Renfrewshire

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.

Invest in Renfrewshire can provide financial support to small to medium sized enterprises to help them start up and grow.

Business Restart Loan

The Business Restart Loan offers small and start-up businesses and people self-employed with interest free loans between £1,000 to £5,000 repayable up to three years, to help with short-term cashflow. The loans are provided through partnership with Right Way Credit Union.

Apply here.

Creative Business Hubs

Encouraging creative companies in Renfrewshire to co-locate and collaborate, the Creative Business Hub fund subsidises the costs of the leaseholder and other businesses locating in a hub. A Creative Hub is led by one business offering locating businesses related services such as hotdesking, studio space, workshops, mentoring, retailing and research.

Net Zero Grant

Small and medium sized businesses in Renfrewshire can apply for a grant providing up to 50 percent funding up to £10,000 to make changes to their business premises and operations to reduce their carbon footprint.

This includes moving to a low carbon heating system or using solar powered energy, but the grant cannot be used on existing systems, carbon-offsetting or on consultant fees or staff costs.

The online application requires businesses to provide their baseline carbon footprint with handy guides on how to do this available from Scottish Enterprise and helpful free online training from Business Energy Scotland.

Apply here.

Retail Improvement Scheme grants for shop fronts

You can apply for a grant to repair, improve, upgrade, or restore the front of your shop, business, or commercial premises in Renfrewshire.

Find out more here.

Town Centre Premises Grant

The grant can help businesses move into empty, ground-floor commercial premises in Paisley, Johnstone, Renfrew, Linwood or Erskine town centres.

You could get a grant of up to 50% of your project costs, up to a maximum of £25,000.

Find out more here.

Business Development Grant

The Business Development Grant is a competitive, discretionary fund, part funded by the UK Local Growth Fund, providing up to 50% match funding from £1,000 to £10,000 to help small and medium sized businesses in Renfrewshire deliver their growth plans.

This includes the purchase of equipment or digital systems which are new to the business, property improvements or expansion, export development, exhibition costs, and the creation of new products or processes.

This grant is to support business growth by helping businesses implement projects which increase turnover and employment through improvements in productivity, competitiveness or innovation.

It cannot be used for vehicles, wages, stock, general purchases, or routine maintenance, and projects must not begin before an application is submitted. To be eligible, businesses must operate from a commercial premises within Renfrewshire.

Apply here.

Business advice on consumer law, reduce junk mail and phone calls, scam advice, scams against businesses.

Find out more here.

Well connected business networks are valuable to any new or growing business. We work in partnership with a number of local organisations that can help your business, including Renfrewshire Chamber, Federation of Small Business (FSB), banks, lawyers and accountants.

Talk to an adviser to find out how our networks can help.

Call us on 0141 530 3186, or complete our contact form to find out more.

Provides businesses in Renfrewshire with free access to consultancy support across a range of topics and disciplines, including strategy, marketing, finance, procurement, employee engagement, energy efficiency and more.

Call us on 0141 530 3186, or complete our contact form to 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. 

Find out more here.

Low-cost business incubator, accommodation and business support for up to two years for early stage and start-up businesses.

Find out more here.