Scotland readies £4 million green jobs call

Scottish Enterprise has announced the first in a series of upcoming grant funding calls designed to help support economic recovery and stimulate the creation of new green jobs in Scotland.

The £4 million green jobs call will open to applications on 18 May 2021, with grants from £50,000 up to a maximum of £500,000 being awarded on a competitive basis, according to Scotland’s national economic development agency Scottish Enterprise.

The call aims to support business to create jobs that produce goods or provide services that benefit the environment or conserve natural resources and jobs that help drive more environmentally friendly processes in Scottish businesses.

The green jobs call is part of a £27 million package of green funding that Scottish Enterprise will distribute to businesses operating in Scotland over the next three years, strengthening the country’s move towards net-zero emissions target.

Fiona Hyslop, Scottish government’s Economy Secretary, said: “As well as tackling the Covid-19 crisis and supporting our economy in the immediate term, it also crucial we lay the foundations for a green recovery, and our budget set out a record £1.9 billion to tackle climate change and create good, green jobs in 2021/22.

“Throughout the pandemic, Scottish Enterprise and our other agencies have played a key role getting lifeline funds to businesses across the country. As we look to emerge from lockdown this vital work continues, and this first call for the new green jobs fund will help us rebuild a fairer, stronger and greener Scotland”.

Linda Hanna, Interim Chief Executive at Scottish Enterprise, added: “Green economic growth is a long-standing area of focus and competitive advantage for Scotland internationally. It’s the ideal fit for our inaugural call ahead of COP26 coming to Glasgow and signals the first of several investment and business support opportunities Scottish Enterprise will be offering.

“It has been designed to be relevant to a wide range of business who are helping create new quality green jobs that will improve the environment and help drive Scotland’s transition to a net-zero economy by 2045″.

In addition to the funding support, Scottish Enterprise noted that successful applicants will have access to a package of wrap-around advisory support.

Backed by the Scottish government’s Green Jobs Fund, the funding call is part of Scottish Enterprise’s wider commitment to supporting Scotland’s net-zero transition that delivers benefits for the environment, people and economic prosperity.

The launch of the green jobs call also signals Scottish Enterprise’s adoption of a time-bound approach to grant funding that replaces the organisation’s previous grant model.

The full programme of calls covering a wide range of economic growth opportunities, including a further £4 million green-focused call, will be published in due course, according to Scottish Enterprise.