<span style="line-height: 18.9091px;">Despite significant challenges facing the global economy, set out in a speech last month by Bank of England governor Mark Carney, the UK&rsquo;s prospects for the year ahead remain relatively positive.</span> <p style="line-height: 18.9091px;">Most economists believe we will continue to see good growth and the International Monetary Fund has kept to its predicted 2.2 per cent rise in Britain&rsquo;s GDP.</p> <p style="line-height: 18.9091px;">Among the wider concerns about faltering oil prices (a big issue for Scotland&rsquo;s economic prosperity) and the slowdown of China&rsquo;s economy, this overall upbeat assessment for the UK should give heart to Scottish businesses. But is there sufficient private equity (PE) funding available in the market to help those focused on growth?</p>