News
Midlothian’s Ambitious Plans for Inclusive & Sustainable Economic Growth
Midlothian councillors have approved two key documents that set out the Midlothian Council Economic Development Service‘s roadmap for delivering inclusive and sustainable economic growth over the next two years.
Equity investment in Scotland’s smaller businesses bounces back
Smaller firms in Scotland saw increased levels of equity investment in 2024, as London became less dominant and the wider UK saw a collective decline.
That's according to the British Business Bank’s annual Small Business Equity Tracker , which showed that equity deals involving small businesses in Scotland totalled £507m last year; up 28.3% on 2023’s £395m.
Source: Business Insider
Boosting university spin-outs
New initiatives taking advantage of Scotland’s world-class reputation as an innovation nation have been announced by the Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes. A new package of funding has been launched to help transform Scottish university and college spin-outs into growing businesses. Just over £4.5 million will be split across the Proof of Concept Fund, the Spinout Pipeline Project, the Entrepreneurial Campus Blueprint, and a scheme to help prepare future generations for careers in tech-based businesses.
Heriot-Watt aims to raise £35 million for new brewing and distilling centre
Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University is seeking to raise £35m in order to realise its vision of building a new Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling (CSBD).
Source: Business Insider
Scotland’s business angels 'hold steady in turbulent times'
Despite uncertainty during the financial year to March 2025, Scotland’s angel investors maintained their support for emerging businesses, according to the latest annual data from Angel Capital Scotland.
Source: Business Insider
Young Scots have everything to play for in the green energy sector
A new online game with a mission to inspire the next generation of renewable energy professionals has been launched.
Find a Fixer puts school pupils in the driving seat of real-world problems, often faced within the green energy sector.
Source: The Herald
Business leaders elected to Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has announced its new cohort of fellows, including several from Scotland’s business community.
Fellows are elected to Scotland’s national academy for exceptional achievements and acumen in the world of science, mathematics, business and the arts.
Source: Business Insider
Edinburgh and south east Scotland innovation action plan unveiled
A new action plan, which puts business growth and innovation at the forefront, has been launched.
Developed by Innovate UK, Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region, and Scottish Enterprise, the proposals aim for a resilient and investment-attractive economy by leveraging regional capabilities.
Source: Business Insider
India and Scotland ramp up regional approach to business ties
An Indian – Scotland Business Meet was hosted in Edinburgh 3rd – 6th March and started with an event at Edinburgh City Chambers aimed at fostering business ties between India and Scotland in renewable energy, life sciences, IT and innovation, and whisky.
Source: The Scotsman
Scotland can be the “engine room of UK growth”
The Secretary of State for Scotland, the Rt Hon Ian Murray, told an audience at the University of Edinburgh’s Informatics Forum on Friday morning that Scotland can be “the engine room of UK growth”.
Source: The Edinburgh Reporter