British Business Bank

Susan Nightingale discusses the positive trends in financial investment and support for smaller businesses in Scotland, highlighting their resilience and vital contribution to the nation's economy. Smaller businesses are the lifeblood of Scotland’s economy. Firms employing fewer than 50 employ

A branding designer and former DJ-turned-beekeeper is creating a buzz with the launch of a small-batch honey business in the northeast Highlands. Dan Price is set to unveil Fableman’s Highland Honey this spring, with the first batch expected to be ready by the end of summer. Based on a three-a

An Edinburgh-based IT professional is making a move into product design, with her debut product set to make shopping easier when it launches this spring, thanks to a recent funding boost to kick-start her business idea. My Trolley Mate is a mobile phone holder designed to help shoppers seamlessly us

Contract research company BDD has opened its new 122m² GMP manufacturing facility at BioCity near Glasgow, following a successful inspection by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) in March 2025. Two years in the making, the development of the state-of-the-art facil

Smaller businesses in Scotland are the most likely to say they struggle to access finance among the UK’s devolved nations, according to new research from the British Business Bank in conjunction with Business Gateway. The Scotland SME Access to Finance Report 2025 found that 42% of respondents

Project Harmless, an Edinburgh-based eco start up, has expanded into new markets with the launch of its cosmetics range, Harmless Apothecary. The business was started with finance from the Start Up Loans programme, run by the British Business Bank.

A new creative space to support emerging and established artists from across Scotland is gearing up to open its doors later this month, with the launch of Osteria BauBau on St John’s Place, Perth. The food and drink venue, events space and gallery aims to support the local contemporary art sce

Equity investment levels in Scotland’s smaller businesses grew in 2024, bouncing back from a challenging 2023, according to new research from the British Business Bank. The Bank’s Small Business Finance Markets 2024/25 report found that during the first three quarters of 2024 the investm

Bee Happy Breaks Scotland Ltd – a Perthshire self-catering accommodation business – has secured a £48,000 funding boost from the British Business Bank’s Investment Fund for Scotland to increase its capacity and cater for more overnight guests. Run by Joyce and Alan Jamieson,

Mark Sterritt looks at the impact of the £150 million Investment Fund for Scotland in its first year, highlighting how it has supported diverse businesses across the country and addressed historical funding imbalances. While there’s no doubt that Scotland’s entrepreneurial spirit i

A Melrose-based entrepreneur is set to revolutionise Scottish agriculture by becoming the first in the country to offer advanced crop spraying services using a state-of-the-art, supersized drone. James Braid, founder of Sky-Pin Drones Ltd, secured funding from the Investment Fund for Scotland to acq

Ayrshire-based Wilsons Pet Food, one of the longest established pet food companies in the UK, has secured a £1 million investment from the Investment Fund for Scotland (IFS), managed by Maven Capital Partners and delivered by the British Business Bank. The company specialises in cold-pressed d

The British Business Bank has provided financial support to 15,000 smaller businesses in Scotland, supporting 148,000 existing jobs and is expected to create 11,000 additional roles since it was established in 2014, cementing its position as a critical driver of growth and employment. The bank's The

B-Corp accredited specialist water treatment technologies business Scotmas Group Ltd has secured £2.2 million in equity funding to support its international expansion plans. The investment was led by the Investment Fund for Scotland (IFS), managed by Maven Capital Partners and delivered by the

Smaller businesses backed by the Start Up Loans programme have higher survival rates than other businesses, according to an independent evaluation, conducted by SQW working in partnership with Professor Mark Hart, Qa Research and The Data City. The programme, which has provided over £1.1 billi