RBS launches centre for budding entrepreneurs
A hub devoted to growing small firms was unveiled at an event symbolising RBS’s move back to traditional banking values and away from the disastrous expansion of the Goodwin era.
The new venture has seen the conversion of the bank’s former executive wing, which included Goodwin’s office, into a space that will house 80 entrepreneurs, who will receive free office space and wi-fi as well as access to specially trained RBS staff and business mentors.
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Hide AdSpeaking to The Scotsman, RBS chief executive Ross McEwan would not disclose how much money had been invested in the new centre, but he said it was part of the state-backed bank’s strategy to rebuild trust with customers following the excesses of Goodwin’s reign.
He said: “That’s what our organisation is focused on from a strategic perspective – three things: simplifying, strengthening and becoming a really fair bank.
“A big part of this is connecting businesses, a lot of this is not about financing them. A lot of this is getting them to the right place with the right resource and giving them the right advice so they can grow.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the opening of the centre as a “symbolic day” for RBS. She added: “What we are celebrating today is evidence a move back to the kind of banking system that we should have in Scotland. It isn’t all about profits. It is fundamentally about being a facilitator and enabler of business, growth and progress of enterprise.”
Among others, the centre will house staff from Business Gateway, Edinburgh Napier University and Prince’s Trust Scotland. It will also host an Entrepreneurial Spark (ESpark) “hatchery” for start-ups, along with a “nest” for high-growth, high-impact businesses.
ESpark chief executive Jim Duffy said: “We have seen a great number of technology entrepreneurs come through the Edinburgh hatchery to date, so will seek to build upon this success.”
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