A contract worth up to £42 million has been awarded to Edinburgh-based Codebase to establish seven new tech scaler hubs across Scotland.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the Tech Scaler contract, which is one of the largest investments by the Scottish government into Scotland’s potential as an entrepreneurial nation, ahead of an event at the new Barclays Eagle Lab Campus in Glasgow.
The investment will support tech founders to scale up their businesses by accessing advice and mentorship from industry experts at the hubs. Partners include Google for Start-ups UK, Barclays Eagle Labs and Reforge, a leading San Francisco-based membership programme that teaches startups how to grow using Silicon Valley founders’ best practice.
“Scottish tech startups and scaleups are already a very significant success story and the Scottish Government wants to do even more to build on the sector’s current strength,” Sturgeon said.
“Tech startups right across Scotland will have access to world-class education and mentoring and opportunities for peer learning and networking through the tech scalers.
“For new companies at all stages of their development, Scotland will provide one of the most supportive environments in Europe.”
Codebase is a tech ecosystem support organisation active in 27 hubs across the UK.
The creation of the Tech Scalers network delivers a commitment of the Programme for Government 2021-22 and a key recommendation from the 2020 Scottish Tech Ecosystem Review, carried out by former Skyscanner COO and recently appointed chief entrepreneur, Mark Logan.
“I’m delighted that this contract has now been awarded, so that we can deliver Scotland’s innovative Tech Scalers network, a key recommendation in the Scottish Tech Ecosystem Review,” said Logan.
“Tech Scalers provide Scottish startups with a world-class startup environment in which to learn, grow and succeed. I’m looking forward to working with the Tech Scalers team, to continue to develop Scotland’s technology capability into the future.”
Courses will be hosted by Barclays Eagle Labs, Opportunity North East, a number of Scottish universities and Stirling Council. Upon reaching the advanced level, businesses will receive free access to Reforge – Silicon Valley’s most prestigious provider of education on scaling up.