The Scotland Can Do SCALE 2017 summer school was launched today (Wednesday 3rd May 2017) and this year is seeking ambitious innovative entrepreneurs who want to scale up their business.
Everyone taking part will be supported by leading international educators from MIT as well as Scotland’s exceptional entrepreneurial ecosystem to develop and grow their business.
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The three day residential programme (30 July to 02 Aug ) will introduce a practical structured inspirational skills for growth programme from world-leading experts in entrepreneurship and business practice, with specialists from Scotland hosting sessions throughout the week.
There will also be an Alumni refresher day (03 August) where previous cohorts will be engaged in targeted problem solving discussions/activities around specific topics that may be hindering their growth.
Applications are open until 24th May 2017 at 5pm. For full details on the application journey, eligibility and to apply, visit our website at www.cando.scot/scale, or via the online link at http://mailchi.mp/b6085c38ccf5/scale-summer-school-now-open-for-applications.
Since inception in 2015, 127 businesses have benefited from previous summer schools in terms of increasing turnover, employing more staff and raising ambition. The programme comes highly recommended by alumni. The objective of the programme is to build a community of entrepreneurs leading scalable businesses across Scotland, with ongoing support provided to those with ambition and potential for growth. The programme is targeted at those who have already started a business and have a passion for growth including;
– Ambitious innovation driven entrepreneurs who want to grow their business internationally
– Experienced founders who are seeing their business growth stall and need to be re-energised.
– Corporate innovators and influencers of business that need a structured approach to achieve scale on a global level.
Quotes from the Alumni –
Amy Livingstone and Julie Wilson Co-founders and of Cheeky Chompers who created the Neckerchew, participated jointly in 2016. They said:
‘We have 33 markets in different countries and whilst we recognise the persona’s of our target audience in the UK and Ireland, it was really beneficial to take a practical approach to understand those in international markets. The course leaders were fantastic and it was brilliant to have access to them. If you want to scale up to need to have he right people, product and marketing. We’ve been inspired and developed a great network of contacts’.
Adam Gordon CEO & Co-Founder, Social Media Search & Candidate.ID, took part in 2016. He said:
‘This was one of the best experiences of my career to date. I knew it was going to be useful but this Summer School was way beyond my expectations. Throughout the last 5 days I have been progressively more impressed with all the inspiring entrepreneurs I’ve been lucky to meet’.
Quotes in support from the partners
‘Building a business to scale is a tremendous challenge anywhere in the world. As Scotland endeavours to build a Scale-up movement we need a variety of activities to come together to make this happen. The SCALE summer school provides a key component by introducing a practical, structured inspirational process to build highly ambitious growth businesses’. Sandy Kennedy, Entrepreneurial Scotland.
‘This high-growth training programme gives Scotland’s most promising businesses the guidance, inspiration and expert advice they need to grow. The 2016 cohort was as diverse as Scotland’s economy, with a craft brewery from Nairn, a baby accessory manufacturer from Midlothian and a web application developer from Edinburgh now part of the SCALE alumni. What they all have in common is drive and ambition to develop their innovations into international success stories’. Eleanor Mitchell, director of Entrepreneur Growth, Scottish Enterprise
The SCALE programme is delivered in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Funding Council and supported by the Scottish Government and Entrepreneurial Scotland.
