Edinburgh is a 'Capital' place for doing business in Scotland
In this article we look at why you should consider doing business in Scotland’s capital city. We have found that it comes out top in a number of crucial areas, whatever your sector or industry, from to tourism to tech, with special mentions for r&d, tech, fintech and life sciences.
Top for Innovation in Business
Five universities (including Russell Group star, Edinburgh University) and a thriving FE sector keep the retail, hospitality and rented accommodation economies busy, while the accumulated diversity and creativity of around 55,000 full-time students maintain the city's distinctive buzz.
With such a talent pool, no wonder fintech and high-flying disruptor companies like Skyscanner find the innovation they need right here.
Best Place for Doing Business in Scotland
Don't take our word for it - in 2022, Edinburgh was dubbed the best city for talent in the UK by Startups.co.uk. The magazine's researchers also praised the city's great quality of life.
In fact, it's a place on everybody's lips - Expert Market named it best place to start a small business in the UK. The report highlights that Edinburgh stands out in some areas, including cost-effective office spaces, fast internet connections
(perfect for international business) and a large talent pool.
Edinburgh’s thriving startup ecosystem is another reason why it is the best place to do business in Scotland. The city has two accelerators and three science parks, dedicated to innovation, which provide access to support and funding for startups .
The city also has an active network of investors, which enables entrepreneurs to connect with investors through networking events .
Find Business Support
It is easy to find business support in Edinburgh - the Scottish Government is very keen to help you identify sources of financial support.
Established organizations in Edinburgh such as Business Gateway, Scottish Enterprise, and Entrepreneurial Scotland help businesses with guidance and incentives to expand their operations . Mygov.scot is also an excellent resource, offering support to help businesses operating in Scotland.
Additionally, the city’s small size is an advantage for entrepreneurs as it enables them to have easy access to other established firms and create a strong social network. This is particularly useful for startups, as they can learn from other founders and share ideas and opportunities
Find the right people
Whether you are starting a business, or you want to expand your business, you'll want to find the right contacts.
Edinburgh is well known as very much a social city and offers a plethora of business networking events . Start off with Edinburgh Connections, who run informal morning Coffee Connections networking sessions and more structured Curry Connections lunchtime events. They also arrange business expos and conferences throughout the year.
If you're interested in doing business in Scotland, Edinburgh Connections is a good place to start and there is no better way to meet the best of Scotland's people.
International Trade
As well as offering a welcoming environment to small and medium-sized enterprises, Edinburgh also hosts numerous global corporations. Google, Microsoft, Rockstar North, Adobe, IBM and Fujitsu are among the big names staking a claim here.
Fintech is well represented too, with FreeAgent, Aveni, Float, Money Dashboard, Nucleus Financial and FNZ.
Life Sciences and r&d are big here: the Edinburgh BioQuarter hosts Roslin Technologies and Omega Diagnostics among many and TrustPilot has its home here.
Summing Up – Running Your Business in Edinburgh
This article gives a taste of what Scotland has to offer. Arguably, running your business here makes as much sense, if not more, than anywhere in the rest of the UK. Doing business in Scotland is an attractive proposition. Scotland's capital city, Edinburgh, has unique characteristics that make it an ideal place set up a base. The city’s small size is an advantage for entrepreneurs. But the city’s cost-effective office spaces, fast internet connections, and large talent pool make it an attractive destination for businesses of all sizes.
The capital’s quality of life is another factor that makes it an ideal place to do business. The city has a vibrant social life, which entrepreneurs and their staff members can enjoy after work . The city’s rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and beautiful landscapes make it an attractive destination for businesses and individuals alike .
In conclusion, Edinburgh could well be the best place to do business in Scotland. The city’s unique characteristics, cost-effective office spaces, fast internet connections, and large talent pool make it an irresistible business destination.
The city’s thriving startup ecosystem and active network of investors provide access to support and funding for startups. Edinburgh’s quality of life, rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and beautiful landscapes make it an attractive destination for businesses and individuals alike.
