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Johnston Carmichael Announces Strategic Partnership



Johnston Carmichael has agreed a new partnership with STAC (Smart Things Accelerator Centre), underlining the firm’s commitment to Scotland’s innovation economy and supporting the next generation of tech entrepreneurs.


Based in Glasgow, STAC is Scotland’s industry-led accelerator for product-focused tech startups.


It provides an 18-month programme combining mentorship, investment readiness, and access to world-class facilities to help founders launch, build, and scale globally competitive businesses. It aims to position Glasgow as Europe’s leading hub for transformative technologies such as IoT, robotics, AI, and advanced materials, bridging the gap between academia and industry and driving sustainable growth for Scotland’s tech ecosystem.


As part of the collaboration, Johnston Carmichael will provide extensive support to the 35 businesses enrolled in STAC’s current programme.


This will include finance, tax and fundraising expertise that helps businesses navigate complex financial landscapes and secure the capital they need to scale; one-to-one mentoring, enabling STAC’s founders to address strategic and operational challenges; and specialist workshops, covering critical topics for high-growth businesses, such as investor tax reliefs and Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI).


The group will also get access to the firm’s technology specialists, including partner Neil Wilson, who is an expert in working with high growth businesses, and Stephen Oates, partner and head of entrepreneurial taxes.


Calum Purdie, Head of Technology and Life Sciences, Johnston Carmichael, said:

“Partnering with STAC allows us to build on our growing role in Scotland’s tech ecosystem. By sharing our expertise in finance, tax, and growth strategies, we aim to empower these businesses to scale successfully and contribute to Scotland’s reputation as a hub for technology and innovation.”

To date, STAC has supported almost 90 early-stage companies, including Nooku, which has created a range of smart indoor air quality monitors designed to deliver healthier, happier homes. Since completing the STAC programme, Nooku has secured commercial collaborations with Dulux to showcase the measurable benefits of low-VOC paint and is joining with social landlord Wheatley Homes to install its indoor air quality technology in tenants’ homes. The Wheatley Homes initiative is part-funded by Innovate UK.


Stefan Raue, COO and co-founder of Nooku, said:

“Having access to Johnston Carmichael’s experts and network will be a huge boost for the founders taking part in STAC’s programme. Connecting with the right partners and receiving practical support is key to building a sustainable business.”

Of the 35 businesses taking part in the current programme, 15 are spinouts from Glasgow University’s Infinity G initiative, several are spinouts from Strathclyde University, while the remainder were founded independently.


Paul Wilson, CEO and co-founder of STAC, added:

“Our mission has always been to create a centre of excellence for smart and connected technologies here in Scotland. Collaborations like this accelerate that ambition by giving founders access to the financial and strategic expertise they need to compete globally. Together, we’re building companies that will define the next era of innovation.”

For more information about STAC and its programmes, visit here.

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Property finance specialist MSP Capital is on track for more growth amid an exceptional rise in demand for its lending solutions from housing developers and other borrowers.


The Poole-based firm is busy converting to loans around £122 million worth of customer enquiries since the start of 2026, its 45th year of business.


Commercial Director Adam Tovey said:

“That’s more than we’ve ever experienced at this point in the year before. Such heightened activity signals a clear shift in market sentiment. Developers and investors are increasingly confident that conditions are stabilising, and that now may be the right time to move forward with their plans, either by coming to us direct or through a broker."

“Factors driving our record start to a new year are the downward trajectory on base rates, the release of pent-up demand among prospective buyers and greater confidence around property as an investment overall.”


The bulk of the January enquiries have come from new clients keen to take advantage of MSP Capital’s recent decision to cut rates on bridging and development loan products. That was enabled by a landmark facility of £350 million agreed with investment partners J.P. Morgan and Pollen Street Capital last year in a bid to generate more flexibility for competitive lending.


Alongside MSP Capital’s ongoing retained lines with Pollen Street Capital and Shawbrook Bank, the new agreement has increased total funding capacity to £485 million. And J.P. Morgan has the potential to provide additional funds in future, putting MSP Capital squarely in the driving seat to achieve a £750 million loan book ambition by 2030. Adam added:

“It’s all about delivering the safe, robust financial strategies that help make development projects a reality on the ground. We have an experienced, expanding team ready to meet the demand for both development and bridging finance."

“Their expertise is coupled with a robust infrastructure able to process high levels of volume in the market. We are known for our speed of decision-making and delivery of funds. Our autonomy as a principal lender means we can lend on the basis of sound underwriting logic but always with an entrepreneurial, solutions-driven approach that makes transactions more efficient and easier for the client.”


With MSP Capital’s latest rate cuts, brokers and developers can access bridging deals from 0.75% per month up to 75% LTV and development loans from 0.80% up to 70% LTGDV.


The reductions apply to individual loans from £100,000 to £10 million with pre-agreed credit lines available to support faster drawdown of up to £20 million to cover successive projects.


Bridging terms are designed for timescales of up to 36 months while for development finance, covering new-build residential, terms can span up to 24 months.


Reflecting its focus on relationship-led lending and tailored solutions, MSP Capital offers a dedicated account manager to guide each customer from loan application through to repayment. For more information, visit here.

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