Colleges across Scotland are set to enhance their entrepreneurial focus through a new Entrepreneur in Residence programme designed to strengthen enterprise and innovation.

The programme forms part of the Scottish Government’s Entrepreneurial Campus Blueprint, supporting the drive to make entrepreneurship a core life skill across education and helping colleges prepare students for Scotland’s future economy.

Five entrepreneurial champions appointed through the programme will work with colleges by offering expert advice to students and staff, helping them to develop business skills, nurture ideas and connect with Scotland’s wider innovation support organisations.

Each champion will work with a group of colleges, building on existing strengths and creating new opportunities for collaboration and growth.

The five college initiatives are:

• Start-up South – Borders College, Dumfries and Galloway College
• The Glasgow EIR Initiative: Building Entrepreneurial Futures Across Colleges – City of Glasgow College, Glasgow Clyde College, Glasgow Kelvin College, New College Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire College, West College Scotland
• META-preneur – West Lothian College, Edinburgh College, Forth Valley College
• Future Foundations – West College Scotland, Fife College, Ayrshire College
• EcoPreneur Pathways – South Lanarkshire College, Ayrshire College and Dumfries and Galloway College

Funded through the Scottish Government, the programme has been developed and delivered by Interface, Scotland’s innovation support organisation, in partnership with  Connect-Ed Network, the entrepreneur in residence network.  It has also been shaped with input from Colleges Scotland and the College Development Network (CDN), which will share learning outcomes across the sector.

Business Minister Richard Lochhead said: “Scotland’s colleges are vital engines of innovation and opportunity. I am encouraged to see more students will now have access to expert advice to develop their entrepreneurial skills and turn ideas into successful start-up businesses.

“This programme will empower the next generation to shape Scotland’s future economy. The Scottish Government is prioritising making Scotland one of the most entrepreneur-friendly nations in Europe, attracting jobs and investment.”

Shelley Breckenridge, Senior Innovation Engagement Lead at Interface, said: “College staff are working hard to embed entrepreneurial learning at scale. These champions will help develop practical tools and insights that will be shared across the sector digitally so all Scottish colleges can benefit from the programme.”

Ross Tuffee, creator of Connect-Ed Network, said: “I’m delighted to see the investment in Entrepreneurial Campuses extending into our amazing college network. This portfolio of projects will go a long way to support the work that our college staff do in encouraging our students to develop an entrepreneurial mindset, which will be a benefit to them whatever their destination.”

Gavin Donoghue, CEO of Colleges Scotland said: “Entrepreneurship, enterprise and innovation take place as a core part of the offer for college students and for businesses working with colleges, and the Entrepreneur in Residence programme is a welcome addition that should embed this further. 

“Colleges are Scotland’s skills engines and are community anchors across the country where great ideas are brought to life. The support of established entrepreneurs on campus is a great boost for students and staff.”

Leona Seaton, Director of Skills and Marketing, Dumfries and Galloway College, added: “Colleges play a vital role in helping learners and future leaders develop creativity, innovation, and business skills. This role is a welcome addition that will strengthen colleges’ work in this area.”

The programme runs until May 2026, with insights, resources and partnerships shared across the college network to inform future entrepreneurial initiatives and practice, ensuring the learning continues to shape and influence sector thinking beyond the programme itself.

Photo shows representatives from West Lothian, Edinburgh and Forth Valley Colleges at the launch of their Entrepreneur in Residence programme, META-preneur.