Inverclyde

Business Gateway Inverclyde provides quality, practical advice and guidance to new and existing businesses in the Inverclyde area.

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Meet the Team

Business Gateway Inverclyde services are delivered on behalf of Inverclyde Council and are an integral part of the Council's support to local business. The Business Gateway team work very closely with the Council's in-house business support and employability teams to ensure that local businesses and individuals looking to start up, establish and grow their business receive the best possible support. Inverclyde Council offers a wide range of support to help local businesses develop and grow.

Alexis
Business Gateway Adviser
Alexis is an experienced Business Consultant with over 28 years of providing advisory support to Scotland’s SME sector through Business Gateway and other public-sector programmes. She has worked extensively as a Start-up Adviser and trainer, developing and delivering workshops in Business Planning and Bookkeeping. With a background in administration and the successful operation of her own secretarial business since 1987, Alexis brings strong skills in budgeting, staff training, and implementing effective systems for clients. She holds an MSc in Entrepreneurial Studies and is Premier Adviser accredited. Alexis enjoys working closely with clients, helping them develop their ideas and progress their business ambitions.
Barbara
Business Gateway Adviser
Barbara joined Business Gateway in 2003. She holds a BA in Hotel & Catering Management, an MPhil, an advanced Certificate in Public Health & Hygiene, and is Premier Adviser accredited. With a strong commercial background from a global quality-of-life services company and extensive experience in business training, she brings deep operational knowledge and excellent interpersonal skills. She is highly effective in helping clients build confidence and take the step into business ownership. Alongside her role as a Start-up Business Adviser, Barbara runs her own training consultancy, delivering efficiency and effectiveness workshops to public- and private-sector organisations.
Charles
Business Gateway Adviser
Charles joined Business Gateway in 2001 after a thirty–year career in sales and marketing, gaining extensive experience across a wide range of product and service sectors. Having operated at director level for many years, he brings expertise in international product launches, engineering management, business planning, staff deployment, network training, and team leadership. Most recently, Charles ran his own sales consultancy, providing comprehensive sales and marketing management support to a select portfolio of local companies, including businesses with internationally recognised products. His work has included implementing management structures, developing financial reporting systems, improving stock control procedures, and delivering tailored training programmes for sales and PR teams.
Sobia
Business Gateway Adviser
Sobia built a strong corporate career, most recently in senior sales leadership, before pursuing her passion for health and wellbeing as a self-employed entrepreneur. She now runs a successful two-studio Reformer Pilates business, combining commercial expertise with a commitment to helping clients achieve their fitness goals. Having benefited from Business Gateway’s support during her own transition, Sobia now works as an adviser, offering practical, empathetic guidance to both new and established businesses. Drawing on firsthand experience of launching and scaling a company, as well as her corporate background, she supports clients in building confidence and shaping their future plans
Niall
Business Gateway Adviser
Niall brings over 35 years of experience across industries including food manufacturing, construction, training, banking, advisory services and government. His expertise spans project management, financial management, business planning, strategic management and leadership. He has supported organisations of all sizes, using his broad experience to help clients strengthen, grow and develop their businesses. Niall holds a law degree and an MBA, and is committed to delivering pragmatic, realistic solutions that drive meaningful business growth.
Ronnie
Business Gateway Adviser
Ronnie is a highly experienced Business Adviser who has supported entrepreneurs and established companies across Scotland with Business Gateway since 2001. Having started and run successful businesses in manufacturing, IT, online retail, and consultancy, he brings practical, real-world insight to his work. He provides tailored one-to-one advice on strategy, finance, marketing, and business planning, as well as delivering training sessions to help individuals start, grow, and strengthen their businesses. Approachable and solutions-focused, Ronnie is committed to helping businesses achieve their goals.

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.

Find out what grants and loans are available to help support your business.

New business start-up grant

This discretionary fund can provide a grant to businesses that are starting to trade in the area. The grant can be used to cover up to a maximum of contribution of £750 (home based business) or £2,000 (trading from commercial premises) towards the start-up costs of the business.

Marketing grant

This discretionary fund can provide a marketing grant to businesses that are trading in the area. The grant can be used to cover up to 100% of eligible costs (excluding VAT) of marketing activities up to a maximum contribution of £1,000.

Digital marketing grant

This discretionary fund can provide a digital marketing grant to businesses that are trading in the area. The grant can be used to cover up to 100% of eligible costs (excluding VAT) of digital marketing activities up to a maximum contribution of £2,500.

Capital equipment grant

This discretionary fund provides financial assistance to help businesses meet specific business growth objectives. The fund can cover up to 100% of eligible costs of capital expenditure (excluding VAT), up to a maximum contribution of £2,000.

Business assistance grant

This discretionary fund provides financial assistance to help businesses meet specific business growth objectives. The fund can cover up to 50% of eligible costs of capital expenditure (excluding VAT), up to a maximum contribution of £5,000.

Grant for tourism businesses

This discretionary fund can provide a grant to businesses in the tourism sector that are trading in the area. The fund can provide up to 100% of eligible costs (excluding VAT), up to a maximum contribution of £2,000. Eligible expenditure includes the purchase of capital equipment and the costs of increased marketing activity to attract more visitors.

Property assistance scheme

This discretionary fund can provide support of up to 50% of total costs (excluding VAT) for signage, security and improvements to business properties. Where total project costs are in excess of £50,000, grants of up to £10,000 may be considered. Proposals must be for premises which are in company ownership or on a long (2 years minimum) lease.

Business Exporting Grant

This discretionary fund can provide up to 100% of total costs to a maximum of £5,000 (excluding VAT), to assist with the cost associated with entering overseas markets.

Towards Net Zero Grant

This discretionary fund can provide support up to a maximum of £10,000 (excluding VAT) for a range of net zero activities. The first £5,000 maximum contribution at 100% and up to an additional £5,000 contribution at 50%.

The Partnership comprises a range of public and third sector agencies working together to provide local Inverclyde businesses with the support they need to address their employment needs through a single point of contact.

Support available includes free recruitment services, recruitment incentives and access to a pool of young people learning new skills on national and local training programmes.

To find out more about the above support, visit the Inverclyde Council and Employer Plus Partnership websites or contact your local Business Gateway office.

We may be able to offer business training support for management level training.

The Small Business Assistance Scheme offers business training support of up to 50% of total costs to a maximum of £2,000 for training for business development training which will have the potential to improve the business turnover/profitability or employment.

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.

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.