Latest news with #SouthofScotlandEnterprise
Daily Record
08-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Dumfries and Galloway scheme to help new entrepreneurs gets £1.5 million boost
The South of Scotland Enterprise Pathways Pre-Start is continuing after a successful pilot stage. A programme aiming to help people in Dumfries and Galloway turn their business ideas into reality has received a £1.5 million funding boost. The South of Scotland Enterprise Pathways Pre-Start programme awarded grants of up to £1,000 to nearly 400 people during a successful pilot last year. It also offered specialist coaching to hundreds of existing or potential business founders to help them with their business ideas and build confidence. The Scottish Government has now allocated the pilot a further £1.5 million so it can continue this year. It's part of a £6 million investment that aims to focus on supporting women and other under-represented groups to become entrepreneurs. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: 'A successful, vibrant economy needs high-growth, innovative start-up businesses and that in turn is reliant on supporting and nurturing business talent – talent which I know lies in every corner of our country. 'I am determined to break down any and all barriers for any business-minded person who wants to start or develop their business idea or company, and this incredibly successful Pathways pilot run by South of Scotland Enterprise has illustrated how effective pre-start intervention can be. 'Three in four of those who accessed the programme's coaching services said that the things that previously held them back from starting a business were no longer barriers. This is a powerful illustration of the pilot's success and I am delighted to support its continuation for a further year as part of our commitment to deliver the recommendations of the Pathways report and tackle under-representation in business.' South of Scotland Enterprise chief executive, Jane Morrison-Ross, said: 'The goal of Pathways was to support the ambitions of new and under-represented founders across thesouth of Scotland, by reaching people with fantastic ideas but who did not think of themselves as entrepreneurs. 'We worked with 269 women and people from other under-represented groups to create over 100 new, innovative businesses. 'With the support of the Scottish Government, we will now take this further, unlocking the fantastic potential in the south, breaking more barriers to growth and unleashing the power of the rural economy.'
Scotsman
08-08-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Dumfries and Galloway College boosted by new SOSE investment to help tackle digital poverty
Dumfries and Galloway College (DGC) is proud to announce it has taken a significant step forward in addressing digital poverty and empowering student innovation, thanks to a £50,000 investment from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE). Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The funding has enabled the college to deliver a major upgrade to its wireless infrastructure and invest in a new range of modern laptops, boosting digital inclusion and enhancing learning opportunities for students across both the Dumfries and Stranraer campuses. These devices will be available to students to support their learning, drive innovation projects and explore entrepreneurial ventures. By equipping learners with the tools they need to succeed, the college aims to foster confidence, creativity and develop skillsets that align with regional and national ambitions for economic growth. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad At the same time, the upgraded Wi-Fi access points have significantly improved campus-wide connectivity, ensuring students will benefit from a digitally secure and reliable learning environment. This is particularly vital for students from rural or lower-income backgrounds, where access to high-quality digital resources can often be a barrier to success. Douglas Dickson, Principal and CEO, Dumfries and Galloway College Kirstie Scrimgeour, Entrepreneurship Lead at SOSE, said: 'SOSE is delighted to support Dumfries and Galloway College with this digital inclusion and entrepreneurial development project. 'This assistance came from our Pathways programme, which is a Scottish Government-funded pilot supporting the ambitions of new and under-represented founders across the South of Scotland. 'Pathways provided specialist coaching to 269 existing or prospective business founders across the South in 2024/2025 to help kick-start their business ideas and build business confidence. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'SOSE is continuing its efforts to work with all of our region's colleges to deliver more entrepreneurial activity this year as part of the Pathways Programme.' Douglas Dickson, Principal and CEO, Dumfries and Galloway College, said: 'We are grateful to South of Scotland Enterprise for this valuable investment. By improving our digital infrastructure and providing students with access to modern laptops, we are tackling digital poverty head-on and creating an inclusive, future-focused learning environment. 'These resources will support our students not only in their day-to-day studies, but also in developing entrepreneurial skills, testing new ideas and contributing to the economic future of the South of Scotland.'
