Research, evaluation and insight

The Small Company Innovation Support (SCIS) project in Western Scotland (and the related Technology Development Programme (TDP) and Prototype Development Funding (PDF) programme) aimed to create growing businesses by improving the abilities of organisations to generate new ideas and products, and to use best practice in design and development.

The Smart Farms project aimed to address relevant support issues relating to profitability and standards of practise in Scotland’s farming industry.

The Smart Successful Ayrshire (SSA) programme aimed to: create a balanced economy; enhance connectivity to markets; develop a positive workforce; reduce unemployment; and foster pride in Ayrshire.

The pilot Social Economy Growth Programme (SEGP) aimed to strengthen the existing social economy and act as a as a transitional ‘year’ of support to help Scottish Enterprise Glasgow (SEG) move closer to mainstreaming support services for the social economy.

The Optocap Project, implemented by Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian (SEEL), and associated company Optocap Limited, aimed to establish a centre of excellence in optoelectronic packaging to: provide environmental test, reliability and qualification services; assist with the commercialisation of Research and Development; and develop new device packaging technologies.

Investors in People (IIP) aims to provide a national framework for improving business performance and competitiveness, through a planned approach to setting and communicating business objectives and developing people to meet these objectives.

The Student Enterprise Incubator (SEI), at the University of Stirling, aimed to support student entrepreneurs and increase the success rate of resulting businesses.

The Digital Champions project was set up to tackle Scotland’s increasing digital divide (the social divide between those with access to computers and the Internet and those without), specifically targeting SIP (Social Inclusion Partnership) areas.

The High Growth Start up Programme (HGSU), contracted out to the Maitland Partnership (TMP) by Scottish Enterprise (SE) Ayrshire, aimed to target new businesses where, by year 3, employment is expected to be 15 jobs or more, or the targeted turnover is in excess of £750,000.

The world-class golf Open Championship takes place in the Fife town of St Andrews at least four out of every seven years and it is the aim of Scottish Enterprise (SE) to make St Andrews a world-class tourist destination for this event.

In 2000, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian (SEEL), the City of Edinburgh Council and financial services companies set up the Pool Charitable Trust, the first of ten Employment Academies covering different sectors of economic activity.

The Technology Talent Pool pilot project, Talentscotland.

In 2002, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian (SEE&L) secured sponsorship agreements with the Edinburgh International Film, Book and TV Festivals to promote the Creative Edinburgh Initiative and the digital media sector generally.

Tomorrow's Leaders International was funded by Scottish Enterprise Glasgow in 2003 and 2004 as a pilot programme that selected and funded student interns on placement to firms based in the USA.

This study was commissioned to address the development of an approach to produce simple and robust estimates of gross added value (GVA) within key destinations (Edinburgh, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Cairngorms/Deeside, Perthshire, St Andrews and Glasgow).

The Tourism Network West project aimed to provide forum networking events for the tourism sector.

The Training and Employment Grants Scheme (TEGS) aimed to: increase employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed; enhance employability amongst this group; change business attitudes to training and the long term unemployed; and assist in the business development of firms.

SEFV’s Training and Employment Grants Scheme (TEGS) aimed to: increase employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed; increase long-term employability; change business attitudes to training and the long-term unemployed; and have an impact upon business development.

Scottish Enterprise Borders (SEB) launched the Training Initiative for Redundant Staff in 1998 in response to large-scale redundancies in the area.

The evaluation, the Lanarkshire Town Centres Study, aimed to develop a strategic framework for intervention in 18 Lanarkshire town centres, which would determine strategic priorities and guide the development of town centre action plans for economic, social and physical development.

The Scottish Enterprise Network has provided support to many visitor attractions (VAs) within its operating area.

The West of Scotland Science Park (WoSSP), part of the Strategic Sites Programme, aimed to: provide close linkages with Glasgow university; to provide purpose-built accommodation within a high quality environment; and to act as a focus for inward investment and indigenous company growth.

The Wigtown Booktown Initiative aimed to regenerate Wigtown, through establishing book-related businesses, upgrading properties, organising events and attracting additional visitors.

Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley’s (SEFV) Workforce Development (WFD) Programme aimed to provide: support and financial assistance for the training and development of higher level staff to improve productivity and growth; and support to help businesses to develop the skills and systems required for longer-term workforce development processes.

The WITH partnership project aimed to develop a competitive workforce to enable the people of West Dunbartonshire gain jobs in the tourism and hospitality sector.