Perth & Kinross

Contracts Manager

Fiona McLellan

Fiona has extensive experience in starting, turning round and growing businesses large and small. She has a belief that SME businesses are the backbone and the future of economic growth in Scotland. Fiona manages the team of advisers across Tayside and is passionate about the professional and experienced team of advisers we are lucky enough to have providing business support in Tayside.

Deputy Contracts Manager

Michelle Shepherd

Michelle Shepherd joined the local office in 2005 as receptionist, before working her way up to become Team Leader. She works with established businesses that are ready to explore new markets, take on additional staff or premises and, ultimately, increase turnover.

In her role, she will continue to support clients but will also pass on her knowledge to the rest of the Team. Commenting, she said: “I’m delighted to be given this opportunity. I hope to be able to use my experience across various roles in the company to guide the Team and give our clients the best support possible."

Start-Up Adviser

Emma Kilani

Emma joined the Perth Business Gateway office as a Start Up Adviser in 2021, having had her own businesses in Perth since 2009. With over twenty five years of experience in starting and running businesses she understands the highs and challenges of being a business owner. Emma is passionate about ensuring that the entreprenuers she supports have all the advice, tools and support they need to create a successful business.

Start-Up Adviser

George Ellis

George is our start-up business adviser working from our Perth Office. Having worked in hotels across Tayside and Fife, George brings a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry to the team as well as a degree in International Business. Growing up in rural Orkney, George has a passion for local businesses and making sure they have all the tools they need to succeed from the get-go.

Growth Adviser

Andrew Webster

Based in our Perth office, Andrew is one of our growth advisers and is dedicated to the Perth and Kinross region. He started with Business Gateway in 1997 as part of the Business Information team before moving to the Business Advisory team in 2004 as a start-up adviser. After spending five years as part of the Perth and Kinross Council Economic Development Team, Andrew returned to Business Gateway in 2013.

Andrew is a fully accredited business adviser who successfully completed Premier Adviser training in 2004 and also achieved a Certificate in Marketing accreditation through the Chartered Institute of Marketing, He has offered a wide range of support and business advice to many pre and new start-up clients and now works with businesses with high growth potential to help them to achieve their ambitions.

Business Development Coordinator

Jennifer McAuslane

Jennifer is based in our Perth office and works alongside Pippa in the Tayside administration team. She joined Business Gateway in October 2021 with a background in events, Jennifer is the calm and organised face of Business Gateway in Perth & Kinross as sh supports the adviser team.

Outreach Business Adviser

Sarah Young

Starting in October 2022 as our new Outreach Business Adviser, Sarah, is based across Tayside working in communities to support entrepreneurs who are looking to start-up and/or growth their business. After six years with Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce she brings a wealth of knowledge of the business landscape along with a network of key contacts and networking opportunities across the region.

Her main aim is to provide the tools and techniques to help individuals on their entrepreneurial journey by bringing key experts and resources to towns and villages across Tayside.

HR Business Adviser

Skye McLeod

Skye is based between our Angus, Dundee, and Perth offices. Following years of working in customer service and achieving her Masters degree in 2022, Skye began working for Business Gateway in September of 2022 and has delivered HR support to a vast amount of businesses within various different fields.

Skye has recently began studying for her Premier Adviser accreditation to be able to offer business support, as well as HR, to growing businesses throughout Tayside.

Her goal is to put her HR knowledge into practice by supporting all types of businesses during their time of need, and to learn as much as there is to know about business growth in order to be able to deliver the best service possible to clients.

HR Business Adviser

Aileen McGowan

Aileen brings over 33 years of experience working in different industries, helping businesses with operational support, account management, and especially HR, from day-to-day tasks to long-term strategy. She is passionate about guiding companies through the challenges of building and managing their teams, from recruitment to retirement.