Partnership with Scottish edge hopes to boost scaling businesses
The Hunter Foundation (“THF”) today launched a programme to support potential high growth businesses to scale in partnership with Scottish EDGE.
The Pre-Scaler programme will see entrepreneurs go through a combination of online and in-person development events aimed at accelerating their growth and ability to then move to scale. This complements THF’s ScaleupScotland core and 2.0 programmes and aims to provide a pipeline of scaling businesses.
The development events will kick off with a core module on fundraising, valuation and cost of capital, then complemented with modules on people planning, leadership, sales and marketing.Board and governance training will be delivered by our established ScaleUp programme partners including David Sole’s School for CEOs.
Pre-Scaler is open to any entrepreneur running a business that has real ambition and drive to go to scale and will be hosted at THF’s headquarters at www.blairestate.co.uk
Commenting on the development programme, Sir Tom Hunter, founder of THF noted;
“Scaling businesses move the economic dial and we need to do more to support those with that ambition to accelerate their growth in a managed way. Importantly this will be delivered by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs – people who know the pain, pitfalls and opportunities building a scalable business brings..
We have seen through our support for Scottish EDGE that those with real ambition frankly need a lot more support than is on offer or available hence Pre-Scaler.”
Evelyn McDonald, CEO of Scottish Edge added:
“Scottish EDGE is delighted to be partnering with the Hunter Foundation to deliver this programme aimed at growing businesses. We know from experience that our businesses need more than just cash in their journey to scale and this series of workshops aims to help them with their development”.
Scottish EDGE backed businesses will be encouraged to apply, however the programme is open to any ambitious entrepreneur based in Scotland.
Applications open now and close March 24th – entrepreneurs should submit a two minute video (iphone quality) to scaleup@thehunterfoundation.co.uk covering their business; revenue from the past year; ambition in five years’ time and any plans to fundraise. The programme is sector agnostic.
Up to twenty pre-scaling businesses will be selected for the first cohort by four judges, Chris van der Kuyl, Principal of Chroma Ventures; Ana Stewart, Partner at EOS Advisory; Evelyn McDonald, CEO of Scottish EDGE and Ewan Hunter, CEO of THF.
Participating entrepreneurs can expect to commit up to 5 days in total to the programme starting in May this year and concluding September where they will have the option to pitch to a panel of potential investors.