Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation is an independent charity that exists to equip leaders and talent with the entrepreneurial skills, mindset and connections to create impact.
Scotland needs entrepreneurial leaders and talent across all parts of our economy: start-ups to scale-ups, corporates to social enterprises, in Government and higher education - everywhere.
Our innovative programmes provide transformative experiences, world-class teaching, peer to peer learning and access to a 5,000+ global community.
Our vision is to inspire and develop Scotland's people to build the most entrepreneurial society in the world. Entrepreneurial Scotland is independently funded allowing us the freedom to collaborate with world-class partners in Scotland and internationally who share our vision.
Entrepreneurial Scotland is a community of current and future entrepreneurial leaders worldwide, who are ambitious, globally minded and have the potential to be the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders who will contribute to Scotland’s success.
As a charity, our mission is to transform those who can, in turn, transform Scotland and our entrepreneurial culture. Entrepreneurial people create the jobs, generate the wealth to reinvest, breathe life into the solutions we need. They shape Scotland. In turn, they create new opportunities and enrich our entrepreneurial culture, laying the foundations for future generations. It is a virtuous circle. Our job is to keep that circle spinning.
Founded and nurtured by the GlobalScot network in 2007, the Saltire Scholar programme was created to find, fuel and spark the next generation of leaders in Scotland. This visionary group wanted the programme to deliver internships that would provide students with:
In April 2014, the Saltire Foundation, alongside the Entrepreneurial Exchange, became founding partners in the creation of Entrepreneurial Scotland. The Saltire Scholars programme now forms an integral part of the organisation's mission to inspire, develop and connect Scotland's current and future leaders to build the most entrepreneurial society in the world.
The network you can access is really important, they are there to support you. I'm always thinking about how I can help the group and I know that when I need the help it will be there for me too.
The Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation (USA) and The Saltire Foundation (Canada) support the Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation in providing world-class development for high potential individuals at the early or mid-career stages. The people who will be the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders contributing to Scotland’s success. Our focus is to transform those who can transform Scotland plc and our entrepreneurial culture.
Colin Robertson is Chief Executive of Alexander Dennis Limited and appointed Vice Chair to NFI’s Board of Directors.
With 38 years of senior international manufacturing experience, he has achieved numerous awards, including Director of the Year from the Institute of Directors.
Colin was appointed Chair of Entrepreneurial Scotland in 2018 and was the recipient of a CBE in 2019.
Mark Bamforth is the founder of Arranta Bio and prior to this, Brammer Bio and Gallus Bio Pharmaceuticals.
He spent 22 years in the UK and USA running a global manufacturing operation and pharmaceutical CMO business for Genzyme, before which, his career began as a petroleum engineer for Britoil and a chemical engineer for Whitbread.
Mark serves on numerous boards.
Graeme Bissett is a Chartered Accountant, corporate financier and experienced non-executive Chairman / Director.
His career currently includes Partner at Arthur Andersen and Finance Director at two international groups, as well as a portfolio of high-profile boardroom appointments.
Graeme also holds numerous pro bono appointments, including Vice-Convenor of Court at the University of Glasgow and trusteeship at Citizens Advice Scotland.
Alan Brown provides independent strategic advice to leaders amongst corporate, institutional and government clients.
He has spent the majority of his career in investment banking, latterly at Deutsche Bank and has led the Natural Resources Group since its formation in 2007, with responsibility for Deutsche Bank’s corporate finance activities across a number of global sectors.
Alan holds numerous global chairs.
Prof Sir Pete Downes retired following 29-years at the University of Dundee.
He is a leading UK Biochemist and highly cited researcher; under his leadership, the School of Life Sciences, Dundee became a global centre of excellence.
Pete is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and Academy of Medical Sciences and has received both an OBE and Knighthood.
Colette Grant founded her coaching and mentoring business, ‘Optimise Your Potential’, after exiting her eponymous enterprise, Grant Property, after 25 years.
Helen Sayles CBE is a retired senior vice president and manager for Liberty Mutual Group.
She was presented with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts’ Leading Women Award and asked to preside over the 38th Annual New Hampshire Highland Games and Festival.
Helen was inducted into the GlobalScot Hall of Fame, awarded a CBE and holds numerous global chairs.
Chris Sheldon is a partner at Turcan Connell where he specialises in tax and succession advice for entrepreneurs, as well as charity law.
He has served on numerous boards including the Court of Aberdeen University, Families Outside and Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.
Chris, a member of the CFA UK Society and Chartered Management Institute, read psychology and law at university.
Mark Simmers
Mark Simmers is co-founder and CEO of Celtic Renewables, having raised over £30m of funding to establish its first manufacturing plant.
His career began with International Management Group, commercialising and managing its global golf assets, before he founded and managed his own events and promotions company in Scotland.
Mark has over 20 years’ experience as an entrepreneur and commercialisation specialist.
Dame Joan Stringer is a CEO, Chair and Non-Executive Director.
She has held senior appointments in education for 25-years, most recently as Principal & Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University and previously with Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh and Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen.
Dame Joan holds numerous board appointments, including trusteeship of The Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation and Chair of Capital Theatres.
John Watson joined GIP as Operating Principal and CCO of Edinburgh Airport Limited and is CEO of Crosswind Developments Ltd.
He was previously Managing Director of Lloyds Banking Group’s $50bn SME lending portfolio and a founding Board Director of the Business Growth Fund plc.
John qualified as a Chartered Accountant and has subsequently held numerous executive and non-executive positions globally.
