Nurturing young business minds 4/2/14
Finance Secretary John Swinney has announced a funding pot to help support the next
generation of young business people turn their ideas into successful businesses.
The new Young Scottish EDGE Fund’ fund will be open to 18-25 year olds who can apply
for funding and support from public, private and third sector partners.
The applicants will be invited to pitch their ideas to peers who will in turn select
the top Young EDGE Fund ideas who will benefit from mentoring and support through
the Princes Trust Youth Business Scotland to turn their ideas into profitable businesses.
Launching the fund, Mr Swinney said: “Our young people are our greatest asset and
it is crucial, perhaps more now than ever, that we see their economic potential unleashed.
“We are determined to see more young people starting their own businesses in Scotland.
We have already seen success stories from the EDGE Fund from all around the country
involving dynamic growth-focused individuals starting up and sustaining successful
ventures.
“As a nation we can be proud of our unique heritage of entrepreneurship, inventiveness
and innovation. But history is just that unless it inspires us to new heights of
ambition. Scotland continues to make good progress on youth employment and we remain
better placed than the rest of the UK, but we aspire to be amongst the best in Europe.
“Our vision of Scotland is that of a world-leading entrepreneurial and innovative
nation where businesses can develop and prosper.”