What we can do to help your business
As businesses across Scotland look to plan, change and adapt as we move through the lockdown phases, Business Gateway is here to provide you with tailored 1:1 support (via phone or Skype), route you to the right Government funding package, offer free webinars, guides, checklists and advice.
We are here to support you. See below for a range of the resources that we have already put together and contact your local Business Gateway office for 1:1 advice.
Back to business
DigitalBoost upskilling and support
Get free 1:1 consultancy, access webinars & online support plus a free healthcheck from our DigitalBoost programme.
Connections Podcast
Our new Connections podcast series explores the challenges facing business in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quick ways to test your business idea is viable
Here we look at some of the quickest and lowest cost ways to establish whether your business idea could work.
Checklist for start-ups – setting up your digital presence
For most startups, setting up a digital presence is a key step in getting a new business ready for launch, whether that’s a website, Facebook page, an email address or more. This checklist covers the things you are most likely to need.
An introduction to digital business models for your new business idea
This guide outlines some common digital business models to help you come up with ideas and choose the best option to fit your circumstances and ambition.
Five top tips for retaining customers after lockdown
Winning new customers is hard work which means retaining them is critical. Here’s five tips to help you put customer retention at the heart of your business.
How to start a business in challenging times
The COVID-19 crisis has presented many challenges for businesses. But that shouldn’t discourage you from starting your own business. We summarise some key considerations to help you get things moving.
How to diversify your small business
As a result of Covid-19, many more businesses are looking to diversify - either to seize new opportunities, or simply to survive in very difficult trading conditions. We focus on the ways small businesses can quickly diversify (either temporarily or more permanently) by taking a fresh look at what they do.
Guide to selecting an online booking system
Government regulations around Covid-19 mean that many more businesses now need formal booking systems to manage social distancing between customers.
Keeping your customers up to date – a fortnightly checklist
With four phases to releasing the lockdown (any of which could change if infection rates accelerate again) businesses need to regularly review customer communications.
Next steps once you’ve started selling online
In the early days of lockdown, many small businesses which normally interacted face-to-face with customers had to rush to create a short-term online offering to get through the first few weeks. Here are some next steps once you've started selling online.
Action plan for managing your new online platform
At the start of the pandemic, many businesses rushed to create a new online presence to sell their products and services. Read this action plan for managing your new online platform.
Q & A - Selecting the right platforms to run online classes
During the Covid-19 lockdown, many instructors have been rushing to switch their face-to-face class into online formats. We spoke to Sonia Rutherford and Sarah Johnson from data-driven marketing agency, IndigoLeap, about what’s involved when moving physical classes online.
Switching to trading online – what you need to know
In these difficult times when people are not allowed to visit non-essential shops, trading online is often the only way for you to sell your products and services. This tutorial explains what’s involved in getting into online trading and, once you are set up, how to make a success of it.
Actions for businesses to consider during the current coronavirus pandemic
We round up some key actions that businesses should consider during this challenging time.
Using digital to reach your customers quickly in a crisis - advice for SMES
Covid-19 is forcing everyone to work differently. If embracing digital was always ‘one of those things we’ll eventually get round to’, it will now be top of your list if your customers can’t come to you.
Managing your business reputation during the coronavirus
This guide summarises some of the most important considerations for businesses and some tips on how to stay visible, on message and on brand during these unusual and uncertain times. We hope these help you to prioritise and develop an action plan for your business.
4 ways customer feedback can help you right now
For businesses that remain open during the pandemic, many are diversifying or using new channels to deliver services in different ways. They’re doing this at breakneck speed - there’s no time for months of market research and focus groups.
Business planning
As your business develops and changes, so should your business plan. That’s why we have created a series of templates and guides to help you structure and plan your business better.
Business plan template
Get focussed and organised with our business plan template that includes some helpful hints as well as details of what to include in it.
Sector and official guidance
Check the level for your business and access the latest guidance
Find out the COVID protection level for each local area and get information on what you can and cannot do at each level.
Guidance for homeworking
Guidance to support the continuation of homeworking during the coronavirus pandemic.
Scottish Government – Safe working guidance for business
The Scottish Government is releasing sectoral guidance to help industries prepare for safe working as we come out of lockdown. You can view a list of the sectoral guidance that has been issued so far.
Small and micro businesses guidance
This guidance is to help micro (less than 10 employees) and small (less than 50 employees) companies safely re-open.
Scottish Hazards
The Scottish Hazards Centre provides free and confidential health and safety information, advice and in depth support to non-unionised individual workers and groups of workers in Scotland.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) risk assessment
A risk assessment along with guides to safe working for all businesses are available from HSE.
Reopening and adapting your food business
Guidance on hygiene and food safety requirements for food businesses to reopen and operate safely during COVID-19.
Healthy Working Lives
Healthy Working Lives have created a bank of useful resources for employers and employees around planning to return to work and mental health.
