Highland

Business Gateway Highland is your gateway to expert local business advice and practical guidance. We have business advisers based in offices all over the Highland area.

View our offices Call us: 01463 896 871

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Meet the Team

Wherever you are on your business journey, launching a new idea, building your online visibility, or levelling up your digital and social media skills, the Business Gateway team in Highland is here to help you move forward with confidence.

We bring real‑world experience, hands‑on resources, and personalised 1:1 support designed to help your business grow and thrive.

All of our support is fully funded and open to all sole traders and small businesses based in the Highlands, delivered as part of Highland Council’s commitment to support local enterprise and grow the economy.

Danny
Business Gateway Manager
Danny Gallagher is a senior public and private sector manager with over 30 years’ experience, much of it gained in parallel roles. Alongside serving as Managing Director of both privately owned and publicly listed companies, he ran his own small business for more than a decade. During this period, he also lectured for six years in media and specifically radio. For over ten years, Danny has headed the Business Gateway Highland team, combining strategic leadership with hands-on commercial experience.
Mark
Senior Area Business Manager
Mark MacKintosh is our Senior Area Business Manager for Inverness and Nairn, working from the Inverness HQ. His patch includes the Highland capital - a lively hub for retail, tourism, training, and professional services - as well as the wider eastern area. Since joining Business Gateway Highland in 2009, Mark has helped countless local entrepreneurs turn their ideas into successful businesses. With a solid background in business advice, banking and financial services, he brings real, practical know how in areas like finance, planning, funding, and growth. Mark’s approachable style and genuine passion for supporting local enterprise means he works closely with our partners and stakeholders to strengthen the local business community and create opportunities for sustainable growth.
Emma
Area Business Manager
Emma Lawson is our Area Business Manager for Lochaber, Skye, and Lochalsh. Her region is extensive, covering the towns of Fort William, Lochaber, and Portree on Skye, right through to the more remote rural communities of Ardnamurchan and the Small Isles. This diverse area is home to a wide range of businesses, including food and drink producers, tourism operators, and outdoor activity providers. Emma’s specialist area is HR, and she has been supporting businesses to start up, develop, and grow with Business Gateway Highland since 2012.
Marianne
Area Business Manager
Marianne Ross is our Area Business Manager for Ross-shire and Sutherland. Ross-shire has close links with engineering and industry, whilst Sutherland’s landscape hosts many tourism and agricultural businesses. Marianne has worked in employability and adult education. With first-hand experience in agricultural and retail businesses, Marianne has worked as both Recruitment Adviser and Area Business Manager during her time at Business Gateway Highland.
Lloyd
Area Business Manager
Lloyd is our Area Business Manager based in the Inverness Office which also covers the Badenoch & Strathspey area and the area around Loch Ness. The area is rich in culture and myths. From Monsters to mountains, it has it all. With businesses large and small from outdoor adventure and sport sectors to manufacturing and more. Lloyd is an Accountant with diverse and extensive business experience. He also has an entrepreneurial background having set up a number of successful businesses over the years. Lloyd has worked with Business Gateway for over ten years.
Ally
Area Business Adviser
Ally Ross is our Area Business Adviser for Caithness, North Sutherland and the Black Isle. These areas are rich in culture and offer an ideal environment for businesses looking to grow and take the next step. With professional experience in the hospitality sector, a degree in accountancy, and a background in business development within financial services, Ally brings a strong blend of practical and strategic expertise.
Diane
Start-Up Business Adviser
If you’re thinking about starting a business, Dianne Swanepoel is here to help. With more than ten years’ experience running her own company with over 100 employees. There’s very little she doesn’t know about launching and growing a business. Once you get in touch, Dianne will guide you through every stage of getting your business off the ground. She can support you with business plan and cashflow templates, webinars, start‑up grants, and much more.
Ilona
Business Services Coordinator
Ilona Warburton is based in the Inverness Business Gateway office. She has over twenty years experience in business support, in particular, for small companies trading internationally. She has been with the Business Gateway team for over four years supporting start-up companies. She has a background in Law and Management.

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.

Before you apply for any loan, it’s a good idea to chat with one of our local Business Gateway Highland advisers. They can offer practical guidance and support to help you shape your plans.

Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited

If your business needs investment to start or grow, you may be eligible for a loan from Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited. This is a loan company owned by Highland Council and approved by the UK Financial Conduct Authority.

Find out more.

DSL Business Finance Ltd

DSL have a team of loan experts that can offer you a number of options to suit your business, whilst also providing support throughout the duration of your loan.

Find out more.

British Business Bank

The UK’s largest domestic investor ensuring that finance for smaller businesses is more readily available, and easier to access.

Find out more.

The Supplier Development Programme provides support through a range of free tender training, e-learning modules and Meet the Buyer events to help Scottish SMEs, social enterprises and third sector organisations in bidding for public sector opportunities.

Visit their website for more information.

Did you know that the public sector in Scotland alone buys over £9 billion pounds of goods and services from commercial businesses every year? We can help you improve your access to, and chances of winning, these public contracts and many more across Europe.

Contact us to find out more.

Planning and Building Standards

Apply for planning permission, fees , building warrants, building standards advice and guidance. Click here for more information

Business rates

Find out more about rates relief, business rates discount, Non-Domestic Rates and paying by direct debit.

Food Health and Safety

Find out more about workplace health and safety, register or change a food premises and food safety management.

Trading Standards

Find out more about Weights and Measures, Illegal sale of restricted goods, counterfeit goods and product recall notices.

Licensing

You can apply for liquor, public entertainment events, short term lets and taxi licences. Click here for more information.

Want to speak to the team?

We offer local advice, webinars, events, networking and much more. So get in touch with us today.

Complete our contact form

Want to visit us?

We have offices in Inverness, Lochaber and Caithness & North Sutherland. Find your nearest office below.

Upcoming events in Highland

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Highland

Meet the Team

Danny

Mark

Emma

Marianne

Lloyd

Ally

Diane