1. Business networks and events in Scotland
Scotland has a number of business networks supporting all business owners in the small business community, such as:
Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) - offer members legal advice, financial expertise, networking support, and ensure the voice of small business owners is heard by policy makers.
Scottish Chambers of Commerce - a network of 30 Chambers of Commerce across Scotland's towns, regions and cities that support and connect companies, share best practice, foster new opportunities and provide practical support to help businesses trade locally, nationally and globally.
Other support is available from:
Business incubators and accelerators, which offer valuable support for innovative start ups. Incubators help entrepreneurs develop an idea through to business launch. Accelerators help businesses grow, perhaps by providing office space, mentoring or research facilities. Some specialise in particular sectors, eg digital or creative.
Business Gateway runs regular events, hosts podcasts and publishes videos covering a range of topics from AI, HR, and networking, to finance, growth and ecommerce.
2. Support with market research
Business Gateway has free services to help with your market research.
Business Gateway market reports provide details on over 100 sectors, giving information, stats, research and facts on your chosen field to help you better understand your market.
More detailed sector information is also available giving more information on your sector, plus related business case studies.
The Business Gateway Research Service can help you with more detailed or bespoke market research. With access to all of the relevant databases this service can help you gain valuable insight into the latest data to help inform your business strategy.
If you are a member of the National Library of Scotland you can also gain free access to many online journals and research papers which can also help with your market research.
3. Support for female entrepreneurs
There are various business organisations supporting women both locally and nationally.
These include:
The Association of Scottish Businesswomen (ASB): work with other networking groups, business support organisations, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, and more to ensure members have access to the best advice available as well as delivering an annual conference and awards.
Women's Enterprise Scotland: a voice for women-owned businesses in Scotland and promotes policy and best practice which enables women to successfully start up and grow their own businesses. Also runs awards and networking events and a digital business centre to support women.
Women’s Business Centre: run by Women’s Enterprise Scotland, it provides practical advice and support to help women bring their business idea to life and flourish as business owners.
Everywoman: provide networking, events, awards and training for women with leadership potential.
Prowess 2.0: provide online content providing resources, inspiration and information, stories and shared experiences.
4. Support for young people
There are schemes that offer advice and support if you are a young entrepreneur.
The Kings's Trust in Scotland may be able to help with funding, support and advice through its core programme to help 18-30 year olds start their own businesses.
Young Enterprise Scotland has several education programmes aimed at giving young people an understanding of how business works through running their own businesses.
5. Support for Black, Asian and minority ethnic start ups
There are several established business support networks specifically for Black, Asian and minority ethnic businesses. For example:
Scottish Asian Business Chamber (SABC): a membership organisation offering free tax and legal advice services, networking, and the opportunity to work with strategic partners.
Just Enterprise: provides business support to members of all ethnic minority communities interested in social enterprise business models and becoming social entrepreneurs.
African Caribbean Business Network (ACBN): a business network for African and Caribbean owned businesses in the UK.
National Black Women's Network (NBWN): offers consultation and support for black women in business.
6. Support for disabled entrepreneurs
Some organisations can offer support that recognises the barriers faced by disabled entrepreneurs.
Association of Disabled Professionals (ADP): offers guidance on setting up a business for disabled people. It also offers advice on issues relating to benefits, networking opportunities, and schemes such as Access to Work.
Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs: Disability charity Leonard Cheshire and Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou run an annual total prize fund of £300,000 to help exceptional disabled entrepreneurs move to the next stage of growth.
Shaw Trust: a national charity that provides training and work opportunities for people who are disadvantaged in the labour market due to disability, ill health or other social circumstances.
Jobcentre Plus provides help and assistance with training and finding work, such as self-employment. Their advisers can help you with support specifically for disabled people.
7. Support for entrepreneurs on low incomes
If you receive benefits and want to set up a new business, it's worth discussing your business plans with a Jobcentre Plus adviser. They will be able to tell you how starting a business will affect your benefits and point you in the direction of practical support.
You may be able to get help with moving from benefits to work if you're on certain benefits and have a viable business idea.
You may be entitled to Universal Credit. These are payments to top up the earnings of working people on low incomes, including the self-employed.
Read our article on surviving until my business is off the ground.
Get the support you need right now
You can connect with us through the contact form, call us or contact your local Business Gateway office.