Entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter has welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government that they will honour a funding pledge for Scottish EDGE.
“I want to thank, especially, the First Minister,” he said. “The Scottish Government’s budgets are under huge pressure with all the cutbacks. However, we asked them to maintain the help they give to Scottish EDGE. Humza Yousaf has now come back to say they’re going to do so.
“I’m delighted for CEO Evelyn McDonald, who runs Scottish EDGE, because it’s such a brilliant programme.
“I have been critical about the Government listening then doing the polar opposite. But on this occasion they’ve listened to us and they have backed us.
“I’m so passionate about Scottish Edge because it helps fund the businesses where there’s no market mechanism to do so.”
Scotland’s largest business funding competition, Scottish EDGE offers grants and loans ranging from £10,000 to £100,000 to help grow start-ups, social enterprise and charities.
Funded by the Hunter Foundation, the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and private donors, the competition is delivered twice every year and has already supported early-stage businesses with more than £25 million in award funding.
A core tenet is to identify and support Scotland’s innovative, high-growth potential entrepreneurial talent.
Sharing news of the announcement with his Go Radio Business Show co-host, Lord Willie Haughey, Sir Tom noted: “All of this is thanks to Royal Bank of Scotland, the Hunter Foundation, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government.
“But this is the bit I really like: people like you, Willie, putting your hand in your pocket to help Scottish EDGE – as do entrepreneurs such as Chris van der Kuyl, James Watt, Brian Souter and more.
“So the Scottish entrepreneurial community are very much helping this as well. I’d like to say thank you to all of you and thank you to the First Minister!”
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