Four college students have completed the latest ScotCol Accelerator, a six-week innovation programme designed to help students develop early-stage business ideas and build confidence in innovation skills. 

The programme was designed and delivered by Dr Elaine Baxter of Boutique Innovation with support from Interface, which provided Interface mentors, Louise Arnold and Jackie Sanderson, and coordinated additional mentors from the innovation community. 

Students from Edinburgh, Fife, Falkirk and South Lanarkshire Colleges, explored their business ideas, spoke to potential customers, tested assumptions, and gained confidence in presenting their business concepts. Feedback from students and mentors highlighted how valuable the structured support and practical tools were in helping students make progress.  

Paul McKay, Senior Policy Officer of Start-up Infrastructure and Community Policy at the Scottish Government, said: “The Scottish Government is committed to strengthening innovation across all sectors, including Further Education. The ScotCol programme demonstrates the impressive entrepreneurial potential within Scotland’s colleges and we’re encouraged by the creative solutions teams are developing to address real-world challenges. This type of initiative aligns perfectly with our mission to build a more innovative and entrepreneurial Scotland.” 

Elaine Baxter added: “I am impressed at the quality of innovation coming from the Scottish FE sector and we will continue to support that in any way we can.” 

Amelia Whitelaw, Director of Interface, said: “There are many talented students in colleges with strong ideas for products and services. The ScotCol Accelerator helps them build confidence and practical skills needed to take those ideas forward, benefiting both the students and their wider communities.” 

Fife College student Radu Florin Amariei, mentored by Jackie Sanderson, Innovation Engagement Lead at Interface, is developing a 3D Virtual Chat Robot Assistant, to support students and staff with admissions, timetables, and campus services. He explained the importance of the Accelerator to his business: “At first, I thought I could build this alone, but the guidance, collaboration and support I gained through ScotCol was necessary to make real progress and avoid mistakes.” 

Lewis Steen, Business Development Assistant at Edinburgh College, added: “I’d recommend ScotCol as a great way to give students focused entrepreneurial guidance. It helps them build real skills, gain confidence, and see their ideas progress with the help of a dedicated mentor. That kind of student development has a huge potential to create a positive ripple effect across the college.” 

Anna Robin, Curriculum Quality Lead Lecturer at South Lanarkshire College, said: “This is a great initiative for any student – to know there is support available is amazing. Often students don’t know where to go to access information, so this programme is great.” 

Former participant, Claire Williams, joined the cohort during the programme to share how her business has progressed since completing the first Accelerator program in the summer.  Since then, she has engaged with Kirsty McNeill MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland, and senior education representatives, with encouraging developments for her Mum Mastery parent-child coaching business. 

Early feedback from colleges involved in the pilot suggests that interest in the ScotCol Accelerator is strong and that linking the programme to curriculum activity could help even more students take part in future cycles. 

The ScotCol Accelerator programme was funded by the Scottish Government’s Ecosystem Fund.