Category: News

Now that the Scottish Government has published the ambitious National Strategy for Economic Transformation it is time for all stakeholders to work together to turn ambitions into action. When confronted by a challenge most of us are hardwired to act quickly, now might be the moment, however, to actually pause, listen and reflect on what is needed if Scotland really wants an economy that will deliver on a triple bottom line.  

One of the most important set of voices we must hear is that of the leaders of the scaling  firms which will be the powerhouse of future economic transformation in Scotland. It is these businesses that will do the heavy lifting, translating policy into performance, innovating to create net zero solutions, opening opportunities to build a just and equal society. The leaders of these firms are, however, busy people, they work in many diverse sectors, they are located across all parts of Scotland. 

By running a series of Discovery workshops with 50 leaders from these scaling firms and their support ecosystems, we have made this task of listening easy. A summary report that communicates the significance of these businesses and the needs of their founders and leaders has just been published through the Scotland Can Do initiative.

It is clear that the scaleup agenda must be prioritised in Scotland to deliver improved access to talent, markets, investment and know-how. The report details how those doing the heavy lifting want to see this happen. To deliver real change this won’t be about pursuing business as usual, everybody in the support ecosystem needs to acknowledge a step change is needed. Colleges & Universities need to deliver on the real skills needs of scaling firms: Why does no Scottish University have a Professor of Sales? Why is there such a gap in digital skills within the Scottish workforce? Networks of peer-to-peer learning are needed, scaling firms are at the cutting edge of whatever they are doing, they want advice and insights from near peers, those who have just tackled a similar challenge, but does current signposting and networking support this? Collaboration across silos is needed, over compartmentalising a relatively small economy doesn’t open up Scotland’s cross-sector innovation potential. Scotland’s takes a relatively public sector heavy approach, is this significant investment of taxpayer’s money acting as a catalyst by procuring in innovative ways? Is everybody in the ecosystem working to build a clear brand in the minds of potential investors who are increasingly located outside Scotland? 

If Scotland listens carefully to these voices, it has an opportunity to develop actions that will really deliver on the ambitions of the National Strategy for Economic Transformation. Take 20 minutes out of your day to read the report and reflect on the voices of scaling firms before you suggest an action that might seem logical but simply promotes the status quo.  

Read the full Scaleup Report here.

Want to learn a bit more about about the report or submit any feedback? We would love to hear from you. Contact us: hello@cando.scot

Raising Partners Live: Funding in Focus, the latest hybrid conference, is coming to Glasgow next week, which gives young businesses the ability to pitch their companies to the panel of VC’s and gain invaluable feedback. The day-long conference commences on Tuesday 10^th May and will focus on everything that’s needed when it comes to raising investment. With limited free tickets available, attendees will hear from an array of world-class speakers, take part in practical workshops, meet investors, and even have the chance to pitch business ideas to the professionals.

Founded in 2017, Raising Partners was created to bring a much-needed specialism to the notoriously hard to crack investment world. Raising Partners offers first-class support and investment through strategy series and angel investment syndicates. As experts in early-stage investment, Raising Partners collaborates with clients to establish a solid investment strategy. This support also gives clients the opportunity to be introduced to relevant investors and gives them the confidence to execute funding campaigns successfully. The work of Raising Partners creates a level playing field for businesses, from Pre-seeds to Series- B, by de-mystifying the investment landscape.

Raising Partners Live: Funding in Focus will allow Entrepreneurs to gain essential skills to raise their next round of funding and learn from founders as they share their fundraising success stories and here from an investor panel, including Edward Keelan (Investment Principal of Octopus Ventures), Avent Bezuidenhout (Head of Investment of Earth Capital) and Julien Callede (Co-Founder of Made.com). Attendees will also get the chance to meet with fellow entrepreneurs and investors, which is an excellent opportunity to share ideas, connect and gain confidence in the environment.

Creating inclusive spaces for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and scale-ups, is such an integral role in maintaining and nourishing the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Opportunities such as Raising Partners Live: Funding in Focus, is also a huge building block for Scottish businesses, as they can change the entire trajectory of the companies. 

Managing Director of Raising Partners, Helena Murphy, says:

Raising Partners Live is the event I wish had existed for me when I first raised investment for my ecommerce business 10 years ago. I’m thrilled to be able to bring together a room of world-class investors, experts and entrepreneurs to deliver inspiring, practical and action-orientated content in my home city of Glasgow. 

Ticket holders will be able to attend the event online or in person, and will have the choice of participating either workshops or watching online bonus sessions which will include:

• 3 Fundamentals of Getting Investor Ready
• A Practical Guide to Raising Your Seed Round
• Raising your Next £1m+ from a VC
• From Seed to Series A – A Tactical Guide.

