Private Capital in Scotland 2025

The data makes clear that Scotland is an exciting destination for private capital, an industry which supports the development of 639 businesses which call this nation home. These businesses bring value to local communities through the 159,000 jobs they support.

In 2024 alone, private capital invested £707m into Scotland. This level of investment is unsurprising when you consider the country’s inherent economic strengths. Scotland now acts as a significant investment hub, with thriving start-up businesses alongside academic institutions like the University of Edinburgh, University of Strathclyde and University of Glasgow producing even more innovative spinouts.

However, while there is much to celebrate about the scope and scale of investment in the nation’s businesses, it could be even more substantial and close the gap with other parts of the UK. Policymakers at both Holyrood and Westminster, regulators, and industry all have a role to play in helping to facilitate greater levels of investment in Scotland, and to ensure that opportunities are not lost.

Together we can address the main barriers by closing the scale up gap, boosting access to skills and talent and improving national infrastructure. Unless otherwise stated, all data in this report is sourced from the BVCA’s Report on Investment Activity 2024 and Economic contribution of UK private equity and venture capital in 2025, produced by EY.