in this Twitter thread.
More specific again are programs to accelerate particular categories of technology – For example as the name suggests the purpose of the AI Alliance is to foster adoption of and grow businesses specializing in Artificial Intelligence. Similar FinTech Scotland offers a world-leading cluster for growing Scotland’s ecosystem of Financial Technology startups.
Startup Support
Then there are networking groups and academic programs for helping ventures plan and grow globally.
Startup Grind is the world’s largest community of startups, founders, innovators, and creators. We bring like-minded yet diverse individuals together to connect, learn, teach, help, build, and belong.
In Scotland the local chapters are the Edinburgh and Glasgow groups. If you’re keen to get involved in the Scottish entrepreneurial ecosystem this is the place to do it.
Scale Up Scotland offers an online learning community, where you can hear real business leaders, specialists and entrepreneurs share their expertise and perspectives. Insightful, practical, no nonsense down to earth guidance on how to navigate the complexities of Scaling up.