Raising Partners Live: Funding in Focus takes place on Tuesday 10^th May, from 09:15-17:00 at the Technology and Innovation Centre in Glasgow.

To find out more about the Raising Partners Live: Funding in Focus conference, and to secure your ticket, visit their site.

It’s been a busy few weeks for our Can Do Collabs! From engaging with Scottish Government Ministers, to participating in COP26, and hosting community events, there’s been lots to keep up-to-date on and celebrate! We thought we’d take the opportunity to share a little bit of background on Collabs for those less familiar with them, as well as share a summary of current activity and progress! 

Background 

The Collective has been wrestling with a big question: “How can we support more Can Do partners, from diverse spheres of influence, to actively and effectively work together to positively impact Scotland’s entrepreneurial landscape?” In 2020, we set out to tackle this challenge, by developing Collabs and turning good will and intent into action, through offering interested Partners training in practical innovation tools and methodologies to support collaboration. 

Inspired by the Collective Impact methodology, Collabs are working groups that enable actors from different worlds to collaborate around common themes, to proactively address issues their communities are grappling with. They involve and engage both those who can impact, and will be impacted by, the outcomes. Designed to increase the odds of success and amplify positive impact, Collabs provide a structure to bring forward solutions for issues which prevent growth for Scotland, through the sharing of knowledge, expertise, research, and best practice.  

What outcomes would we like to see as a result of Collabs? 

• Practical business tools and solutions to address key challenges 
• Harnessing the intellectual capital of Collective 
• Suggestions for positive policy change 
• Improving business confidence and resilience 
• Honest and clear answers regarding barriers to policy or funding 

What’s New?

There are three active Collabs that are working together and supporting continuous communications between Partners and The Scottish Government, through a series of Ministerial roundtables.  In October the Collab Chairs had the opportunity to meet with Mr Ivan McKee, Scottish Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, to strengthen the spirit of collaboration between them, while raising awareness of the potential for Collabs to deliver real benefits for Scotland. They also explored how Collabs could support the National Strategy for Economic Transformation. 

Green Economy: Supporting entrepreneurial businesses in the drive for a greener, more sustainable, net-zero economy. Co-Chaired by Kirsty Black, Arbikie Highlands Estate & Josiah Lockhart, Firstport 

What have they been up to? 

• Gathering market research about climate action within Scottish businesses, results from which will help evidence support and investment needed in the sector. It will also shape the direction of travel for the Collabs as they champion sustainable practices in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. You can complete and share the survey here 
• Collab member, Jo Chidley, Founder of Beauty Kitchen has teamed up with others to present ICE Hub Glasgow during COP26 and beyond, as a collaborative space to connect delegates, business leaders, policy makers and the public around climate solutions.  
• Presenting updates and sharing ambitions at Can Do Collective’s quarterly gathering this month before having a deeper dive roundtable with Ministers early next year. 

Youth & Next Generation: Supporting the next generation of talent into ‘good’ jobs through engagement with Scotland’s entrepreneurial businesses, whether in those businesses or by creating their own. Chaired by Geoff Leask, Young Enterprise Scotland 

What have they been up to? 

• Following October’s roundtable, the Youth and Next Generation Collab went on to engage with Mr Jamie Hepburn, Scottish Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training. Convened by Colin Cook, Director for Economic Development, Scottish Government, the Collab shared their recommendations to bring parity of esteem for the next generation of talent as they plan their entrepreneurial future, by outlining and discussing the challenges and opportunities for youth enterprise. They’re now following up with next steps. 

Scale up: Supporting better quality and number of scale-ups in Scotland. Chaired by Sandy Kennedy, IGS Limited 

What have they been up to? 

• Building on the foundations laid by the Logan Report, the Collective Impact methodology, and ongoing Scale research work over the past 3 years, the Collab successfully hosted a series of six summer workshops with a range of stakeholders. The aim was to gain input for a Scottish Government commissioned report that will set out a shared, systems method to supporting Scottish scale up businesses. 
• In November, the Collab hosted a virtual event and welcomed wider input and comments from The Collective, to enrich the drafted Scale Up Ecosystem Report. 
• Hosted Saltire Scholar, Allyson Smith, to support the delivery of the workshops and develop international comparisons research, which will be featured in the report.  
• The final report is to be completed later this month, before it’s publicly available. 

What’s Next? 

