Our Mission
Our collective ambition is to support fellow entrepreneurs to build world class, scalable businesses by sharing experience, access and networks to drive dynamic growth.
Accelerating Growth,
Building Scale
The Hunter Foundation (THF) is a proactive venture philanthropy that seeks to invest in determining model solutions, in partnership with others, to troubling systemic issues relating to poverty reduction and educational enablement.
However it is our strong belief that those geographical factors can be overcome to afford every child an equal opportunity to succeed regardless of location; Kigali, Rwanda or Kilmarnock, Scotland.
By Entrepreneurs For Entrepreneurs
Operated from The Hunter Foundation’s Ayrshire HQ Blair Castle
What People Say
“They say it takes a village to raise a child. After 18 months on the Scale-up Scotland Cohort 3 I can testify how the support from the Scale Up Scotland team, and the network of my fellow CEOs of some great Scottish businesses has helped raise the game at all of our companies. In the last 18months Trojan’s workforce has grown from 16 to over 60 and I am grateful for all I’ve learnt, and the lifelong friends made as part of the programme. My thanks again to the Scale Up team especially Ken Whipp and Ewan Hunter and to Sir Tom Hunter for his vision and passion to support Scottish Businesses.”
Ian McKenzie
CEO Trojan Energy
“Graduation day at Scale up Scotland. A huge thank you to Sir Tom, The Hunter Foundation, Peter, Ewan and of course CLO Ken Whipp. 20 rapidly scaling Scottish businesses and emboldened CEO’s growing together with lifetime relationships built. Our wee business has doubled during our 18 month journey as Cohort 3. Sad to leave the fabulous Blair Castle today yet energised and empowered to march ahead with our galvanised team and strategy. Slainte”
Scott Watson
CEO Crucial Drinks
“If you are ever lucky enough to get the chance to go on #scaleupscotland, count your lucky stars, grab the opportunity with both hands and don’t look back. There are few things you could ever do that will challenge and grow you as a leader and entrepreneur. Amazing content and speakers, peer learning, inspiring stories, connections you could only dream of making and a no d*ckhead and no bullsh*t allowed mentality. Ken Whipp you are an inspiration to all of us and so many others, thank you for making this happen, I’m forever grateful for everything you’ve unlocked for me.”
Mark Lamb
CEO & Founder @ HighGround | CEO & Co-Founder @ m3 Networks Limited
“Thank you Scale up Scotland. It has been the most inspiring experience to have met and spent so much time with Scotland’s fastest growing companies and to see their growth from when we began 18 months ago to where they are now.
This is truly one of the best Scale Up Courses in the world. Thank you, Hunter Foundation, Ken Whipp.”
Jamie Douglas-Hamilton
Founder & Executive Director at ACTIPH Water
“What a great couple of days at Scale up Scotland at the exceptional Blair House with an even more exceptional group!
The programme was inspirational and challenged me to think from a different perspective from the minute it started. I learned so much to put into practice Connekt EV Charging and I can’t thank Ken Whipp and the team for the opportunity enough and look forward to meeting with the amazing cohort at the next meeting.”
Johnny Manning
Director at Connekt EV Charging
“Hi Tom, Wanted to drop you a note personally to say thanks for last couple of days and more generally about what you are doing for entrepreneurs in Scotland. It’s amazing, practical, and making a difference. I am still on a high!
We went into Scale Up in 2018 as a £2m business and by the end of 2.0 will almost have 10x growth. The connections, learning and peer group has absolutely been part of this growth.
I love to see success in others and feel so proud when seeing the cohorts doing well and making big moves, it can be lonely and having people that really understand where you are is powerful. There is also something else – the healthy competition that the programme breeds – which is dynamite.”
Laura Davidson
CEO Tag Digital
“Thank you to all involved, left feeling hugely inspired.”
Richard Madden
Managing Director at Subsurface Global
“We can wholeheartedly recommend the Scale Up Scotland programme as the best business growth programme we have ever participated in across 15 years in business. The growth lessons learned, for example, how to create a strong people culture, strategic 3-5 year planning and export strategy, are all now cornerstones of Safehinge Primera’s growth. In addition to this, the network of cohort members and professional advisors is second to none and we regularly benefit from this network in a fundamentally important way. Superb programme.”
