Angus

Business Gateway Angus offers a range of support and advice to individuals looking to start a business, newly formed businesses, and existing businesses seeking to grow, diversify, or adapt to economic challenges.

View our offices Call us: 01241 468 677

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Meet the Team

At Business Gateway Angus, we’re here to provide personalised, one-to-one business advice in person, by phone, or through email. Our experienced team offers business workshops throughout Angus, covering business planning, financial planning, marketing strategy, and more. We also host online webinars and networking events to support you from initial setup to business expansion.

George Ellis
Growth Adviser/Start-Up Team Leader
Coming from a rural background, George understands the challenges many small businesses face. With a business degree from the University of Dundee and years of experience in the hospitality sector, he enjoys working with start-ups and seeing their journey from first steps to steady growth. Having worked closely with businesses to help them achieve their ambitions, George brings a practical, hands-on approach to his role. He’s been part of both the Perth and Angus teams, and now leads the Tayside Start-Up Team—sharing his varied experience to support new businesses across the region.
Emma Kilani
Growth Team Leader
Emma joined the Perth Business Gateway office in 2021 as a Start-Up Adviser, before moving into a Growth Adviser role in Dundee in 2023. She now supports the wider team as Growth Team Leader. With over 25 years of hands-on experience in starting, growing, and managing businesses—including her own—Emma truly understands the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. She’s passionate about helping business owners access the right support, tools, and advice to grow sustainably. Alongside working directly with clients, Emma also shares her knowledge and experience with the rest of the Growth Team, helping the team build on their strengths.
Kate Clark
Outreach Business Adviser
With 35 years of experience in the private sector, Kate began her career as a designer in the fashion industry, working with major high-street retailers. She later transitioned into account management and then into the field of ballistic body armour, where she led teams in delivering contracts globally. Kate now brings this extensive experience to support businesses of all kinds. She has a passion for the Angus area, appreciating both its diverse range of businesses and its beautiful landscapes, which she enjoys exploring in her outreach role.
Sarah Young
Outreach Team Leader
Sarah leads our Outreach Team across Tayside, supporting advisers and working directly with communities to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. With six years of experience at Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, she brings deep knowledge of the local business landscape and a strong network of contacts. Sarah is passionate about connecting people with the right support, tools, and opportunities to help their ideas thrive.
Dennis McFarlane
Start-Up Adviser
Dennis supports new and aspiring entrepreneurs across Angus, helping them turn their ideas into successful, sustainable businesses. With over 30 years’ experience at VisitScotland, he brings extensive expertise in marketing, stakeholder engagement, and business development, along with a deep understanding of the tourism and events sector. Having worked closely with hundreds of local enterprises, Dennis knows the opportunities and challenges that come with starting out. He takes a supportive, down-to-earth approach, helping clients build confidence, develop clear plans, and take their first steps toward achieving their business ambitions.
Aileen McGowan
HR Business Adviser
Aileen brings over 33 years of experience across a range of industries, supporting businesses with everything from operational tasks and account management to all things HR. She’s especially passionate about helping companies navigate the challenges of building and managing their teams—whether it’s day-to-day support or long-term strategy. From recruitment to retirement, Aileen is there to offer practical advice and guidance every step of the way.
Jennifer Edwards
Business Administrator
Jennifer is the cheerful and welcoming face of our Angus office. With 20 years of administrative experience working across many sectors, including facilities management, oil and gas, and utilities her vital role connects businesses with the local Business Gateway team.
Michelle Shepherd
Contracts Manager
Michelle first joined our local office in 2005 as a receptionist and has grown with the team ever since. Over the years, she’s taken on roles as Team Leader and Deputy Contracts Manager, and now proudly leads as our Contracts Manager. Michelle heads up our amazing team of advisers across Tayside and is genuinely passionate about the work they do. She’s especially proud of the dedication and talent within the team, all focused on supporting local businesses to thrive.

There are many ways we can support your start-up journey.

Our Business Support Tool is a great place to begin. It takes just 10 minutes to complete and provides you with an instant toolkit with key resources & information. We'll then connect you with a member of the team at our local office for further support.

Our website offers a business plan guide and template to download when you’re ready, market reports and research, as well as handy online guides, articles and video tutorials. Plus, we have a great range of webinars to hone your start-up skills – from writing a business plan to marketing on a budget.

With our help, you could be in business sooner than you imagined.

Our resources and one-to-one support can help you strengthen your business.

Whether you’re looking to take on premises or learn more about digital marketing, we can help you take the next step. Get started by taking 10 minutes to complete our Business Support tool and get a personalised dashboard of online resources and webinars.

We can also offer 1-1 advice at a time that works for you. Together, you and your business adviser can create a strategic action plan to help you achieve your goals.

Our online resources and webinars can help you learn new skills, create opportunities and gain confidence. From HR to restructuring, innovation and digital marketing - we can help. And if specialist input is required, we can connect you to other sources of support.

Women into Business is a networking group for women who are developing a business idea, or those who have recently started their business, and the Women's Business Centre is an online resource created to support women at every stage of their business journey, from pre-start and start-up through to growth and development.

Operated by Women’s Enterprise Scotland, the Women's Business Centre website is free to access and offers dedicated, needs-based content on starting and growing a business, including stories, encouragement and top tips from leading business owners across Scotland.

For even more support Women Ahead is a trusted network supporting women in business and the professions across Dundee and Angus. Recognised by Scottish Enterprise, it offers inclusive access to growth opportunities, peer connections, and professional development. Through regional hubs and an active online platform, Women Ahead delivers tailored programmes, networking, and mentorship for women at all stages of their business journey.

Contact us to find out more.

At Business Gateway Tayside, we’re here to give you the tailored advice and practical support you need to help your business reach its full potential.

For businesses looking to grow, our ‘Expert Help’ service provides access to additional time with local specialists. This means you can tap into expert knowledge in key areas, from strategy and finance to marketing and beyond, to strengthen your plans and drive success.

Contact us to find out more.

Scottish Enterprise, together with Business Gateway form Scotland's main interface with start-up and growing businesses.

Scottish Enterprise run events and can provide specialist information within the areas of innovation, funding and international business development.

Visit the Scottish Enterprise website.

SDS is Scotland’s national skills body, dedicated to helping individuals and employers develop the skills they need to succeed.

SDS provides expert careers advice, training resources, and funding opportunities to support workforce development, upskilling, and reskilling.

Visit the SDS website.

Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce is committed to improving opportunities for Dundee and Angus local businesses, providing training, networking, a regular newsletter and business directory.

Women Ahead is a trusted network supporting women in business and the professions across Dundee and Angus. Recognised by Scottish Enterprise, it offers inclusive access to growth opportunities, peer connections, and professional development.

Federation of Small Businesses provide support, expert advice, and a voice in government to champion the interests of Scotland’s smaller businesses. Members gain access to legal and tax guidance, networking opportunities, and exclusive resources created to help businesses start, grow, and succeed.

Your local Business Gateway office can offer free support to any business considering making redundancies.

Our advisers can help you look at your business challenges and then help you make the next practical steps. Along with that we can introduce you to Partnership Action for Continuing Employment.

Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) is the Scottish Government’s initiative dedicated to helping individuals and employers with advice and support when faced with redundancy. PACE offers free advice and support, and helps take away some of the strain of dealing with redundancy. Click here or call 0800 917 8000 to find out more.