Creative companies receive investment from Scottish Government fund
This week saw the Scottish Cultural Enterprise Office hand out investment to 27 creative businesses in Scotland, including app developers, publishers and product designers.
Of the 59 creative companies to benefit from the ‘Starter for 6’ programme, which has been running since 2009, 27 were also successful in pitching for cash investment worth up to £10,000.
The Scottish Government has invested £1m over two years into the programme through Creative Scotland’s Innovation Fund.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, commented: "Scotland's creative industries make a valuable contribution to our economy, supporting more than 60,000 jobs and generating £5.2 billion turnover each year.
"We are working closely with the sector as well as relevant public sector agencies, such as the Cultural Enterprise Office, to ensure our creative industries have the support they need to realise their full economic potential and reinforce Scotland's reputation as a place of innovation and creativity.
"By providing access to business skills training and investment, the Starter for 6 programme nurtures talent, creates new entrepreneurs and helps our creative industries to flourish. The commercial success and critical acclaim achieved by so many Starter for 6 start-ups is testament to the wealth of talent and entrepreneurship in Scotland."
Programme manager David Smith, said: "Through the Starter for 6 Network we aim to create a bridge to established innovative entrepreneurs in Scotland and the UK who can provide inspiration, mentoring and advice. In the coming months we will be leading a Product Marketing and Business Model Generation workshop in partnership with Interactive Scotland, a workshop with the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory service and an event with Smart Exporter."