- Abertay University – Bell Street Ventures
- Bridge 2 Business
- City of Glasgow College – IP Hatch
- CodeBase
- Community Enterprise
- Converge
- CREATE Highland
- Creative Scotland
- Edinburgh Innovations
- Firstport
- Geovation Scotland
- Heriot-Watt University
- Impact Hub Inverness
- Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation
- Opportunity North East
- Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub
- Scale Up Scotland
- School for Social Entrepreneurs
- Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA)
- Social Enterprise Academy
- Techscaler
- The DataKirk
- The Open University in Scotland (OUiS)
- The Prince's Trust – Scotland
- Young Enterprise Scotland
- Ceteris
- CEIS
Entrepreneurial support programmes
Learn about the types of entrepreneur support programmes available in Scotland, and how they can help nurture your entrepreneurial talent.
- Ecosystem organisations
-
Entrepreneurial support programmes
-
Innovation centres
- Abertay cyberQuarter
- CENSIS
- CPI - Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre
- Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI)
- Glasgow Riverside Innovation District – University of Glasgow
- Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre
- Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC)
- National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)
- Pioneer Group
- Roslin Innovation Centre
- Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre
- Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation
- Scottish IKE – City of Glasgow College
- The Data Lab
- The National Robotarium
- The University of Edinburgh
- Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc
- European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)
-
Financial support organisations
- Angel Capital Scotland
- Archangel Investors Ltd
- Business Development Team at Inverclyde Council
- Democratic Finance Scotland
- Discovery Investment Fund Ltd
- DSL Business Finance Ltd
- Epidarex Capital
- Equity Gap
- Gabriel Investments Limited
- Green Angel Ventures Limited
- Foresight Group
- Greenbackers Investment Capital
- Highland Venture Capital
- Investing Women Angels
- Kelvin Capital Ltd
- London & Scottish Investment Partners
- Maven Capital Partners UK LLP
- Mint Ventures
- Panoramic
- Scottish EDGE
- Scottish National Investment Bank
- Screen Scotland
- Social Investment Scotland
- St Andrews Innovation
- Techstart Ventures
- UK Export Finance
- Young Company Finance Scotland
- Eos
- BGF
- Par Equity
-
Entrepreneur support and networking organisations
- Aberdeenshire Council
- ABVentures – University of Aberdeen
- AccelerateHER
- BioDundee
- British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (Scotland)
- CeeD Scotland
- Business Gateway
- Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Dundee
- Business Women Scotland
- Creative Dundee
- Creative Edinburgh
- Challenges Group
- Dechomai
- Elevator
- Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation
- FinTech Scotland
- Foras
- Girl Geek Scotland
- Glasgow City Innovation District
- Glasgow City of Science and Innovation (GCoSI)
- Glasgow Social Enterprise Network
- GrowBiz Scotland
- Highland Business Women
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- Innovate UK
- Institute of Directors Scotland
- Interface
- Keystone
- KnowVate Hub
- Location Data Scotland
- ScotlandIS
- Scottish Asian Business Chamber
- Scottish Business Network
- Scottish Chambers of Commerce
- Scottish Enterprise
- Scottish Space Network
- Scottish Women in Business
- Social Enterprise Scotland
- South of Scotland Enterprise
- SportsTech Scotland
- Startup Grind Glasgow
- Tech Scotland Advocates
- The Scottish GovTech Cluster
- Women Ahead
- Womens Enterprise Scotland
- Pathways Forward
- Skills Development Scotland
- Women’s Business Club
-
Incubators and accelerators
- ABVenture Zone – University of Aberdeen
- Barclays Eagle Labs
- Bright Red Triangle - Edinburgh Napier University
- Defence and Security Accelerator
- Entrepreneurial Spark
- ETZ Ltd
- Food and Drink Federation Scotland
- GCU Entrepreneurial Hub
- Net Zero Technology Centre
- ONE BioHub
- ONE SeedPod
- ONE Tech Hub
- RGU - Entrepreneurship & Innovation Group
- Strathclyde Inspire
- The Higgs Centre for Innovation
- The HIVE
- The Royal Bank of Scotland Accelerator
- University of Glasgow
- University of Stirling Enterprise Programme
- Filament STAC
- The Venture Lab by Challenges Group
- Ecosystem organisations
-
Entrepreneurial support programmes
- Abertay University – Bell Street Ventures
- Bridge 2 Business
- City of Glasgow College – IP Hatch
- CodeBase
- Community Enterprise
- Converge
- CREATE Highland
- Creative Scotland
- Edinburgh Innovations
- Firstport
- Geovation Scotland
- Heriot-Watt University
- Impact Hub Inverness
- Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation
- Opportunity North East
- Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Hub
