ENTREPRENEURIAL Spark (ESpark) has pledged to ramp up its business hatcheries in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Ayrshire after securing £300,000 in new funding.

The cash comes in the shape of a £200,000 injection from Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and £100,000 from Glasgow City Council.

ESpark plans to use the funds to transform the hatcheries into entrepreneurial hubs.

These will include "nests" offering support for more established start-up companies, including mentoring, free office space, IT infrastructure and meeting rooms.

The RBS funding means the bank has backed ESpark to the tune of £575,000 since it was established in February 2012.