Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what support his Department provides to co-operatives wishing to scale up in central Scotland.

The Government is committed to helping co-operatives grow and sustain, including in central Scotland.

Eligible co-operatives can access programmes including Help to Grow: Management for leadership training, mentoring and support, which BIST has updated so that there is now more information on co-operatives and mutuals, as well as The British Business Bank’s Growth Guarantee Scheme for finance to invest and grow.

Government will continue working closely with the devolved government in Scotland, including Scottish Enterprise and sector partners

Our forthcoming response to the BIST call for evidence on business support for co-operatives and non-financial mutuals will also set out further government action.