Coronavirus test and protect advice for employers
Advice for employers on helping staff who need to self-isolate at home.
British Retail Consortium (BRC) guidance
The safety and wellbeing of every retailers’ staff and customers is a top priority. BRC has produced recommendations which will assist retailers to facilitate the introduction of social distancing. It covers retail and warehouse and distribution centres.
Webinars: Coronavirus business support
Our local and national webinar programme covers a wide range of topics to help your business with all of the issues it faces due to the coronavirus.
Book your free place nowMarketing and rebuilding sales
Digital tools and techniques to identify consumer trends
Keeping an eye on customer trends in your sector can inspire innovation, identify growth markets, emerging products and even spot untapped demand. We outline some digital tools and techniques that can help you.
Managing and optimising your Google My Business profile
To provide a strong user experience for visitors, ensure your profile is correctly populated, optimised and make use of some of the additional features.
Finding new customers with digital marketing - a route map
Within the current climate, a key concern for many small businesses is how to find new customers as the economy restarts. Find out which digital channels are the best fit for you.
Claim it or leave it – could Google My Business boost your marketing?
Often overlooked in marketing, Google My Business is a straightforward, easy and free tool that helps small businesses raise their local profile in Google’s search results.
Step-by-step guide - claiming and populating your Google My Business profile
If your business serves customers face-to-face and in a specific local area, then a Business Profile within Google My Business can be particularly useful.
Keeping your SEO and PPC up to date
As we progress through the Scottish Government’s lockdown phases, your business operations and service levels will probably continue to change, so it’s important to update your SEO and PPC activities.
How to make a podcast for your business in 11 simple steps
With many companies turning to digital tools to stay connected with customers and to stay visible within communities during the coronavirus, podcasts are a fantastic way of opening a natural dialogue between business and customers. But where do you start?
5 ways you can use email to communicate with your customers during the coronavirus
During the Covid-19 crisis, digital channels are especially valuable for helping businesses react quickly and keep their customers up-to-date. Here is a run down on how you can use email to improve communication with customers.
5 point plan to keep in touch with customers
The coronavirus lockdown has led many businesses to stop trading. Normally when businesses close, it is either forever, or a two week holiday at the most! However, this is an unprecedented situation where businesses will close with the hope of opening again in a few weeks or months.
7 tips to getting your tone right in business communications during the coronavirus
During the pandemic, customer communication through your digital channels is essential. Whether this is to update customers of changes to your business, or letting them know of new services you can provide, the words that you use and the tone that you take are incredibly important to your ongoing customer relationships.
Using & reviewing digital channels during coronavirus/COVID-19
All organisations can use digital tools and channels to respond quickly and communicate with customers, staff and suppliers.
Experienced local business advisers, webinars & access to further support
Find your nearest officeHR and mental health
Developing HR processes to fit with virtual working
Alison Bell of Bell HR Consulting examines the impact prolonged, or even permanent, home working will have on the recruitment and induction processes.
Key steps in redundancy
Alison Bell of Bell HR Consulting provides an overview of the key steps in the redundancy process.
COVID-19 impact on Employment Documents
HR consultant to Business Gateway, Alison Bell, provides guidance on the temporary changes employers should consider making to employment documentation.
Test & Protect: Considerations for your business
This Q&A touches on some of the most FAQ in relation to people management by Scottish businesses.
Employee Wellbeing
This video tutorial will help businesses gain a deeper understanding of employee wellbeing and mental health and provides guidance on how to maintain physical wellbeing and implement a positive mental health culture in the workplace.
Getting back to business: HR considerations
HR consultant to Business Gateway, Alison Bell, answers some commonly asked questions, and provides some suggestions on options employers may wish to consider as part of a restructure post COVID-19.
Getting back to business: HR guidance for employers
As lockdown eases, business owners may be considering plans for returning to trading and thinking about what this means for their workforce. To help navigate this challenging time, we spoke to two of our specialist advisors to get some expert guidance and answers on some of the most FAQs.
COVID-19 business resilience and the future of work
Geraldine Higgins from Flexibility Works talks us through what businesses can expect and do to prepare for more flexible working.
Supporting your wellbeing and mental health during Covid-19 and beyond
Catriona Davies from Resolution Mediation Scotland has a wealth of experience in supporting teams and staff’s wellbeing. We asked her for some tips on how we can ensure that we continue to remain well during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Supporting your staff's mental wellbeing during Covid-19 and beyond
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to evolve and change, the role of a leader has never been more crucial. We spoke to Catriona Davies of Resolution Mediation Scotland, who has years of supporting companies to provide mental wellbeing within teams, for some top tips and resources to help leaders and managers.
