Another successful year for the Council’s Business Gateway.
Monday, 07 November 2022 12:28
Members of the Council’s Economy and Resources Committee (15 Nov) will receive a report on the activities of the Council’s Business Gateway service which will inform how this contributes to the work of the Business Support Partnership.
The Business Gateway (BG) service provides free, impartial, expert advice, support and training to individuals and companies at any stage in their business life. This is delivered by the team of advisors working across the region through 1-2-1 meetings, workshops and seminars, networking events and on-line resources via social media and the web. The aim is to support individuals and business achieve their aims and objectives from taking an idea and turning into income.
In the first 6 months of 2022/23, Business Gateway has supported 333 enquiries, resulting in 192 new business start-ups. In the last 12 months, BG has delivered the following Local Services:
• Expert Business Consultancy with 23 business receiving intensive consultancy support in Investor Ready Business Planning, Retail, HR and Marketing.
• Digital Boost where 66 businesses had a digital Health Check and 41 received intensive digital support and consultancy.
• Start-Up Grant - Enterprise Seed Fund where 22 business start-up grants issued, generating 29 FTE jobs and safeguarding 22.5 FTE.
• Aires Grant/ Motorhome stopovers: 11 sites have become certified locations, 4 more are in process.
• Food and Drink Sector Accelerator 11 clients, 3 of which from Mid and East Antrim through the North Channel Partnership, completed an intensive sector-based growth accelerator programme.
• Adventure Tourism Accelerator: 16 clients.
• Jump Start Food Accelerator, recently started with 10 clients currently on programme to take home-based food and drink business to the next level.
In the Business Gateway National Customer Satisfaction Survey 2022/23 our local Business Gateway service achieved high levels of customer satisfaction, with the highest levels nationally (100%) expressing overall satisfaction with the service. Points included: meeting customers’ expectations, levels of predicted benefit, and speaking to an advisor.
Chair of Economy and Resources committee, Katie Hagmann said: “Through local assistance and advice from experts, this is a very successful service, providing essential support and training to local businesses of varying sizes. I am delighted to see that this branch of our Council services continues to go from strength to strength, recognising and helping our local businesses grow, providing jobs and boosting our local economy.”
Vice Chair, Sean Marshall said: “Whatever your business needs, I would encourage our local businesses, from start-ups to the more established to make contact with our Business Gateway Team to find out what support they can give. They can offer sound business advice, market intelligence and access to an extensive network of contacts across Scotland, essential to enterprises of any size.”
To find out more go to: https://www.bgateway.com/local-offices/dumfries-and-
galloway/local-support
ENDS
The Business Gateway (BG) service provides free, impartial, expert advice, support and training to individuals and companies at any stage in their business life. This is delivered by the team of advisors working across the region through 1-2-1 meetings, workshops and seminars, networking events and on-line resources via social media and the web. The aim is to support individuals and business achieve their aims and objectives from taking an idea and turning into income.
In the first 6 months of 2022/23, Business Gateway has supported 333 enquiries, resulting in 192 new business start-ups. In the last 12 months, BG has delivered the following Local Services:
• Expert Business Consultancy with 23 business receiving intensive consultancy support in Investor Ready Business Planning, Retail, HR and Marketing.
• Digital Boost where 66 businesses had a digital Health Check and 41 received intensive digital support and consultancy.
• Start-Up Grant - Enterprise Seed Fund where 22 business start-up grants issued, generating 29 FTE jobs and safeguarding 22.5 FTE.
• Aires Grant/ Motorhome stopovers: 11 sites have become certified locations, 4 more are in process.
• Food and Drink Sector Accelerator 11 clients, 3 of which from Mid and East Antrim through the North Channel Partnership, completed an intensive sector-based growth accelerator programme.
• Adventure Tourism Accelerator: 16 clients.
• Jump Start Food Accelerator, recently started with 10 clients currently on programme to take home-based food and drink business to the next level.
In the Business Gateway National Customer Satisfaction Survey 2022/23 our local Business Gateway service achieved high levels of customer satisfaction, with the highest levels nationally (100%) expressing overall satisfaction with the service. Points included: meeting customers’ expectations, levels of predicted benefit, and speaking to an advisor.
Chair of Economy and Resources committee, Katie Hagmann said: “Through local assistance and advice from experts, this is a very successful service, providing essential support and training to local businesses of varying sizes. I am delighted to see that this branch of our Council services continues to go from strength to strength, recognising and helping our local businesses grow, providing jobs and boosting our local economy.”
Vice Chair, Sean Marshall said: “Whatever your business needs, I would encourage our local businesses, from start-ups to the more established to make contact with our Business Gateway Team to find out what support they can give. They can offer sound business advice, market intelligence and access to an extensive network of contacts across Scotland, essential to enterprises of any size.”
To find out more go to: https://www.bgateway.com/local-offices/dumfries-and-
galloway/local-support
ENDS