Ex-ante assessment for financial instruments in Scotland

Many viable small and medium‑sized exporters and firms with significant growth potential in Scotland are still affected by a financing gap. Such market failure provides the rationale for Scotland’s continued and expanded use of financial instruments under the European Regional Development Fund. The ex‑ante assessment featured in this case study was drafted between September 2014 and January 2015 and was led by the Scottish Government’s European Structural Funds Division in their role as managing authority. It was based on widespread consultation with stakeholders and made extensive use of interviews, written sources and statistics.