Your local Business Gateway Adviser can offer 1:1 advice face to face, online, by email or by phone. We have a wealth of experience, resources and webinars to teach you everything from starting up to growing your business. We also host events for you to grow your network. On a local basis, there are further, more in depth services, free to you and designed to assist you in everything from establishing and improving your web presence, taking on employees, or developing your sales skills, as outlined below.
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.
Access webinars, online guides and a Digital Health Check with our DigitalBoost programme.
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 1:1 consultancy, 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.
Whether you are looking for investment to develop or start your business, our Business Gateway advisers are on hand to help.
If you are running a business in the Highland Council area you could be eligible for help from the growing business fund. There is specialist advisory support and financial packages of up to £40,000
The growth support is aimed at helping existing Highland businesses grow faster, whilst stimulating the Highland economy through profitability and employment.
Business Gateway Highland is the first point of contact, to apply for funding contact our local Highland offices.
We appreciate that taking on a member of staff – particularly for the first time – is something many businesses find daunting, but our Business Gateway advisers provide free, personal, local support to guide you through the recruitment process.
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.
Small businesses can reap lots of benefits from expanding into overseas markets. As with any new venture, however, internationalising requires careful researching and planning.
Our Business Gateway staff and colleagues at Enterprise Europe Network are here to help you with lots of information, contacts, events and support.
If you are a young Highland entrepreneur, we can help you access a range of additional support to help you start and develop your own business.
The Prince's Trust supports young people aged 18 to 30 to start-up and grow in business by providing essential funding and professional mentoring support.
The main route into the Prince’s Trust in Highland is through your local Business Gateway adviser. They will work with you to see if you are eligible for Prince’s Trust support, and can provide business advice and support to help you become 'investor ready' – such as preparing a business plan and financial projections.
As well as providing our own services, we often signpost our clients to other organisations that we work closely with, and who can provide further support tailored to our clients’ needs.
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 Inverness
Inverness
IV2 3EA
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
09:00 to 17:00
Business Gateway Ardgay
Drovers Square (Ceàrnag nan Dròbhairean)
Ardgay
IV24 3AL
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
09:00 to 17:00
Business Gateway Fort William
Achintore Road
Fort William
PH33 6TZ
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
09:00 to 17:00
Business Gateway Caithness & North Sutherland
Market Square
Wick
KW1 4AB
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
09:00 to 17:00