East Dunbartonshire

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.

Taxation can be one of the most confusing things for a business owner. This section covers everything from what taxes you may be liable for, the different taxes businesses face and what you are responsible for, through to tax allowances that could help you.

Do you know the taxation differences between trading as a sole trader vs as an incorporated business? Are you aware of what rate of VAT needs to be applied to all goods? Do you know when your different tax returns are due? If not, talk to Business Gateway East Dunbartonshire advisers as they can help you understand what you need to know.

This includes providing the essential advice and training to ensure you have the necessary knowledge to fulfil your legal commitments, whether you complete your own self-assessment or have a tax adviser. They also work closely with HMRC tax advisers, who are on hand to help you with everything you need to know.

Business Continuity Planning (BCP) is a process that helps mitigate risks to the smooth running of an organisation, thereby ensuring that it can continue to operate despite a disruption.

The whole process is sometimes referred to as Business Continuity Management (BCM). BCM is an ongoing process that helps organisations anticipate, prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disruptions, whatever their source and whatever aspect of the organisation they affect.

The BCM Lifecycle

Stage 1: Understanding your business
Stage 2: Developing BCM strategies
Stage 3: Developing and implementing a BCM response
Stage 4: Establishing a BCM culture
Stage 5: Maintaining and auditing BCM
Source: Business Continuity Institute, 2002

What should be covered in a Business Continuity Plan?

A Business Continuity Plan will identify all the requirements which are essential to keeping your business running. It provides a set of instructions on what to do at a time of crisis and should set out clear roles and responsibilities. It should list the actions that will allow key business activities to continue in the most difficult circumstances.

Types of Risk

• Floods/storms/high winds
• Fire
• Loss of premises
• Loss of telecommunications
• Loss of power
• Disruption to fuel supplies
• Loss of/reduction in staff

Possible Effects

• Failure of business
• Loss of Income
• Damage to reputation
• Loss of customers
• Legal/regulatory penalties
• Loss of trained employees
• Increased insurance penalties

Business Continuity Basic Checklist

• Have you made a list of important telephone numbers (customers, clients, suppliers, employees)?
• Do you store your vital computer information on back up disks or servers away from your premises?
• Do you have an asset register?
• Do you and your staff know the location of stopcocks, valves and electric mains switch?
• Have you considered alternative arrangements in order to continue operations (locations, suppliers, equipment etc.)?
• Do you have an emergency pack that includes a plan of the site, spare keys and contact details?
• Is it stored in a safe place that is known by your key personnel?