At Business Gateway Dumfries and Galloway we know that growing your business can be as hard as starting it. That's why our website and our advisers are on hand to offer advice on everything from researching your idea and getting started to business planning, developing your early-stage business and much more.
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.
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 Strengthen Your Business Tool and get a personalised dashboard of online resources and webinars.
We know that your time is in short supply, so we also offer one-to-one 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.
As part of the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) Digital Pathfinder Borders College (BC) and Dumfries and Galloway College (DGC), in collaboration with partners, have developed an innovative and interactive Digital Skills Provision Map for businesses across the South of Scotland.
The SFC’s Digital Pathfinder programme, which has been led by both of the colleges during 2023, has aimed to help the region become more competitive by facilitating the delivery of higher-level digital skills for both businesses and individuals.
Now both educational institutions, supported by a range of partners, have created a Digital Skills Provision Map which simplifies access to local digital skills support by outlining what digital skills learning, training and development is available from the main public, third sector and education providers.
The map, which will be updated annually, shows businesses where to go to source the digital education, training, and development they need and contains links to access further information.
As well as BC and DGC, 14 other partners were involved in the production of the map, including: Business Gateway Borders; Business Gateway D&G; CGI; Eco Group; SenseOn; Skills Development Scotland; South of Scotland Enterprise and Third Sector Dumfries & Galloway.
The Digital Skills Provision Map makes access to digital skills development easy and is designed to make the future simpler for businesses across the region.
A copy of the map can be downloaded here.
Access webinars, online guides and a Digital Health Check.
From digital marketing strategy to social media, e-Commerce, cyber security and more, we can help boost your digital performance.
Our Digital 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.
There's a lot to think about to get your idea to become a reality. But you are not alone. Our local advisers and services are here to help.
Covering everything from advice about whether self-employment is right for you, to avoiding common mistakes researching and planning. We offer a range of professional resources, support and tools to help you develop your business. Whether you need to learn new skills, create new opportunities or develop sustainable strategies for growth, we can help.
For businesses in early-stage development, we offer a diagnostic health check to identify any areas that can ultimately access a range of expert consultancy support in investor ready business planning, financial planning, digital, human resources, retail, tourism and food & drink.
Housing your business can be a make-or-break decision. With our free searches and local knowledge and expertise we can help you make the most of your offering.
Dumfries and Galloway Employment TAP (Total Access Point) acts as a single point of contact for employability services across Dumfries & Galloway.
Through our local Business Liaison Service, we promote the work of all employability services across Dumfries and Galloway and act as a 'Total Access Point' for all your employment needs.
Free, confidential, information and treatment, for the self-employed and employees of small businesses, with a health problem affecting them at their work.
What is Working Health Services Scotland?
Working Health Services Scotland (WHSS) is an NHS service that aims to assist the self-employed and employees of small enterprises employing less than 250 staff who are experiencing injury, physical ill health, stress, anxiety or depression and are struggling at work.
Who can refer to Working Health Service Scotland?
- You can self-refer – call 0800 019 2211, option 3
- Call 0800 019 2211, ask for option 3
- A telephone interviewer will ask you some questions about yourself, your work and your health condition. This information will be passed to an NHS Case Manager.
- You will be contacted by a Case Manager within 5 working days of your referral.
- Your Case Manager will conduct an initial assessment of your condition and work with you to design and agree a personal action plan for you.
- Depending on your condition, you and your Case Manager will decide the best course of action. You may be referred to physiotherapy services, counselling or to one of a range of services available in your Health Board area.
- Your case manager will be in contact with you to see how you are getting on during your treatment.
- The programme may last 2-12 weeks depending on your needs. On completion of the programme, the case manager will make contact to review your progress and see how you are and how useful you have found the service.
How does the service operate?
The programme is based on telephone case-managed multidisciplinary support for the employees' recovery. It provides help and advice on a range of healthcare, employment, skills, housing and personal issues, for example debt management, ensuring access to the most appropriate forms of support for the individual. WHSS is available to employees based in Scotland.
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.
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.
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 Dumfries
109-115 English Street
Dumfries
DG1 2HS
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
09:00 to 17:00