Philip Ross & Martin Izod
Co-founders – Safehinge Primera
“Scale Up has given us access to industry experts and contacts that we could not have afforded or had access to otherwise. This has resulted in us making positive strategic changes within our business and gaining access to contract opportunities. It is also hugely beneficial to speak regularly with a group of founders and CEOs who are facing the same challenges as you on a daily basis but can offer insight and experience from different industries on how to overcome these challenges.”
Jennifer Higgins
Managing Director – The Wee House Group
“Scale Up Scotland speakers are of a high calibre throughout and the sessions challenge from day one.”
Darina Garland
Co-Founder Ooni
“At Scale-up Scotland you meet inspiring cross sector entrepreneurs and have the opportunity to explore common challenges as a group.”
Marie Owen
Founder LS Productions
“Scale-up Scotland gives you time out of business to think and has an actionable take home from each session.”
Callum Marray
Founder Amiqus
“Scale-up Scotland events constitute a trusting and respectful space… with no egos! The cohort is made up of focused and driven individuals, working hard to scale their own business, but everyone makes time to both listen and offer council to each other. It is a privilege to be able to share thoughts with such a talented group, all of whom have grown in capability and stature and have totally inspired me over the past year.”
Ross Tuffee
Founder Dogfish Mobile
“Scale-Up-Scotland has been a very worthwhile endeavour and experience for both EnteroBiotix and me personally. The quality of the cohort was phenomenal and the guest speakers at each meet up are also world class. I would strongly recommend this course to any Founder or CEO that is leading a fast-growing business with international ambition. Thank you to the Hunter Foundation, Entrepreneurial Scotland and all of the speakers for making it happen.”
Dr James McIllroy
Founder Enterobiotix
“Scale Up Scotland’s session with Bob Keiller on the art of communicating a vision was instrumental in our £8.5m Series A fundraise.”
Andrew Parfery
Co-founder Care Sourcer
“The Scale-up Scotland group is both a support mechanism and a springboard. We share challenges and experiences that friends, and family just don’t understand. The session with Mark Beaumont was game-changing for us. We have adopted his philosophy of not just setting high expectations but working to a whole new set of averages.”
Jo Chidley
Co-founder Beauty Kitchen
“Scale-up Scotland brings together different companies, with different problems, and through challenging and supporting each other there is an immensely positive effect.”
Claus Marquordt
Founder Integrated Graphene
“I’ve aimed to bring at least one new thing back to the business after each two-day block. That could be focus in a specific area, an approach, or a different way of looking at an issue – and so far, I haven’t failed to do this. The programme content is consistently thought provoking and relevant to a company looking to scale.”
Sarah Mathieson
Managing Director Fleming Homes
“Scale up Scotland puts together the cohort in such a way where everyone has something to contribute. It creates a safe and respectful place to be challenged and share successes. Scale Up Scotland has allowed the time and space to work on the business rather than in it. I have made a positive change following each session; from restructuring the organisation to introducing a new delivery approach.”
Marie Claire Tully
CEO Columba 1400
“The idea behind Scale up Scotland is great but even more impressive has been the inspiring programme that has been delivered to the first cohort. It does not surprise me that collectively as a group we have seen significant growth within our companies. To be around aspirational, high integrity, like-minded Entrepreneurs and business owners whilst simultaneously being coached by top business leaders is a recipe for success. I feel very lucky to have been selected to be on the first programme and look forward to putting my training into action to help Digitonic scale and exit.”
Grant Fraser
CEO Digitonic
Application Process
Pre-Scaler
Our programme Pre-Scaler is currently full. To pre-register fill in the form below.
Scale Up Core
Applications are currently open
Scale Up 2.0
We are currently recruiting our next cohort. To pre-register fill in the form below.
News
14.02.2024
HUNT IS ON FOR THE NEXT SCOTTISH UNICORN
20.10.2023
Scale up Scotland in partnership with the Scottish National Investment Bank
13.10.2023
SEARCH IS ON FOR SCOTLAND’S NEXT £1 BILLION + BUSINESS
05.09.2023
Hunter Foundation launches Pre-scaler programme for entrepreneurs
03.09.2023
Pre-Scaler Programme Doubles Amid Unprecedented Demand
£460.18m
Total Revenues
2,594
Jobs created
£156,071,804
Year on Year revenue uplift
£247,552,729
Funding
Get in touch
To contact us please complete the enquiry form and we shall get back to you as soon as possible.