THE British Business Bank has snapped up industry veteran Ian Mitchelmore to head its network in Scotland.

Mr Mitchelmore, who has spent the bulk of his 35-year-career with Bank of Scotland, will support the work of the UK Government-backed body in its drive to provide more growth finance to smaller businesses north of the Border. As senior manager for Scotland, he is part of a team drafted in to support the bank’s UK network director for devolved nations, Jennifer Donnellan.

Mr Mitchelmore said: "This is an exciting time to be joining the bank as it builds its regional capability. I am really looking forward to engaging with the Scottish business community to raise awareness of our activities and the availability of and access to finance options for smaller businesses in Scotland.”

The British Business Bank is chaired by Scottish business veteran Lord Smith of Kelvin, former chairman of Weir Group and SSE who currently also chairs Dundee-based Alliance Trust.