Funded by the Scottish Government, the scheme will provide expert guidance, coaching, and networking opportunities to help projects involved in initiatives like the Facility for Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (FIRNS) as well as Investment Ready Nature in Scotland (IRNS) and Riverwoods attract additional financing.

The programme will support around 40 projects focused on environmental issues such as marine and coastal biodiversity, wildlife protection, peatland restoration, and forestry. Participants include the Tweed Forum working on natural flood management, the Argyll and the Isles Coast and Countryside Trust protecting Scotland’s Atlantic rainforest, and the North Highland Initiative improving peatland restoration financing.

Through workshops, one-on-one coaching, and matchmaking with potential investors, SIS will equip these projects to align their social and commercial value propositions effectively. This approach aims to unlock new investment streams to boost Scotland’s biodiversity, natural capital, and community benefits.

Kieran Daly, head of market building at SIS, said: “We’re excited to be teaming up with NatureScot and the National Lottery Heritage Fund to help grow nature finance in Scotland.

“Drawing upon more than 20 years’ experience helping charities and social enterprises increase their impact through investment, SIS has designed a programme which offers practical support and advice to help these nature-based projects attract more investment.

“Ultimately, this will in turn enable the projects to attract the funding they need to increase their impact – boosting Scotland’s biodiversity and enhancing natural capital for the future. In doing so, we can also hopefully attract more nature-based investment into Scotland.”

John Uttley, principal adviser – nature finance at NatureScot, said: “This dynamic new partnership with Social Investment Scotland will help many creative and ambitious projects to access new sources of finance for their work to protect and restore nature.

“At this time of growing urgency about our changing climate, nature plays an absolutely critical role.

“We must work together and increase our efforts, and this joint venture will provide a big helping hand to many projects working hard to stop biodiversity loss and tackle climate change.”

Caroline Clark, The National Lottery Heritage Fund director for Scotland, said: “FIRNS is an important opportunity to explore new ideas on how we attract vital private investment to support the restoration of nature in Scotland, while supporting meaningful community benefit.

“From the outset a key component of FIRNS has the sharing of knowledge and experience across funded projects to support the growth of a successful green finance economy in Scotland.

“We welcome the significant additional expertise that Social Investment Scotland bring to the FIRNS programme. There is a growing momentum behind the ideas that drive FIRNS and we are confident that with SIS joining the team we will see more successful investment models being developed to benefit nature and communities throughout Scotland.”