Scotlands Enterprise Trusts
The Enterprise Trust model was originally established in the early 1980’s in an environment when the Scottish economy was undergoing significant change. Traditional industries such as coal mining, steel, shipbuilding and heavy engineering were all in decline. This had significant impact on local communities and the Enterprise Trusts were established as locally led initiatives across Scotland to support the regeneration of these communities through focusing on small businesses. The Enterprise Trust model incorporates the following characteristics:-
Core activity: encouraging & supporting entrepreneurial activity, creating a steady stream of successful new businesses and supporting the development of established Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) generally of size of up to 25 employees.
Ethos: adding value for SMEs locally through the experience and knowledge of their Boards of Direcctors drawn from both the private and public sectors.
Acting as market makers in service provision and in doing so working with the private sector.
Engaging with the private sector locally and nationally in the development of new and established SMEs.
The Enterprise Trusts are run as a business and generating surpluses but re-investing surpluses in services for the benefit of clients.
Locally-based with a long term commitment to the area they serve developing long term relationships with their clients. In many areas BES members also deliver Business Gateway contracts.
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Statistics and Activities
New-starts
- In the past year BES' members have supported some 9,500 new-starts (this is 95% of Business Gateway's new-start number).
Support for Established Business
- Over 6,000 established and growing businesses supported last year
Survival Rates & Sustainability
- 70 % of supported start-up businesses are still operating after 3 years
- This compares with the frequently quoted figure of 50% for all new-starts
Private Sector Contribution
- Cash and in-kind support estimated at £2 million
Value add activities including
- Midlothian- Business Environmental Partnership
- Edinburgh- engagement of intermediary network & international trade centre
- Highlands, Lanarkshire & SW Scotland- support for rural SMEs
- Glasgow- prime city centre location, expanding outreach
- Forth Valley- property and loan support
- East Lothian- expansion of outlets
- Aberdeenshire- rural networking support
- Dunbartonshire- support for Social economy organisations
Staff
- Over 90% of Trust staff are customer facing
- Network has over 200 qualified Business Advisers
- Further accreditation through ‘Premier Adviser’
- 2/3rds of staff have degrees or equivalent professional qualifications
Business Gateway
- The majority of Scotland's Enterprise Trusts supports the delivery of business services under Business Gateway. The BES network accounts for approximately 95% of Business Gateway small business support.