Scottish entrepreneurs have received a boost from the Tories, who have promised to invest £154m over the next four years in a Scottish Business Start Up Fund.
The Scottish Business Start Up Fund will provide access to enterprise education, vocational training, and provide grants and loans for new businesses.
“Scottish Conservatives have always valued the vital contribution of entrepreneurs and small business to our economy,” says Scottish Conservatives leader Annabel Goldie.
“That’s why, in the most recent Budget, we secured £10m for business startups, job creation and exporting, which was part of a package that will create over 10,000 jobs. But we can do more.”
The rate of startups and entrepreneurial businesses in Scotland has “flatlined since the advent of devolution”, at a lower rate than that of the UK overall, so extra funding to encourage entrepreneurship will be welcomed.
Additionally, the Scottish Conservatives have pledged to create a minister for enterprise and jobs in the Scottish government, and will make it compulsory for colleges and universities to offer enterprise training.
“It’s common sense to put our faith in our entrepreneurs so we nurture new businesses, design new products and create new jobs. The only way to pull Scotland out of Labour’s debt legacy is to grow the private sector,” adds Goldie.
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