For the first time ever, we now have the numbers to prove what we’ve always known: LGBTQ+ businesses in Scotland are a powerful force in our economy — innovative, job-creating, and ready to scale.

In a groundbreaking new report from the Open Political Economy Network (OPEN), produced in partnership with OutBritain, we finally have real data on the size, scale, and impact of our community. And the findings are nothing short of historic.

📊 The Numbers at a Glance:
• 16,000+ LGBTQ+ businesses operate across Scotland
• These businesses employ over 50,000 people
• They generate an estimated £7 billion in turnover annually
That’s 4.5% of Scotland’s business population, delivering an outsized contribution to the economy — and yet, until now, LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs were largely invisible in economic reporting.

📥 Download the full report here:
OPEN: LGBTQ+ Businesses Count (PDF)
________________________________________

Why This Matters

This report is the UK’s first-ever comprehensive economic study of LGBTQ+ businesses, authored by Philippe Legrain and Martyn Fitzgerald at OPEN. It provides the hard data we need to make a compelling case for policy inclusion, supply chain access, and targeted support.
For years, LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs have faced disproportionate barriers to funding, procurement, and recognition — often working without the same access to networks or resources afforded to others. Now, we can back up our advocacy with undeniable facts.

________________________________________
A Historic Moment in Scotland

On April 30, 2025, OutBritain returned to its roots in Edinburgh — where we began as OutScotland — to launch the LGBTQ+ Businesses Count report in the Scottish Parliament. This full-circle moment was deeply symbolic for our community.
We are especially grateful to:

• Emma Roddick MSP, who hosted and sponsored the report launch
• Selina McCole of Goldman Sachs, whose words reminded us why visibility matters
• Minister Richard Lochhead, for listening to LGBTQ+ business voices
• Ellis and Lou Beardsmore (Pride Outside CIC) for their advocacy and leadership
• Report authors Philippe Legrain and Martyn Fitzgerald, for turning lived experience into evidence
• Behind-the-scenes champions like Maggie Berry OBE, Luke Bennison, Daniel Armitage (Neuro-Sparks), and our own Patrick Dickinson

Most importantly, we welcomed over 70 LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs from across Scotland and the UK, along with 12 corporate representatives exploring more inclusive supply chains.
________________________________________
What Needs to Happen Next
Despite this success, we know that visibility alone is not enough. To build an economy that works for everyone, we must address the structural challenges LGBTQ+ business owners continue to face:
What Scotland (and the UK) needs:

1. Greater access to public and private sector procurement opportunities
2. Policy development that includes LGBTQ+ business voices at the table
3. Clearer pathways to funding, support, and certification
4. Education for institutions that still don’t understand the needs of diverse entrepreneurs
5. Recognition that inclusion isn’t charity — it’s smart economic growth
________________________________________

Thank You to Our Corporate Partners
This report would not have been possible without the leadership and financial support of our founding corporate partners:
• Dow
• Accenture
• Goldman Sachs

You believed in this work before it was popular — and together, we’ve helped make LGBTQ+ businesses not only visible but valuable to the national economy.
________________________________________

Scotland: The Heart of the Movement
For OutBritain, this isn’t just another milestone — it’s a tribute to where it all began. From our first days as a grassroots movement to now representing thousands of LGBTQ+ businesses nationwide, our headquarters remain in Scotland. It’s our home, our foundation, and now, our proudest headline.

The message is clear:
LGBTQ+ businesses count.
LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs are here.
And our contribution to Scotland’s future is only just beginning.

Read the full report:
OPEN: LGBTQ+ Businesses Count (PDF)
________________________________________
#LGBTQBusiness #OutBritain #OutScotland #SupplierDiversity #InclusiveEconomy #ThisIsHome #ScottishParliament #RepresentationMatters #WeCount