Managing conflict whilst home working
Working from home can create challenges for ourselves and also how we interact with the people that we work with. As we learn to adapt to our new working environment, we spoke to Catriona Davies from Resolution Mediation Scotland, a specialist in conflict resolution and mediation, about some tips we can all use to manage conflict during these times.
Why emotional wellbeing is so important during Covid-19
In these unprecedented times, emotional and mental wellbeing is so important right now. How we support our self, how we support others within our business or business contacts is absolutely crucial.
A checklist for business owners work/life balance during lockdown
Running a business, working from home and managing your work/life balance mean different things to different people. We are all having to adapt. But for some it may be easier than others. Catriona Davies from Resolution Mediation Scotland provides us with a useful checklist that should help everyone cope a bit better with the situation.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) employer obligations
This short guide gives an outline on your obligations as an employer when it comes to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
Clear your head – and feel better
It’s important we look after ourselves now more than ever. Read these practical tips on how to clear your head from the Scottish Government.
Working remotely
Adopting flexible & remote working into your business
Prepare your business for more flexible & remote working with this video tutorial, learn about the benefits, strategies & best practice involved in adopting this into your organisation.
Managing a team remotely – how to make it work better for everyone
The rapid spread of the coronavirus is presenting huge challenges across every industry in the world, as businesses adapt to new directives and restrictions on movement.
Webinars, live streams and video conferences: Running a business remotely
While we are all dealing with coronavirus travel restrictions, it’s even more important to know how to interact with colleagues, clients and customers online. This tutorial gives you an insight into what’s possible and how you set about doing it.
Online Tutorials
You can watch these Online Tutorials 24/7 and they cover a wide range of topics relevant to getting your business through the coronavirus crisis including Trading Online, Crisis PR, Social Media and Digital Strategy.
Watch NowClosing a business
Redundancy support for employers & employees
PACE (Partnership Action for Continuing Employment) is the Scottish Government’s programme offering individuals & employees advice & support when faced with redundancy.
Closing a business – making that decision and what you have to consider
No one could have forecast the current business climate in Scotland. There is no easy guidance through this unprecedented situation, just words of support, direction and government guidelines that change and are updated on a daily basis.
14 points to consider when closing your premises during self-isolation
At the moment most businesses have had to close their premises and although there are also less people on the streets we wanted to remind you of some security measures that you should consider when closing up.
Advice and actions for cafes regarding temporary closures due to coronavirus
With cafes closed or working as takeaways we spoke to Café and Restaurant Management Consultant Angela Lyons who has worked in the industry for over 17 years.
Funding and grants
Coronavirus funding support and grant list - Regular update
A list of support that is available has been created and can be downloaded as a PDF. It Is being updated regularly so please check back for further updates. It includes information on all business funding and grants made available to help businesses during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Coronavirus Restrictions Fund
Businesses in Scotland impacted by the temporary Coronavirus brake restrictions put in place on 9 October can now apply for the Coronavirus Restrictions Fund via their Local Authority.
Job Support Scheme
The UK Government has announced a further Job Support Scheme to launch in November 2020 and run for 6 months.
Coronavirus financial support finder
Use this business support finder from the UK Government to see what support is available for you and your business.
UK Self-employment Income Support Scheme
This scheme has been extended. If you were eligible for the first grant and can confirm to HMRC that your business has been adversely affected on or after 14 July 2020, you’ll be able to make a second and final grant claim from 17 August 2020.
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)
For smaller businesses with a turnover of less than £45m looking for up to £5m in finance. Business loans, overdrafts, invoice finance & asset finance available. First 12 months of interest and lender-levied fees covered.
Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)
For larger businesses with a turnover of more than £45m looking for up to £50m in finance (depending on turnover). Business loans, overdrafts, invoice finance & asset finance available. Repayment terms of up to three years.
Future Fund to support innovative UK businesses
This fund provides government loans to UK-based companies ranging from £125,000 to £5m subject to at least equal match funding from private investors.
Universal Credit for the self-employed
We have produced this short guide to applying for financial support if you are self-employed and affected by the coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak.
Support for creative professionals and organisations
Creative Scotland has launched three funding programmes designed to provide further support to sustain the country’s creative community during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Small Business Advertising Fund
The FSB have partnered with Mail Metro Media to give small businesses impacted by the coronavirus a chance to receive a £3000 tailored advertising package for free.
Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme
Employers can find out if you can use the Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme to reclaim employees' coronavirus-related Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
Other business support
Federation of Small Business (fsb)
fsb is the largest business campaigning group in the UK and is providing support and services to its members and non-members during the coronavirus.
Scottish Government business news
Visit the Scottish Government website for the latest business guidance information, funding announcements and business related statements on the coronavirus.
UK Government business news
Visit the UK Government website for the latest business guidance information, funding announcements and business related statements on the coronvirus.
Other business support from across Scotland
Find Business Support is available to help Scottish businesses find the support they need - offering services from across the public sector in the one place.