British Business Bank

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

A renowned restaurant venue in the heart of Anstruther has been given a fresh lease of life with the opening of a wine and tapas bar called The Cellar at 24.

The British Business Bank has launched the Community ENABLE Funding (CEF) programme, which is designed to increase the availability of funding to social impact sector lenders, and the smaller businesses they serve in local communities across the UK. The initiative is aimed primarily at community dev

The British Business Bank’s £150 million Investment Fund for Scotland has committed just over £10 million in funding in its first 12 months.

Edinburgh-headquartered Aegon UK has announced its role in the soon-to-be established British Growth Partnership, as highlighted by the Chancellor in her inaugural Mansion House speech. Partnering with the British Business Bank, Aegon UK intends to provide the cornerstone investment in the initial f

Scottish influencer and entrepreneur Robin James, known online as Man For Himself, has secured a £70,000 loan from the Investment Fund for Scotland to expand his men's haircare brand, Anforh. Mr James, who boasts an online following of over 620,000, launched Anforh last year after spending ove

Since 2012, the British Business Bank's Start Up Loans programme has provided over 320 entrepreneurs in Scotland with £3 million in funding to launch their own businesses. The loans have gone to founders who were previously considered economically inactive or unemployed, supporting them to tur

Susan Nightingale discusses the state of equity investment and borrowing conditions for small businesses in Scotland, highlighting their resilience despite economic challenges and a perceived lack of access to finance. Scotland has long punched above its weight when it comes to the creation of high-