THE Royal Bank of Scotland has announced a substantial increase in its Accelerator Programme to support 5,000 entrepreneurs, ahead of the opening of its new flagship Edinburgh Hub building later this year.
The 2026 ambition represents a 10-fold increase over the previous year and is more than all the businesses supported in the previous ten years that the Royal Bank Accelerator Programme has been delivered.
The Royal Bank of Scotland Accelerator provides entrepreneurs from all sectors with business coaching, support networks and access to expertise from across the Bank at no cost.
Since launching its Accelerator App in March 2025, the Bank has seen over 1,500 downloads in Scotland.
The Royal Bank of Scotland also currently supports 1,000 businesses through its physical Accelerator Hubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh, which offer meeting and working space to accelerator community members.
Notable Accelerator alumni have included Edinburgh-based pizza oven maker Ooni and Glasgow-based healthcare staffing platform provider Staffscanner. Together Scottish Accelerator community businesses have created over 900 jobs.
To recognise the best of Scotland’s entrepreneurial community, the Royal Bank of Scotland has also announced a £1m investment in the Scottish EDGE Awards.
These will help to fund three awards – a top Young EDGE and Regional EDGE award in their respective current rounds, and an increased Scale EDGE award of £200,000 in the next round, the largest single prize offered by the competition in its history.
The Scottish EDGE Awards are Scotland’s largest business funding competition and run biannually. The 27th EDGE Awards opened for applicants on 25 February with the finals due to be held on 11 June at the Royal Bank of Scotland Conference Centre in Gogarburn, Edinburgh.
The Royal Bank of Scotland has supported the Awards for the last 12 years as a founding partner, alongside the Hunter Foundation, Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, and this new investment extends and expands the partnership to 2028.
Since 2014, EDGE winners have collectively created over 4,400 jobs and achieved almost £800m in turnover.
Darren Pirie, head of Accelerator and partnerships, Royal Bank of Scotland said: “In our tenth anniversary year, we are going to turbocharge our support for Scotland’s entrepreneurs, by expanding our Royal Bank Accelerator community to 5,000 founders.
“I am also delighted that our extended partnership with the EDGE Awards will see us reward more of Scotland’s startup success stories.
“Our expanded support for regional awards recognises that the grit, potential and spirit that characterises so many entrepreneurs can be found in every part of our country.
“Royal Bank Accelerator continues to go from strength to strength in supporting Scotland’s innovators to grow.”
Evelyn McDonald, CEO, Scottish EDGE said: “As a founding partner of Scottish EDGE, Royal Bank of Scotland has played a pivotal role in helping ambitious founders across Scotland turn great ideas into investable businesses.
“This new £1m commitment over the next three years is a significant vote of confidence in Scotland’s entrepreneurial talent and in the proven impact that timely, early-stage funding can have.
“From earlier EDGE winners such as Ooni and Amiqus to the next generation of high-growth start-ups, our support can be the catalyst at a critical moment.
“We are delighted to deepen our partnership with Royal Bank and look forward to seeing this investment translate into more innovation, more high-quality jobs, and a stronger Scottish economy.”
