ROYAL Bank of Scotland is to give up the plush executive wing of its Gogarburn headquarters, which was once home to Fred Goodwin, and turn it into a hub for entrepreneurs.
Organisations from across Scotland will take up residence in the halls and offices which used to be occupied by the highest fliers in the bank.
Along with an Entrepreneurial Spark business accelerator representatives from Entrepreneurial Scotland, Business Gateway, Napier University, Scottish Edge, The Princes Trust Scotland, The Lens, Big Noodle, Bright Red Triangle and We are the Future will be based at the complex on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
It is expected 80 entrepreneurs will benefit from free office space and wifi.
RBS said its staff will be encouraged to learn from the business owners and find out more about the challenges of growing a business.
Ross McEwan, chief executive of RBS, said: "It is not just start-up businesses that need to be innovative and forward thinking to thrive and grow,
"RBS needs to be as well. That is why we are opening up our headquarters so that we can support Scottish businesses of tomorrow, not just with infrastructure, but through the chance to collaborate with experts and other like minded business owners.
"This marks a step change in how we can work with partners to support our local economy."
The vast Gogarburn site, which was opened in 2005, cost around £350 million to build and features its own high street with several retail outlets as well as extensive leisure facilities, a crèche, a conference centre and an executive management school.
It was constructed under the watchful eye of Fred Goodwin with the former chief executive said to have even gotten involved in choosing wallpaper and floor coverings.
The executive wing was reported to be lushly carpeted and featured expensive art adorning the corridors.
The wallpaper in certain parts was said to have cost up to £1,000 a roll with carpets in the boardroom running to more than £100 per square yard.
Jim Duffy, chief executive of Entrepreneurial Spark, said: "We are delighted that Entrepreneurial Spark will be moving into the new RBS Entrepreneurial Centre this year.
"The support we've had to date from RBS has really helped Entrepreneurial Spark in our own entrepreneurial journey, from providing cash investment and physical space in our new cities, through to opening up the group's extensive business network to us.
"We have seen a great number of technology entrepreneurs come through the Edinburgh hatchery to date, so will seek to build upon this success as we strengthen our tech start-up offering in Edinburgh, whilst also supporting entrepreneurs from each and every other sector."
Allan Watt, director of Prince's Trust Scotland, said: "Prince's Trust Scotland welcomes this exciting development by RBS in supporting Enterprise in Scotland. Scotland's young people can only benefit by bringing together the widest range of enterprise support possible to find the entrepreneurs of the future and then help them to start and grow their businesses."
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