The Enterprise Fund Awards Five Upcoming Businesses with Funding

The Royal Company of Merchants Enterprise Fund has selected five growing businesses to recieve funding after a competitive day of presentations at The Merchants Den. 

After launching in 2017, every May, the Enterprise Fund recieves applications for funding from start-up businesses created by individuals at universities, colleges and other independent sources. These applications are screened by Members of the Enterprise Committee, who then invite a select few to present a pitch to an expert panel at The Merchants Den. 

This year, we were delighted to welcome five excellent entrepreuners to The Merchants Hall, with four recieving grants totalling £9,000. 

The successful businesses included: 

• Adelphe Connect - A charitable incorporated organisation focused on empowering women by reducing barriers to employment and promoting equality. The funding will be used on a project that aims to equip employers to retain and advance female employees. 
• Women's Football Hub - As a community interest company, their aim is to promote football in schools and communities, increasing the opportunity for young girls to learn how to play. 
• Edinburgh Albums - An innovative and creative business, aimed at engaging 6-12 year old tourists and their families with Edinburgh's history. 
• La Polleria - Serving Spanish style rotisserie chicken, they are beginning a take-away business. 

The Merchants Den panel saw the potential and commitment of all these applicants, and so were thrilled to designate each of them some funding. All of the awardees will also participate in the Company Mentoring Scheme, which often provides even greater value than the grant itself. 

This round of applications now takes the fund to a total of 61 applications, 47 Merchants Den presentations and 29 businesses awarded, totalling a value of over £60,000. A huge thank you to the Company Member who annually donates to the Fund, allowing it's capital to grow to £170,000. 

The Enterprise Committee is proud to report that nine years after its launch, the Fund is healthy and achieving exactly what it set out to do by helping young businesses on the bottom rung of the business ladder.