Scotland is “on the path” to becoming the most entrepreneurial society in the world.
Entrepreneurial Scotland chief executive Sandy Kennedy made the claim as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a £650,000 cash injection by the Scottish Government to support the enterprise group’s work.
The new money came as Ms Sturgeon addressed the Scotland CAN DO Impact Summit at Glasgow Barras , where delegates were invited to re-imagine the global economy.
Mr Kennedy said it was a fitting occasion for the cash injection into Entrepreneurial Scotland to be revealed.
“This investment is not only an endorsement of the progress made by Entrepreneurial Scotland over the past four years, it backs the delivery of the next phase of our strategy which will be published next week.
“We in turn have committed to reinvest the Scottish Government’s support back into the entrepreneurial ecosystem over time.
“We have much still to do and will work ever more closely with like-minded organisations across the public, private and third sectors.
“We have a long way to go but I believe we are now on the path to becoming the most entrepreneurial society in the world.”
Entrepreneurial Scotland is chaired by Dundee businessman Chris van der Kuyl and its ‘Global Mindset’ themed annual conference at Gleneagles Hotel last month brought together scores of leading business people and emerging entrepreneurs.
“Scotland is known for its vision as a world-leading entrepreneurial and innovative nation, one in which growth and innovation go hand-in-hand with fair work and delivering in a way which benefits everyone,” Ms Sturgeon said.
“We want Scotland to be a country that is at the forefront of social and technological progress – to invent, design and manufacture the technologies and products of the future – not simply to consume them. And we want to do all of that in a way which benefits all of society.
“That’s why, in recent years, we’ve placed a heavy emphasis on encouraging more people to be entrepreneurs – to set up new businesses and social enterprises and for the government itself to be more entrepreneurial.”