Scottish National Investment Bank
The Scottish National Investment Bank was set up in November 2020 as Scotland’s development investment bank. It provides long-term investment to support sustainable economic growth across Scotland.
Development banks invest where there is a gap in the market and where private sector investment alone is not enough to support businesses or projects that contribute to economic growth and long-term national priorities.
The Bank operates commercially and makes its own independent investment decisions. Ministers provide the Bank's capital funding on behalf of the people of Scotland.
As well as investing its own capital, the Bank attracts additional private investment to increase the overall impact of its investments.
The Bank’s missions
The Bank makes commercial debt and equity investments in businesses and projects that contribute to its missions. Ministers set the missions to help address some of Scotland's most significant long-term challenges.
The missions are to:
- achieve a just transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2045
- extend equality of opportunity by improving places by 2040
- harness innovation to enable people to flourish by 2040
The Bank does not provide grants or invest on sub-commercial terms. We committed up to £2 billion in capital funding over 10 years, to 2030.
What the Bank does
The Bank invests in businesses, projects and communities across Scotland to deliver economic, environmental and social benefits, as well as a commercial return.
Investment is provided through debt and equity finance, tailored to the needs of individual businesses and projects. The Bank considers each opportunity on its own merits and invests across a broad range of sectors and regions.
The Bank invests in:
- businesses based in Scotland
- projects located in Scotland
- businesses planning to set up or move operations to Scotland
The Bank will typically consider opportunities seeking more than £1 million in debt or equity investment. All investments must deliver a commercial return and support at least one of the Bank’s missions.
Find out more on the Scottish National Investment Bank website.
The Scottish National Investment Bank Act (2020) requires the Scottish Government to set up a group to advise ministers on the conduct, performance and objects of the bank. You can find out more about the work of the group on the Scottish National Investment Bank: Ministerial Advisory Group webpage.