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Chamber and committees

Entrepreneurial Spark's Success

  • Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour.
  • Date lodged: Thursday, 02 March 2017
  • Motion reference: S5M-04380

That the Parliament congratulates the Royal Bank of Scotland and Entrepreneurial Spark on their efforts to help more entrepreneurs own and run their own businesses; recognises that Entrepreneurial Spark has published a new Impact Report; notes that 1,736 companies have been supported across 12 accelerators throughout the UK, with an aggregate turnover of over £176 million; further notes that this has secured over £151 million worth of investment for entrepreneurs in the programme, in turn creating 3,152 jobs, and that more than 80% of the companies that have been through the programme are still operating; understands that its hubs in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ayr support Scottish businesses such as Supernature Oils and Trans World Soccer by providing entrepreneurs with free facilities, free wi-fi, access to the bank’s networks and suppliers, and free business advice, all without requiring them to bank with RBS or taking any equity; welcomes the creation of a new pilot programme with Highlands and Islands Enterprise designed to meet the specific needs of the region by providing free virtual support to entrepreneurs, and believes that the Scottish Government should consider how the programme can be further expanded and supported to bolster economic growth.


Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Jackson Carlaw, Alex Cole-Hamilton, Iain Gray, Gordon Lindhurst, Dean Lockhart