East Kilbride mobility entrepreneur buys first business on International Women’s Day with help from HSBC

A female entrepreneur has bought her first business in East Kilbride using six-figure funding from HSBC UK, it has been revealed on International Women’s Day.

Liz Watson is planning to develop online sales at the mobility venture. Picture: Contributed

Liz Watson established Redloan Holdings to purchase The Mobility Centre from original owners Susan and Stephen Laughlin who have now retired.

The business sells mobility products and living aids, such as wheelchairs, reclining chairs and scooters from its store. All three existing staff have been retained.

Watson – who has done an Entrepreneurial Scotland Saltire Fellowship – now plans to develop the centre’s online sales.

Susan Rowand, head of business banking in Scotland at HSBC, said: “Liz is an experienced business consultant with ambitious plans for The Mobility Centre.

Her strategy is set to boost in-store and online sales of products which play an important role in improving people’s lives locally.

Women-owned businesses make an important contribution to the Scottish economy and we’re keen to provide support to female entrepreneurs in Scotland to help them reach their ambitions.”

HSBC cited the latest research from the Federation of Small Businesses, which found that women-owned businesses contribute £8.8 billion to the Scottish economy and employ more than 230,000.

The Mobility Centre services customers from the West Coast, Glasgow, East Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire.

The funding was allocated from HSBC UK’s national SME Fund. The new £14bn fund has recently been announced by HSBC UK, with £650 million committed to supporting SMEs in Scotland.