New initiative will help Scotland’s makers ‘go from side-hustle to viable business’
“Scotland doesn’t have a shortage of people who can make brilliant things” – Ryder Meggitt, co-founder
A new programme is launching to help Scotland’s makers and designers turn their ideas into viable businesses.
Makerteers is a free six-month venture-building programme created specifically for people who make and develop physical products.
Launching in Glasgow and Edinburgh this month, the initiative aims to address a gap between the country’s wealth of creative and technical talent and the practical commercial support available to help people turn that talent into viable businesses. Backed by the Scottish government’s Ecosystem Fund, the initial programme will support 40 participants, with all workshops, expert sessions, resources and programme support provided free of charge.
Makerteers’ founders believe the programme can help create more product-focused Scottish businesses.
Co-founder Ryder Meggitt said: “Scotland doesn’t have a shortage of people who can make brilliant things. What we are missing are enough bridges between making something and building a sustainable business around it.
“You can be an extraordinary designer, maker or problem solver and still have no idea how to price properly, find a manufacturer, build a brand, automate the admin or reach customers outside your immediate network.”
Despite estimates that Scotland has more than 2,500 makers and craft businesses, Craft Scotland’s 2023 Sector Report found that 77 per cent of makers had net income below £20,000 from craft-related activity, while 59 per cent said they needed marketing support and 56 per cent wanted business advice.
Leanne Anderson, fellow Makerteers’ founder, said: “We want to help more people move from ‘maybe I could do something with this’ to actually getting it into the market, and then give them the tools, confidence and community to keep going.”
Michael Corrigan, chief executive of Scottish travel-product firm Trtl, added: “Trtl started with us testing an early product at a Christmas fair. We didn’t begin with a huge team, a perfect business plan or all the answers. We learned by making, selling, getting things wrong and adapting.
“There is a big difference between knowing how to make a good product and knowing how to build a business around one. If Makerteers can shorten that learning curve for the next generation of Scottish product entrepreneurs, that could be incredibly valuable.”
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