What is Regional EDGE?

now closed

Regional EDGE 2026 is now closed, but if you would like to attend the Live Pitching Final in your region, please scroll down for dates, venues and booking links.

The purpose of Regional EDGE is to broaden the reach of Scottish EDGE support and ensure that businesses across Scotland, particularly those in regions that may not have previously engaged with EDGE, feel encouraged to participate.

A key component of this initiative is to strengthen and deepen our relationships with regional partners who are embedded within their communities and possess invaluable local expertise. The programme is backed by £400,000 of Scottish Government funding, and will be split across four regions.

The funds will be allocated via a competitive Scottish EDGE process delivered by region specific delivery partners, namely – Opportunity North East (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire), Elevator & GrowBiz (Perth & Kinross, Dundee & Angus), and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).  Each region will deliver its own ‘finals’, all individually resulting in five winners.

Awards in each region will consist of one £50,000 top award (70/30 loan/grant split), two £15,000 (grant only), and two £10,000 awards (grant only).


Assessment Process & Criteria

If you meet the eligibility criteria listed below (see further down this page), you can apply to Regional EDGE by submitting an application through the application portal, which is accessible via the ‘APPLY HERE’ buttons above and below.

When your application has been submitted, it will be assessed by a panel of experts, and if successful, you will be invited to pitch at a live final in March 2026 (see Key Dates below for region-specific dates).

Whilst the competition standard and level of expectation can increase as you progress through the competition, the assessment criteria remains consistent across the 1st Stage assessments and the Live Final.

Each application will be judged by assessing the strengths of the following areas of your business proposal.

  • Value Proposition

  • Team

  • Impact

  • Customer Focus

  • Business Growth

  • Utilisation of Funding

Expanded definitions of each critera can be found by clicking here.