From Scotland to the World

Discover the rich quality of Scotland’s financial services landscape.

From Scotland to the World is our campaign to showcase Scotland’s financial services landscape for audiences around the world.

It aims to bring to life the strengths of the existing industry ecosystem, and its future direction of travel as the industry and its partners, including government and regulators, invest and collaborate on future development.

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Where heritage meets innovation

The Scottish financial services industry dates back over 300 years to the beginnings of the enlightenment, and throughout that time has been at the cutting edge, innovating purpose driven financial solutions to help the changing needs of its customers across the globe.

It has been the birthplace of many of the great innovations in finance from savings banks to ATMs, life companies to ESG asset management. Today it is an established, diverse and vibrant financial centre with an enviable ecosystem and talent pool.

Three ways we are distinctive

Rich in experience:

Investing in Scottish financial services means investing in knowledge, experience and security, hundreds of years in the making.

Abundant in talent:

Back world class talent and innovation from all corners of Scotland, leading the way in green finance, fintech and beyond.

Value in every venture:

From our small but mighty cities to our buzzing culture and thriving industries, Scotland’s financial services offer value as unique as we are.

Discover the quality of our financial services landscape.

Get in touch with us or one of our partners today.

Scottish Development International

Scottish Development International (SDI) is the international arm of Scottish Enterprise - Scotland’s national economic development agency. SDI’s aim is to grow Scotland’s exports, increase inward investment to Scotland and secure new capital investment to fund a just transition to net zero. We deliver international business support in collaboration with the Scottish Government and other public sector entities including: South of Scotland Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and the Department for Business and Trade.

SDI provides bespoke support and advice to assist companies to locate and grow operations in Scotland, including the following support:

Property searches and advice to help businesses find the right facilities
Academic connections to Scottish universities and colleges
Supply chain development to identify partners and suppliers that can support businesses
Links to intermediary business professionals
Talent, recruitment, and skills advice to access the skills and experience businesses require
Flexible workforce development to support staff development needs
Links to local and global business networks
Financial Incentives

To discuss how SDI can support your organisation or to learn more, please contact:

Sharon Smith
Global Business Development Executive:
sharon.smith@scotent.co.uk

Fraser Clark
Global Business Development Executive:
fraser.clark@scotent.co.uk

Department for Business and Trade

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is the department for economic growth. DBT supports businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the United Kingdom.

Within DBT HQ in London there is a dedicated financial and professional business services team, who work closely with all nations and regions across the UK. This includes working closely with the DBT Trade & Investment Scotland team, based in Edinburgh.

We work closely with the Scottish Government and its agencies, Chambers of Commerce and other business representative organisations to ensure that Scotland and Scottish business has the best possible access to DBT’s global trade and investment offer in over 100 international markets.

The Department for Business and Trade supports business through:
UK Export Academy A free, comprehensive training offer for UK businesses featuring masterclasses, events, mentoring and roundtables.
Tailored support Scottish businesses may be eligible for 1-2-1 support from trade experts around the world in specific markets. If you are a business exporting, then the Export Support Service provides a single point of contact to help. You can also report trade barriers affecting your exports or imports from the UK.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) can help UK companies to win export contracts by providing attractive financing terms to their buyers. It can also enable a business to fulfil contracts by supporting working capital loans or support the business by insuring against buyer default.

Visit:

Great.gov.uk to create a tailored export plan, work through learning modules to build your knowledge of how to export, identify high-potential markets for your products, learn about online marketplaces and search and apply for live export opportunities.

For more information on the support available to your business, contact the DBT Scotland team: DBTScotland@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Case Studies

Featured

CASE STUDY EIGHT:

Edinburgh has been home to Baillie Gifford since the firm’s foundation in 1908. An investment management partnership with a deeply international outlook, the firm is proud of its roots in Scotland’s capital.

CASE STUDY SEVEN:

In building the Barclays Glasgow Campus we have created something transformative. A shared space that will have a lasting impact on Glasgow, its people and the local economy. A campus that is enabling new ways of working through its technology and capability to drive innovation and collaboration.

CASE STUDY SIX:

The UK has long been seen as possessing institutions that promote and enforce the rule of law, with established judiciary, law enforcement and legal representation. Indeed, the UK regulatory landscape is seen as ‘one of the most admired in the world,’ with continued focus on stepping up financial crime enforcement.

CASE STUDY FIVE:

As a world-leading research-intensive University, the University of Edinburgh is here to address tomorrow’s greatest challenges. Our Edinburgh Futures Institute is home to several centres and hubs dedicated financial services & fintech activities across the University.

CASE STUDY FOUR:

As a global investment business, abrdn operates in more than 30 countries and we compete in markets which are constantly evolving and creating new opportunities.

CASE STUDY THREE:

The Scottish National Investment Bank is Scotland’s first development investment bank, wholly owned by the Scottish Ministers on behalf of the people of Scotland.

CASE STUDY TWO:

BlackRock’s roots in Edinburgh stretch back to 1998, when the firm made its first international foray - acquiring a small equity fund house based in the city. Over the following 25 years, the Edinburgh Office has gone from strength to strength, building transformational and forward-looking products and solutions that shape the financial markets.

CASE STUDY ONE:

In 2022 we completed our acquisition of the Embark Group, one of the fastest growing investment and retirement platform businesses in the UK. Based in Dundee, Embark Group is a technology-driven, financial services business delivering transformative technology to asset managers, banks and financial advisers.