Improving outcomes through our Equality Strategy
At the Scottish National Investment Bank, we believe that promoting equality, diversity and inclusion is essential to building a stronger, fairer and more prosperous Scotland. Through our Equality Strategy, we have committed to improving equality outcomes through our investment activity and supporting greater access to finance for underrepresented founders. This Investment Equalities Report provides insight into the progress we are making towards those ambitions.
Key outcomes
This is the Bank’s first standalone Investment Equalities Report. It focuses on two key outcomes from our Equality Strategy: supporting positive equality impacts through the Bank’s investments and improving access to investment for diverse founders. The report brings together portfolio data, research, and engagement with investee businesses and partners across Scotland’s investment ecosystem. The data included relates to the Bank’s investment portfolio and activities up to 31 December 2025.
The findings show areas of encouraging progress. All businesses receiving direct investment from the Bank continue to align with Fair Work principles and pay their direct permanent employees at least the real Living Wage. The report also highlights the role portfolio businesses play in supporting skills development, apprenticeships and quality employment opportunities across Scotland. Female-led businesses accounted for 23.7% of the Bank’s invested capital, demonstrating continued support for female entrepreneurs and businesses with diverse leadership.
Further action
The findings also show where further action is needed. Women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds continue to be under-represented among founders, board members and senior leaders, reflecting wider structural barriers within the investment landscape. Improving access to finance, strengthening workforce diversity data and supporting more inclusive leadership remain important priorities for the Bank and its partners.
Publishing this report is part of our commitment to transparency, accountability and continuous improvement. By sharing our progress, insights and areas for further action, we aim to better understand where the Bank can have the greatest influence and use our investment, insight and partnerships to help create a more inclusive economy for Scotland.
You can also read our Insights article, Quality employment: why good work matters here:
Find out more about how we are using our investment to support female-led businesses in the report below.
