Stirling

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.

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.

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.

Growth Pipeline Service

Growth pipeline is the term given to the support businesses can receive from Business Gateway if they have the aspiration and ability to grow. Our Business Growth Advisers support and assist your company through the Growth Pipeline Program.

Access to the Growth Pipeline Program is discretionary and offers for up to 18 months of support. Companies will be introduced to the program on the basis that they may possess some or all of the attributes that make them a good fit for the support available.

Growth Pipeline Programme Criteria

Whether a start-up or existing company, they must operate in an identified Scottish Enterprise key market sector, including:

• Manufacturing
• Food & Drink
• Tourism
• Energy
• Technology
• Life Sciences
• Textiles
• Creative Industries
• Construction
• Forestry & Timber

A company must also:

• Be able to increase turnover by £400,000 during a three-year period
• Operate in a niche market
• Recruit additional employees during this period
• If not already involved in exports, this must be a set objective to achieve during this period

A company will need to support the criteria with an initial business plan, cash flow projections, and marketing analysis for assessment.

Business Growth Workshops

We can help you grow your business with engaging workshops.

Whether you need help attracting customers online, offline or need help with your bookkeeping to ensure the top line is increasing our workshops will give you the tools to take back to your business.

Rural Business Clinics

Our monthly rural clinics offer you the opportunity to meet with our rural business adviser on a 1:1 basis.

These clinics run every month in Callander and Balfron. Pre-booking is essential, so please get in touch to book your slot.

Rural Business Events

Business Gateway Stirling also host regular rural roadshows across the region. These are a great opportunity for rural businesses to learn about the initiatives which could benefit their business, discover what funding is available as well as giving them a chance to meet other rural businesses.

We focus on the challenges facing rural businesses today as well as providing information on the wider support programmes available to all businesses. Please contact your local Business Gateway office for more information and dates.

Business Gateway Stirling can offer a marketing health check and suggest fast-acting and cost-effective solutions. We’ll review your existing marketing strategy, plans and campaigns and provide a tailored action plan, based on your specific needs and resources (both financial and, crucially, time).

We know you can’t do everything, but have you considered what your key marketing priorities are? We can offer top tips and best practice advice on:

• Digital marketing and social media strategy
• Website overview
• Brand design and development
• Marketing print and collateral
• Latest tourism research
• Key industry trends and best practice

There are various funding options available for businesses from loans to grants to investment opportunities. Our expert funding adviser will take you through them to find the most suitable for your business.

Application processes can often be time consuming and confusing, this is where our adviser can offer the support you need.

Pitching for Funding

If you are at the stage where you are planning to pitch to receive funding or investment we can support you with pitching tips, tools and key components to help you succeed.

Gateway to Investment Programme

Our Gateway to Investment programme is aimed at giving businesses the knowledge they need to become investment ready. Throughout the programme businesses have access to workshops covering topics such as Share Holder Agreements, SEIS and EIS, Innovation, Financial Readiness, Understanding the Equity Marketplace and Company Valuations. At the end of the programme businesses have the opportunity to pitch to real life investors for possible investment.

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.

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.