Scottish gov expands Entrepreneurial Education Fund to £1.2m

The Scottish government has increased funding to help young people to set up their own business by more than a third.

The Entrepreneurial Education Fund 2025-26 will now make up to £1.2m available for courses and projects that will encourage more young people, from a wide range of backgrounds, to choose business ownership as a career path.

Last year’s fund supported programmes that embedded entrepreneurial education in Scotland’s classrooms from P1 through to S6.

The government said the scope of this year’s fund has been expanded further to encourage more applications for vocational programmes equivalent to SCQF Levels 7 and 8.

Deputy first minister Kate Forbes said: “Fostering and supporting entrepreneurial talent is vital for ensuring a growing, thriving economy and the Scottish Government continues to invest in expanding the pipeline of support available to help this and the next generation of business founders to succeed.

“Entrepreneurial education helps build the mindset, skills and attitudes needed to succeed. It also, critically, increases participation from an early age, breaking down barriers to people considering entrepreneurship as a career choice.”

She added: “Last year’s fund was run competitively for the first time, resulting in a diverse set of programmes to inspire young people across all school ages. With increased funding and further expansion to the scheme this year we are putting in place strong foundations to embed an entrepreneurial mindset at a crucial time.”

Chief entrepreneur Ana Stewart said: “Scotland’s future economy will be built by the bold ideas and creative minds we nurture today. This new round of the Entrepreneurial Education Fund will help to further embed innovation and ambition into entrepreneurial learning and teaching programmes. Importantly, this competitive fund will encourage innovation and impact by offering support to new providers in the field, as well as the more established organisations.

“By investing in the next generation of potential founders, we are shaping a culture where entrepreneurship is accessible, inclusive, and a natural path for anyone to turn an idea into a business.”

Daydream Believers received £146,200 from the Scottish Government’s Entrepreneurial Education Fund in 2024-25 to develop the Dreamers and Doers Playlist, a 120-hour learning programme delivered in schools across the country.

Managing director of Daydream Believers, Helena Good MBE, said: “Funding from the Scottish Government allowed us to take Creative Thinking to the next level, creating a resource that’s bold, joyful, and built to last. It’s laid the foundations for a lasting legacy, one we’re excited to build on as we grow, collaborate, and continue re-imagining what learning can be.”