- Scale Up Scotland
- School for Social Entrepreneurs
- Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA)
- Social Enterprise Academy
- Techscaler
- The DataKirk
- The Open University in Scotland (OUiS)
- The Prince's Trust – Scotland
- Young Enterprise Scotland
- Ceteris
- CEIS
- Coworking and lab spaces
-
Innovation centres
- Abertay cyberQuarter
- CENSIS
- CPI - Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre
- Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI)
- Glasgow Riverside Innovation District – University of Glasgow
- Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre
- Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (MDMC)
- National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS)
- Pioneer Group
- Roslin Innovation Centre
- Rural and Veterinary Innovation Centre
- Scottish Centre for Food Development and Innovation
- Scottish IKE – City of Glasgow College
- The Data Lab
- The National Robotarium
- The University of Edinburgh
- Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc
- European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC)
-
Financial support organisations
- Angel Capital Scotland
- Archangel Investors Ltd
- Business Development Team at Inverclyde Council
- Democratic Finance Scotland
- Discovery Investment Fund Ltd
- DSL Business Finance Ltd
- Epidarex Capital
- Equity Gap
- Gabriel Investments Limited
- Green Angel Ventures Limited
- Foresight Group
- Greenbackers Investment Capital
- Highland Venture Capital
- Investing Women Angels
- Kelvin Capital Ltd
- London & Scottish Investment Partners
- Maven Capital Partners UK LLP
- Mint Ventures
- Panoramic
- Scottish EDGE
- Scottish National Investment Bank
- Screen Scotland
- Social Investment Scotland
- St Andrews Innovation
- Techstart Ventures
- UK Export Finance
- Young Company Finance Scotland
- Eos
- BGF
- Par Equity
-
Entrepreneur support and networking organisations
- Aberdeenshire Council
- ABVentures – University of Aberdeen
- AccelerateHER
- BioDundee
- British Association of Women Entrepreneurs (Scotland)
- CeeD Scotland
- Business Gateway
- Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Dundee
- Business Women Scotland
- Creative Dundee
- Creative Edinburgh
- Challenges Group
- Dechomai
- Elevator
- Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation
- FinTech Scotland
- Foras
- Girl Geek Scotland
- Glasgow City Innovation District
- Glasgow City of Science and Innovation (GCoSI)
- Glasgow Social Enterprise Network
- GrowBiz Scotland
- Highland Business Women
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- Innovate UK
- Institute of Directors Scotland
- Interface
- Keystone
- KnowVate Hub
- Location Data Scotland
- ScotlandIS
- Scottish Asian Business Chamber
- Scottish Business Network
- Scottish Chambers of Commerce
- Scottish Enterprise
- Scottish Space Network
- Scottish Women in Business
- Social Enterprise Scotland
- South of Scotland Enterprise
- SportsTech Scotland
- Startup Grind Glasgow
- Tech Scotland Advocates
- The Scottish GovTech Cluster
- Women Ahead
- Womens Enterprise Scotland
- Pathways Forward
- Skills Development Scotland
- Women’s Business Club
-
Incubators and accelerators
- ABVenture Zone – University of Aberdeen
- Barclays Eagle Labs
- Bright Red Triangle - Edinburgh Napier University
- Defence and Security Accelerator
- Entrepreneurial Spark
- ETZ Ltd
- Food and Drink Federation Scotland
- GCU Entrepreneurial Hub
- Net Zero Technology Centre
- ONE BioHub
- ONE SeedPod
- ONE Tech Hub
- RGU - Entrepreneurship & Innovation Group
- Strathclyde Inspire
- The Higgs Centre for Innovation
- The HIVE
- The Royal Bank of Scotland Accelerator
- University of Glasgow
- University of Stirling Enterprise Programme
- Filament STAC
- The Venture Lab by Challenges Group
Entrepreneurial support programmes are vital to Scotland's entrepreneurial ecosystem. They provide targeted support for founders and founding teams in early-stage companies. They offer a dynamic and supportive environment for your start-up.
What is an entrepreneurial support programme?
Entrepreneurial support programmes offer a comprehensive suite of services that could help your business, including:
- Business advice
- Skills training
- Mentoring
They can also sometimes offer access to discretionary funding.
Programmes are usually short term and run for a fixed time. You’ll likely be placed in a cohort of peers, which will be at a similar growth stage or in a similar sector to your business.
The structured format of these programmes encourages collaboration. You can learn from other entrepreneurs, upskill, and build valuable networks.
Find ecosystem support
Search and filter our list of ecosystem organisations to find the right support for your business.
Explore our interactive ecosystem map
Use our interactive map to explore Scotland's entrepreneurial support and find the opportunities available to you and your business.