We can provide a wealth of information tailored to your business needs, and the local office in Lochgilphead offers one to one support from a business adviser as well as holding a range of locally run courses.
Whether you are considering an idea, taking the first steps or have been running a business for years, we have the experience to advise you at every stage and help you develop your business.
There are many ways we can support your start-up journey.
Our Planning To Start 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 and articles, video tutorials and podcasts. 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 1:1 advice, online resources and webinars can help you plan, adapt and grow.
We know that your time is in short supply, so we offer 1:1 advice at a time and day to suit you. Together, you and your business adviser can create a strategic action plan to suit your ambitions.
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.
Access webinars, online guides and a Digital Health Check with our DigitalBoost programme.
From digital marketing strategy to social media, e-Commerce, cyber security and more, we can help boost your digital performance.
Our DigitalBoost Health Check is a great place to start. It will help pinpoint your digital strengths, areas you could improve, and how we can help, and it only takes 5 minutes to complete.
There are a number of relief schemes available which offer reduced non-domestic rates for qualifying businesses.
These include relief for small businesses (Small Business Bonus Scheme), empty properties, charities, rural businesses, renewable energy producers and nursing care establishments. For more information, call 01586 555249.
Advice and guidance on planning issues is available.
Find out if you need planning permission or a building warrant, make an application, find out about an application that has been made, or find out more about long term policies such as the Local Plan. For more information call 01546 605518.
Find out if you need a licence, permit or permission for your business and how you can apply.
The work undertaken by Environmental Health includes food safety, environmental protection, public health and housing, environmental health licensing, animal health and welfare and occupational health and safety.
Advice and information is available to help businesses within Argyll and Bute ensure compliance with this legislation. Call 01546 605519 or visit the Argyll and Bute Council website for more details.
Trading Standards helps to maintain a fair and safe trading environment where local businesses and consumers can thrive.
Advice and information is available to help businesses within Argyll and Bute ensure compliance with this legislation. Call 01546 605519 or visit the Argyll and Bute Council website for more details.
Business Improvement Districts have been set up to help build stronger communities in Scotland.
These business improvement districts are about businesses working together and investing collectively in local improvements, which will benefit the businesses involved and the towns they are based in.
Argyll and Bute have two Business Improvement Districts in Oban and Dunoon.
If you would like to know more or want to get involved you can contact the local BID's teams as follows:
Oban - 01631 5699156
Dunoon - 01369 704311
Oban BID's www.bid4oban.co.uk
Dunoon BID's www.pa23.org.uk
The Scottish Chambers of Commerce provide business support, business policy and business mentoring to Scottish businesses across Scotland.
The Chambers of Commerce enables businesses owners to share information and resources and to speak to people who understand the problems they are facing and who may be able to offer useful advice and support.
The Chambers of Commerce operates in two areas of Argyll, Helensburgh and Lomond and Mid Argyll.
Mid Argyll Chamber of Commerce Secretary:
Jane MacLeod
01546 606666
The Women's Business Centre is a website designed to support women at the pre-start and start-up through to growth stages of their business journey.
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.
SDP is a public sector partnership which delivers a variety of free tender training.
Registration for SDP events is free for Scottish SMEs, and will connect your business with your local authority’s SDP Rep who can offer your business additional support.
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 PACE – Partnership Action for Continuing Employment.
Information on the free advice and support available from Scotland’s public sector business support organisations is available to find, all in one place, at Find Business Support.
Find your nearest office
Business Gateway Lochgilphead
Whitegates Road
Lochgilphead
PA31 8SY
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
09:00 to 17:00
Business Gateway Helensburgh
38 East Clyde Street
Helensburgh
G84 7PG
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
09:00 to 17:00