The event was incredibly well received with over 300 entrepreneurs, professional advisers, banks, investors, government agencies, academics, business support groups and philanthropists all collaborating to ensure that Scotland's entrepreneurial eco-system continues to thrive

Ken Barclay, Chairman RBS Scotland, welcomed everyone to the event and spoke about the importance of sharing knowledge and networks at events such as the Start up Summit - any organisation that works with groups of businesses will have a network that budding entrepreneurs can harness.

For RBS, encouraging and supporting new businesses is a big part of what the bank does. So what else is RBS doing to support new businesses in Scotland?

• RBS will typically help around 850 new businesses the length and breadth of Scotland get off the ground, with the bank's start up package

• On Wednesday 19th November, RBS is bringing together potential entrepreneurs, professional advisors, academics and businesses for an 'Opportunity Knocks' event to help start-ups with insight from those who have already set up in business. This builds on a successful event that the bank held earlier this year at Gogarburn.

• RBS will host the final of the 5th round of the Scottish EDGE fund competition on the 9th February 2015.  This event sees young businesses from all across the country competing for a package of funding and business support. RBS has supported the EDGE fund since its inception, and in August pledged £2.5 million for the fund.

• A new £140 million fund for Scottish small businesses was announced in October. This targets new businesses looking to grow or diversify their business through fixed rate loans from £1,000 to £250,000, with no arrangement fee.

Whether it's funding new equipment, optimising working capital, or expanding into new premises, RBS help thousands of Scottish businesses achieve their ambitions. And even where the bank can't help, businesses will be given constructive advice or pointed in the direction of other sources of finance. 

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