Applications open for scale up Scotland 2.0
Applications are open for the second ScaleUpScotland2.0 programme for highly ambitious, scaling businesses to join the next cohort.
Scottish National Investment Bank, in partnership with The Hunter Foundation, has opened the programme for 12 scaling businesses to work collaboratively with fellow CEOs and leadership teams to supercharge growth over a one-year period beginning January 2024.
Developed after extensive analysis of the challenges facing businesses as they scale up, the programme addresses the lack of strategic support available to high growth businesses and aims to grow the turnover of each business to over £100 million.
Willie Watt chair of The Bank comments:
“The ScaleUpScotland2.0 programme aligns with The Bank’s missions. We believe that a healthy scale-up support landscape is critical to enable growing businesses to thrive. Ensuring that scaling businesses can access the support and guidance they need to sustain their growth brings productivity gains, high-value job creation and the power to transform our economy.”
This year’s cohort have been supported and inspired by an incredible talent pool including:
Professor Sir Chris Evans, Theo Paphitis, Kim Perdikou, Carolyn Jameson, Ruth Chandler, Kristian Tapaninaho, Willie Watt, Lisa McPherson, Mike Reid, Yvette Hopkins, Bob Keiller, Mark Logan and Mark Beaumont.
Richard Madden of WeConnect Energy, a participant this year noted:
"The programme has been a pivotal catalyst in our business growth journey, elevating our aspirations with an unparalleled network of trusted advisors and motivational speakers, forging invaluable links with fellow CEOs, and providing a gateway into the flourishing landscape of scalable Scottish businesses."
Fellow participant, Scott Smyth, Founder & Group CEO of Soben added:
“ScaleUpScotland2.0 has provided access to a new network of world leading entrepreneurs and business advisors that are already positively impacting the growth of my business. In addition, I have got to work with and learn from an amazing cohort of other ambitious entrepreneurs each with a shared vision of scaling their business to £100m and more.”
Sir Tom Hunter commented:
“This programme is by and for entrepreneurs, a learning journey of unparalleled opportunity, in my view, that truly accelerates growth through knowledge and peer-to-peer support.
“The only way to move the economic dial in Scotland is to deliver far more scaling businesses and our portfolio of Pre-scaler, ScaleUp Core and ScaleUp2.0 joins the dots up to deliver some of that ambition. So, I’m delighted to host and sponsor 2.0.”
The programme is hosted by Sir Tom Hunter at THF’s headquarters and leadership home at blairestate.co.uk
To apply CEOs should email scaleup@thehunterfoundation.co.uk The programme is subsidised by THF and the Bank, with an additional fee for participants of £11K including all overnight accommodation and subsistence at Blair Castle and Estate.
Applications close at midnight on 31st October 2023.
To read more about the Hunter portfolio of programmes go to www.scaleupscotland.co.uk