Equity investment in Scotland's smaller businesses reached £403m by the end of 2021's third quarter, more than double the same period in 2020, according to the British Business Bank.
Total investment values increased by 141% compared to the first nine months of 2020 and were already 42% ahead of the £283m registered for the full year. Across the UK, overall equity investment was on track to double from the £8.8bn seen in 2020.
The British Business Bank’s eighth annual Small Business Finance Markets report also found that there were 147 equity deals in Scotland in the first three quarters of 2021, equating to 8% of the UK’s equity deal activity – higher than Scotland’s 6% share of the business population.