We hope to bring you more information into the new year about opportunities to get involved with the existing and new Collabs. For now here are a few ways you can engage with the work of the Collabs and follow their journey: 

• Complete the Green Collab survey and invite the businesses you support to do the same! 
• Watch the Scale Up Collab present their findings in this short presentation
• Get the latest updates, share input and connect with all the Collabs directly via their online Forums
• Learn more about Collective Impact and why we think it’s a great model for ecosystem collaboration

We’d love to hear from you if you have ideas on issues/subjects which would warrant the focus of a new Collab. Drop us a line via hello@cando.scot  

Scotland Can Do is a national initiative, funded by the Scottish Government, to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation through collaboration, to help tackle our country’s biggest challenges. At the heart of Scotland Can Do is a joined-up, multisector community of over 70 partners who all support entrepreneurs or entrepreneurial endeavours across different sectors, sizes and geographies. Together known as the Can Do Collective, this community of like-minded leaders are on a mission to provide enterprise and skills support that will enable individuals, and businesses of all kinds, to make a positive impact in Scotland and beyond.

One of the key elements for growing a strong and thriving entrepreneurial community is investing in the leadership capacity of ecosystem partners. That is why Scotland Can Do is committed to deepening the skills, confidence and connections of Can Do Collective partners, so that the impact they deliver is amplified and positively influences not only their organisational contexts, but the growth of the wider ecosystem.

Following a successful pilot in Dec 2020 on the topic of Navigating Volatility, this winter the Scotland Can Do programme has launched a bespoke Resilient Leadership Catalyst programme. This unique, immersive learning experience will take place virtually across two cohorts, in November 2021 and March 2022. It has been designed for leaders who belong to the Can Do Collective and are ready to amplify their impact and positively influence their organisations, the entrepreneurial ecosystem and Scotland. 

“I was very excited about the opportunity to finally go to Babson College, even if only online, through the Catalyst programme and thoroughly enjoyed the interesting, thought provoking and entertaining sessions with Jay Rao.  However, of equal if not more value was the chance to reflect on what we’d learned and the challenges we’d faced with my peers in the Can Do Collective.” – Evelyn McDonald, CEO, Scottish EDGE (2020 Participant)

“Taking part in the Catalyst opportunity, Navigating Volatility with Babson, was a very timely and beneficial experience to me both personally and organisationally. The pandemic brought along so many uncertainties and the programme was able to strengthen existing methodologies of leadership and add value through the insights of the experts on the programme both from Babson and fellow participants. Highly Recommended!” – Geoff Leask, CEO, Young Enterprise Scotland (2020 Participant)

The Resilient Leadership Catalyst will provide a blend of structed and self-guided learning across 3-months for 10 Can Do Collective partners. The learning experience will stretch the boundaries of participants’ thinking, and enable them to apply new insight, learning and perspectives back into their organisation and their work in partnership across the ecosystem. The programme will enable the participants to learn from peers, share best practice, and connect with international experts in their field, whilst showcase the breadth and productivity of Collective partners.

Introducing the 2021 Can Do Cohort:

Caroline Wylie, Director of Finance & Projects, Challenges Group

Claudia Cavalluzzo, Director, Converge

Elizabeth Pirrie, Chief Opertaing Officer, Investing Women & AccelerateHER

Ghillean Macleod, Senior Project Manager, Highlands & Islands Enterprise

Howell Davies, Sector Engagement Manager, Interface

Kirsty Bathgate, Director, Gearing for Growth

Lindsay Wake, Head of Impact, Social Investment Scotland

Nick Murray, Co-Director, Startup Grind Scotland

Seemab Farooqi, Lecturer, University of Dundee School of Business

Rachel Wallace, Programme Manager, Entrepreneurial Scotland

We asked participants what attracted them to the programme and what they’re most looking forward to.

“I am a Saltire Fellow from the 2014 cohort which means I have spent almost 4 months studying entrepreneurship at Babson College. It’s then that my leadership journey started and never really ended. When I heard about the opportunity to join the Catalyst programme as an eco-system leader, I rushed to secure a place. Babson’s approach to leadership is absolutely unique and I look forward to challenging myself once again, to get comfortable being uncomfortable and to progress my leadership journey for my benefit but also for the benefit of my team and the Scottish entrepreneurial eco-system we support.” – Claudia Cavalluzzo

“The Resilient Leadership Catalyst has come along at just the right time for me. I had been investigating learning opportunities to enhance my leadership skills, when the email from Scotland Can Do arrived in my inbox and it was exactly what I was looking for. The opportunity to learn through Babson College whilst studying alongside my colleagues in the Scotland Can Do Collective is just the right balance of global outlook and local impact. I can’t wait to get stuck in and see what the 2021 cohort can learn and achieve together” – Elizabeth Pirrie

Explore the website to learn more or visit our partnership page to learn about how to provide support and enquire about joining The Collective!