Business Gateway Edinburgh offers a variety of support to new and existing businesses in Edinburgh. The support we offer is delivered on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council.
Through Business Gateway you can access:
- Free advice from our experienced business advisers to help you start a business or find new ways of doing business
- Free local workshops and seminars - ranging from start-up sessions to specific skills events - covering marketing, finance and e-commerce
- Free business information. The team offers information on all aspects of starting and growing a business. We are in partnership with other professional organisations - so you can be sure you will receive the best possible support.
Contact us for more information.
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.
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.
Women into Business events are run by some local Business Gateway offices. They give you the opportunity to exchange ideas with other local business women and improve your business skills.
Women in Business – Start Up Programme
4 x 3 hour workshops
These workshops will focus on developing a strong foundation on which to build a successful new business. Participants will learn tools to develop confidence and manage time effectively, whilst exploring their motivation. We will cover the basics of Marketing, Planning and Finance and provide an encouraging environment for participants to build their network and for their businesses to be a success.
To book check out all our workshops online www.bgateway.com/events.
Women in Business – Growth Programme
6 x 3 hour workshops
WIB Growth provides the support and encouragement women need to get their business growth ambitions running effectively. It enables more female entrepreneurs to maximise the potential of their existing business and formulate strategies for development and growth. WIB Growth from Business Gateway is dedicated to the long-term concerns and ambitions of business women in Edinburgh. It encourages women to pursue the dream of growing their own business, supporting them to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure they are connected to appropriate sources of help and advice.
The main aims of WIB Growth are:
- to motivate women who wish to grow their business into taking action
- to increase the growth and survival of businesses already trading
- to increase the business skills of aspiring and existing female entrepreneurs
- to increase the number of networks used by women
- to improve communication among female entrepreneurs and build a strong community of business women in Edinburgh and across Scotland
Our next programme will run in 2022, to be kept up to date, join our Edinburgh Women Founder’s Network
Women in Business – Networking Events
Annually in Edinburgh we celebrate International Women’s Day in March. This is our flagship event and in the past we have had speakers such as The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
In addition we run 3 other Women in Business networking events where we aim to showcase our Start Up and Growth female led businesses and also help all women in business to make valuable connections with each other and also, some of our partners, such as the banks, business angels and other business support organisations. Join our Edinburgh Women Founder’s Network.
Women in Business – Business Adviser Support
We have a team of highly qualified and motivated Business advisers, please contact us to make an appointment, tel: 0131 529 6644.
This fund is for businesses with commercially-viable proposals who may experience difficulty in raising all the required funding from the usual commercial sources.
To discuss funding requirements please visit Business Loans Scotland.
The Council has a range of services that are useful to new start businesses.
These include:
- Environmental Health - Free advice and training on food safety, health and safety at work. Call 0131 529 3030 or visit the City of Edinburgh Council website.
- Licensing - Find out if your business needs a license to trade and how to apply. Call 0131 529 4208 or visit the Edinburgh Council website.
- Business Rates (Non-Domestic Rates) - For information on the billing and collection of business rates call 0131 469 5746 or visit the Edinburgh Council website.
- Product Testing- Scientific Services provides a wide range of laboratory testing and scientific advisory services for businesses and the public. Call 0131 555 7980, or visit the Edinburgh Council website for more details.
- Trading Standards- Free business advice and trading on product safety standards. Call 0131 529 3030 or visit the Edinburgh Council website.
Trade waste is any waste or recycling produced by any type of business, regardless of size.
For advice on how to dispose of your business waste legally visit Edinburgh City Council or call 0131 529 3030.
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 Edinburgh
4 East Market Street
Edinburgh
EH8 8BG
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
Monday to Thursday: 08.30 - 17:00; Friday: 08.30 - 16:00