Daily Record
05-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Communities across Dumfries and Galloway could benefit from heat networks
The project could provide a string of economic, environmental and social benefits – including job creation and tackling fuel poverty. Communities across Dumfries and Galloway could be in line to benefit from heat networks. And the project could provide a string of economic, environmental and social benefits – including job creation and tackling fuel poverty. South of Scotland Enterprise, along with Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders, have unveiled the first ever South of Scotland Heat Networks Prospectus. South of Scotland Enterprise chairman, Russel Griggs OBE, said: 'This prospectus highlights the massive potential for heat networks in the South of Scotland, providing heat for low cost and lower impact on the environment. 'Alongside our partners in both local councils, we want the south of Scotland to be leading the way in developing smaller shared heat collector style network and believe this prospectus can inspire practical action and investment in pilot projects.' The networks would see thermal energy from a central source distributed to multiple properties. A total of 19 opportunities for networks have been identified across the south of Scotland – which would cost around £120 million to develop and provide up to 120,000 megawatt hours of heat per year. Three larger scale district networks have been identified in Dumfries and Galloway – Stranraer, the Crichton in Dumfries and Dumfries town centre, which would cover buildings such as DGOne and Dumfries Academy. There are also NUMBER smaller shared heat collector networks – Crossmichael, Langholm, Halcrow in Gretna, Kelloholm – using geothermal energy from former coal mines – the Midsteeple Quarter in Dumfries and public buildings in Annan, including the swimming pool and Annan Academy. It's hoped the prospectus can help encourage practical action and investment in pilot and larger projects, with events and webinars planned to share the potential benefits. Dumfries and Galloway Council leader, Councillor Stephen Thompson, said: 'The launch of the South of Scotland Heat Networks Prospectus marks a major step forward in our region's journey toward a more sustainable and resilient future. 'Heat networks offer a real opportunity to decarbonise heating, reduce carbon emissions, tackle fuel poverty, and create new jobs and skills.' 'We're working in partnership with South of Scotland Enterprise and Scottish Borders Council to identify practical, place-based solutions that can deliver long-term economic, environmental and social benefits. 'This prospectus lays the groundwork for meaningful investment and action, and we look forward to seeing these opportunities develop into real-world projects that support our region's transition to Net Zero.'
Daily Record
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
New document aims to highlight Dumfries and Galloway housing opportunities
The South of Scotland Housing Prospectus outlines the unique development opportunities in the region A new document aims to highlight the housebuilding opportunities available across Dumfries and Galloway. The South of Scotland Housing Prospectus outlines the unique development opportunities in the region, some of the key sites and the partners who stand ready to help bring forward developments. With an expectation that more than 9,000 new homes may be needed over the next decade, the project aims to encourage housebuilders and developers to gain a foothold in the region. The prospectus has been co-produced by the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership with independent property specialists Rettie and Co and is a key part of the South of Scotland Housing Action Plan, which the Scottish Government launched last year. Housing Minister Paul McLennan said: 'I'm encouraged by the strong partnership approach in developing the Prospectus to support the delivery of more homes, of all tenures, across the South of Scotland. 'Good quality housing is critical to support health, wellbeing, life chances, job prospects, tackling child poverty and driving economic growth. 'We remain focussed on delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 across Scotland with at least 10% of these in rural and island areas. 'That is why we are investing £768m illion through the affordable housing supply budget this financial year.' South of Scotland Enterprise chairman, Russel Griggs OBE, said: 'Never has there been such an exciting time for the South of Scotland with unprecedented levels of investment paving the way for new jobs, better connecting places and attracting new people to live, work and learn in the south of Scotland. 'This prospectus shows that the south of Scotland is open for business to housing developers. 'The demand for quality homes across all tenures is undeniable, and we look forward to working with developers on this exciting journey.' Dumfries and Galloway Council Leader, Councillor Gail Macgregor added: 'The south of Scotland needs more housing, and this prospectus showcases that the region is a prime location for developers to build homes. 'There is a strong partnership approach and support from regional partners, ensuring the delivery of homes is a priority.'
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership receives new funding from South of Scotland Enterprise
The Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Partnership has received a new funding package from South of Scotland Enterprise. The funding will help support a number of projects, including boosting efforts to restore nature at a landscape scale and a red squirrel conservation scheme. The partnership is aiming to deliver new pilot projects that contribute to the Scottish Government's net zero and biodiversity strategies, as well as continue its programme of community and sustainable business development – such as the biosphere certification mark and biosphere communities programme. Chairman of the partnership's board of trustees, John Thomson, said: 'The funding we are acknowledging will help to power the UNESCO biosphere through a critical time. 'We recognise the tight budgetary constraints currently facing both the public and third sectors and against that background are greatly encouraged that South of Scotland Enterprise continues to recognise through its funding support the diverse benefits that UNESCO designation and the GSAB Partnership's activities bring to the region. 'Beyond funding, SOSE has championed the UNESCO biosphere as a driver of investment in South Scotland through sustainable business and tourism, and as a key protection for the natural and cultural heritage on which this depends.' The biosphere partnership also receives core funding from Dumfries and Galloway, South Ayrshire and East Ayrshire Councils and as a registered Scottish charity also raises funds from grants, donations and legacies. A previous funding award from SOSE in 2020 allowed the partnership to raise the area's profile through programme such as the Heart of the Biosphere documentary and Merrick Scottish Blackface Knitwear. South of Scotland Enterprise chairman, Russel Griggs OBE, said: 'We are delighted to be one of the funders supporting the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, a proven asset for the region and one with huge potential still to be explored. 'We are particularly excited for the next phase of the biosphere's work in net zero and nature recovery as part of Scotland's Natural Capital Innovation Zone, which brings such immense scope for progress not only in policy and strategy but for grassroots action through which the whole of the South can truly thrive.' Biosphere director, Ed Forrest, added: 'The support of SOSE both as a funder and as partner in the development and delivery of shared objectives within the UNESCO biosphere will be transformative in empowering our delivery programme, particularly with the renewed focus on natural capital and nature recovery. 'The value of working in partnership with the public sector, businesses, landowners and communities is integral to achieving success in our pursuit of a better future for people and nature in our UNESCO biosphere.'
