Rural Enterprise Directory Scotland - promoting Scotland’s rural micro-businesses
The Rural Enterprise Directory Scotland (REDS) curates and promotes rural micro-enterprises across Scotland’s rural and island economy. REDS promotes the values and diversity of Scotland’s rural economy and will support the long term prosperity of these businesses.
Why REDS?
REDS was launched and is powered by the enterprise support charity GrowBiz Scotland. GrowBiz has been supporting small business owners, the self-employed and social enterprises across rural Scotland for over a decade.
During the course of 2020, GrowBiz witnessed the hardships and suffering experienced by those who have poured years of hard work into building successful businesses and watched them collapse overnight as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown. Over a year on, and many are still unable to re-open. Those that have resumed trading are constantly navigating changing restrictions and struggling to balance reduced income with new costs to stay safe and remain viable.
The Scottish and UK Governments continue to provide much needed temporary funding but many businesses have found themselves ineligible for these funds. If Scotland’s network of small rural and island businesses is to recover in the long-term, they’ll need access to flexible finance and business support mechanisms, such as training and collaboration opportunities that are designed specifically for the challenges encountered by businesses operating rurally.
The only comprehensive online directory of Scotland’s rural businesses.
REDS aims to make every small rural and island business visible and to stimulate community, collaboration and trade with the huge variety of Scottish rural micro-enterprises.
REDS is widely promoted as a tool to solve your business and consumer needs by exploring and supporting Scotland’s small rural and island businesses.
An exclusive gift card scheme for REDS businesses
The REDS Rural Scotland Gift Card promotes the strength of variety within the rural economy and encourages shopping and trade with REDS businesses. The REDS Card works like a typical gift card and can be purchased by anyone here.
REDS Cards can be redeemed either in-store or online with any of the REDS businesses who have opted into the scheme. It is free for businesses listed on REDS to opt into the REDS Card.
With more than 120 businesses accepting the REDS Card, and more joining each day, a REDS Card makes the perfect gift for anyone who wants to experience a little bit of rural Scotland.
● This innovative gift card program drives new customers to participating businesses.
● The REDS Card can be spent in-store or online.
● Purchase a REDS Card or find out where you can spend it here.
Find out more about the REDS Card here.
GrowBiz Enterprise Support - One to One business support from a national network.
Businesses that are on REDS can access One to One Enterprise Support services from GrowBiz and their national network of partners.
GrowBiz offers:
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Regular learning sessions designed to increase business skills.
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An award-winning mentoring programme.
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One to one enterprise support sessions and peer learning opportunities.
GrowBiz brings together the many agencies, support organisations, and experts that work to support micro-enterprises across Scotland and match businesses to the support they need.
