Scottish EDGE is the UK’s biggest small business funding competition, aiming to identify and support Scotland’s up and coming, innovative, high growth potential entrepreneurial talent. Businesses and Social Enterprises from across all sectors apply and then are assessed through a 1st stage online application and video assessment followed by a semi-final live pitching stage through to the final where they pitch on stage in front of a panel of judges and a live audience for prizes of up to £100,000 split 60:40 loan and grant. To date, we have invested more than £14 million in 369 businesses who have collectively created 1858 jobs, generated over £151 million in additional turnover and secured £124 million in additional investment.

The Scottish Design Exchange (SDX) is a shopping experience that offers uniquely created and affordable products and gives hard working artists, designers and craftspeople 100% of the sale proceeds. Founded by local entrepreneur Lynzi Leroy, this community interest company runs a store in Edinburgh, with another soon to follow in Glasgow’s Buchanan Galleries. It currently supports 150 contemporary Scottish based artists and designers. Each artist/designer pays a nominal rent for a display space they then make their own.

The Small Business Charter is an Award scheme designed to recognise business schools with exceptional levels of engagement with SMEs. Those business schools who receive an Award will be those who can demonstrate ‘good practice’ in relation to the way that they: actively support the growth of small firms, actively engage with other stakeholders in the growth agenda, provide their students with relevant start-up support

This role covers all aspects of the PSYBT's work with growing businesses with specific responsibility for the Growth Fund, the Innovation Fund and referrals to Scottish Enterprise's Growth Pipeline and Account Managment. Alongside the current management team I helped establish the Growth Fund in 2002 to provide access to advice, information, funding and mentoring for PSYBT-supported businesses who are unable to raise the finance they need to grow. The Fund currently works with a target of 25 businesses a year and a budget of £250,000 offering Development Loans of up to £10,000 and Accelerator Loans of up to £25,000. In September 2009 PSYBT launched the pilot Innovation Fund to meet the demand from young people with an idea for an innovative product or service who lack the resources and support to develop and harness the commercial potential. A budget of £90,000 enables us to support 5 new businesses a year. In addition to on-growing mentoring support Growth and Innovation Fund businesses have their own Supper Club, Newsletter and Annual Awards.