History of Believe in Scotland

Answer

Business for Scotland Ltd is a leading business network, business and economic policy lobbying and economic consulting company that runs multiple social policy and political campaigns. Believe in Scotland is a campaign managed by Business for Scotland Ltd on behalf of the Believe in Scotland National Steering Group and its 143 partnering local grassroots independence campaign groups. 

Business for Scotland was founded in the 1990s to campaign for Scottish devolution and is credited with being a major player in the devolution referendum. In 2011, the organisation was taken over and relaunched in its current form by Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp, who changed Business for Scotland from a Devo-Max supporting organisation to one that fully supports Scottish independence and indeed now effectively leads the Scottish independence campaign. 

In the 2014 independence referendum, Business for Scotland was the highest spending, most prolific and most active special interest group on either side of the debate. In 2015, the Business for Scotland board decided to keep campaigning for Scottish independence until we win. In 2019, at the request of multiple local Yes Groups, Believe in Scotland was set to support local Yes campaigners and fill the void left by the demise of Yes Scotland.

Business for Scotland does not return any profit to directors or shareholders. All cash surpluses from research, consulting, events and memberships are spent on managing our campaigns.

Business for Scotland received the highest possible “A” rating for its financial transparency from Open Democracy’s Who Funds You? Project. The Business for Scotland Funding page can be viewed here. https://www.businessforscotland.com/who-funds-us/