Opportunities for Scotland’s rural businesses are at a “peak like never before”
DUNDEE, Scotland, 13 July 2026 - Elevator CEO Rachel Ross says the opportunities for Scotland’s rural businesses are at a “peak like never before” as the business sup-port group announces its reappointment to deliver the Scottish Rural Leadership Programme and the relaunched Scotland Rural Leaders Alumni Network. Rachel Ross said: “The world is changing faster than at any point in our lifetime - AI, satellite technology, natural capital markets, renewable energy, digital communications, robotics, biotechnology, and new models of tourism are transforming what is possible for rural Scotland.” Delivered on behalf of Scottish Enterprise, in partnership with Highlands and [...]
Elevator Reaffirms Commitment to Pathways Pledge
Elevator is proud to announce our continued commitment to Pathways Forward’s Pledge initiative as it reaches the milestone of over 100 active pledges being established. Pathways Forward is a not-for-profit set up by entrepreneur and investor Ana Stewart to transform participation rates for women in entrepreneurship. The Pledge encourages organisations to implement their own actions that drive equal opportunity for women in business and entrepreneurship. Elevator’s activities for this year’s Pledge will focus on continuing our Thrive & Shine video series (check it out here), which aims to showcase female entrepreneur’s stories; the highs, the challenges and the realities, [...]
What Will Shape the Future of Rural Scotland?
Last week, Elevator CEO Rachel Ross was invited to deliver a keynote address at the Scottish Land & Estates Annual Conference 2026, joining business leaders, land managers and decision-makers from across Scotland to discuss this year's theme: Economic Growth – Empowering Rural Scotland. It is a conversation that feels increasingly important. Across Scotland, rural communities face a complex mix of opportunities and challenges. Housing, population retention, workforce availability, sustainability, infrastructure and economic development are all interconnected. While these issues are often discussed individually, they ultimately lead back to the same question: how do we create the conditions for long-term [...]
Pioneering programme delivers business support for underrepresented women in Edinburgh
A pioneering programme delivering business support for underrepresented women in Edinburgh will be showcased at an event in Scotland’s capital later today. The pi-lot programme ‘Bold Beginnings’ - delivered by Elevator in partnership with Busi-ness Gateway Edinburgh, supported by City of Edinburgh Council, and funding from the Scottish Government’s Pathways Fund - saw 48 women from the city’s Western Hailes and Muirhouse districts explore business skills and how to start their own ventures. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Councillor Margaret Graham will feature at the Bold Beginnings showcase on Wednesday 25th March, meeting some of the women who [...]
Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM) moves into operational phase as Elevator handed the keys
Manufacturing companies will soon be able to benefit from a new facility in Moray designed to drive innovation and support job creation. The Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM) has been developed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and is based at Enterprise Park Forres. MICM is a Moray Growth Deal (MGD) project with more than £2.4m funding from UK Government, £1.8m from the Scottish Government, and £2.5m from HIE. The refurbished building was handed back to HIE today (19 March) by contractors Morrison Construction. The centre includes incubator space for start ups and project areas where established companies can [...]
Transform Business Festival returns to Dundee to Support & Inspire Tayside Entrepreneurs [Dundee, Scotland] – 20th February 2025
The Transform Business Festival returned to Dundee today, bringing together entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders from across Tayside for a day dedicated to inspiration, practical support and forging connections. Now in its fourth year, the popular festival came full circle by returning to Dundee Science Centre, the venue that hosted the event’s original launch, uniting the region’s business community once again in the heart of the city. Delivered by Business Gateway Tayside and entrepreneurial support organisation Elevator, Transform Business Festival has become a key date in the local business calendar, offering a mix of talks, practical workshops, expert clinics [...]
Moray and the Basque Country: A shared manufacturing story and a choice about what comes next
By Rachel Ross Moray and the Basque Country sit well over a thousand miles apart, but economically they have more in common than many regions closer to home. Both are places shaped by manufacturing rather than finance. Both have a high proportion of family-owned firms, often passed down through the generations. Both sit outside the orbit of dominant capital cities, with businesses that have learned to be resilient, practical, and quietly ambitious. And both have faced the same underlying question over the past two decades: How do long-established manufacturing strengths remain competitive as energy systems, supply chains, and industrial [...]
Scotland’s SMEs in confident mood despite rising costs and funding challenges
Elevator survey reveals Scotland’s SMEs are adopting AI, hiring, and hungry for more support. Elevator survey reveals two-thirds of SMEs want more external support 40 per cent of SMEs say access to finance is biggest roadblock to growth, followed by talent (27 per cent) 3 out of 4 Scottish SMEs are using AI, over half plan to invest in tech 72 per cent of SMEs said their running costs have increased this year, but 49 per cent still plan to hire over the next twelve months In spite of challenges, the vast majority of Scottish SMEs are confident about [...]
Elevator Appointed for Moray Innovation Centre
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed a specialist operating company to run a new multi-million-pound innovation centre to support manufacturing in Moray. The Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM) has been developed by HIE at Enterprise Park Forres to stimulate innovation and growth in manufacturing companies across Moray and create hundreds of jobs over the next decade. Business support organisation Elevator UK, which supports entrepreneurship, innovation and growth impact across Scotland, will develop and manage the services offered by MICM. These will have a strong emphasis on transitioning to low carbon practices and supporting the new wave of green [...]
Important Announcement from Elevator – 3rd December 2024
Elevator is preparing for an exciting new chapter as we announce that Professor Gary McEwan has chosen to step down as CEO at the end of March next year. While stepping back from day-to-day leadership, Gary will remain connected to the organisation in an advisory role, continuing to support key projects and ensuring a smooth transition. Gary has led Elevator through an incredible 20-year journey, transforming the organisation from a regional player in Aberdeen into one of Scotland’s most impactful and innovative business support providers. During this time, Elevator has supported over 75,000 entrepreneurs and SMEs, delivering hundreds of programmes [...]
DUNDEE, Scotland, 13 July 2026 - Elevator CEO Rachel Ross says the opportunities for Scotland’s rural businesses are at a “peak like never before” as the business sup-port group [...]
Elevator is proud to announce our continued commitment to Pathways Forward’s Pledge initiative as it reaches the milestone of over 100 active pledges being established. Pathways Forward is a [...]
Last week, Elevator CEO Rachel Ross was invited to deliver a keynote address at the Scottish Land & Estates Annual Conference 2026, joining business leaders, land managers and decision-makers [...]
A pioneering programme delivering business support for underrepresented women in Edinburgh will be showcased at an event in Scotland’s capital later today. The pi-lot programme ‘Bold Beginnings’ - delivered [...]
Manufacturing companies will soon be able to benefit from a new facility in Moray designed to drive innovation and support job creation. The Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM) has [...]
The Transform Business Festival returned to Dundee today, bringing together entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders from across Tayside for a day dedicated to inspiration, practical support and forging connections. [...]
By Rachel Ross Moray and the Basque Country sit well over a thousand miles apart, but economically they have more in common than many regions closer to home. Both [...]
Elevator survey reveals Scotland’s SMEs are adopting AI, hiring, and hungry for more support. Elevator survey reveals two-thirds of SMEs want more external support 40 per cent of SMEs [...]
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed a specialist operating company to run a new multi-million-pound innovation centre to support manufacturing in Moray. The Manufacturing Innovation Centre Moray (MICM) [...]
Elevator is preparing for an exciting new chapter as we announce that Professor Gary McEwan has chosen to step down as CEO at the end of March next year. While [...]
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