There are many ways we can help you, even if starting up still seems a way off.
Our website is a great place to begin: we offer a business plan guide to download when you’re ready, market reports as well as handy online guides and articles, video tutorials and podcasts. Take part in our webinars to hone your start-up skills – from how to handle the legal requirements to getting your market research right.
Plus use our Planning to Start tool to guide you through the essential steps of starting up. It takes just 10 minutes to complete and then we can then use the details you give us to create your action plan, complete with links to relevant information and support.
We’ll also recommend free webinars to help you hone your skills and may refer you to relevant support from our partners.
A business adviser from your local office will also get in touch to see how else we can help at this stage and signpost you to a wide range of other support across Scotland.
With our help, you could be in business sooner than you imagined.
Maintaining a business or moving up a gear can be more daunting than starting up, so our support continues and grows with your business.
We know that your time is in short supply, so we offer 1:1 advice at a time and day to suit you. Together, you and your business adviser can tailor a strategic action plan to your ambitions. Need targeted advice on HR, Restructuring, Innovation, Exporting or Digital Marketing? Your adviser can help with that too. And if you need more specialist input, we can connect you with other sources of support.
Use our resources, support and tools to learn new skills, create opportunities and gain confidence.
We run around 3,500 events each year across Scotland, with webinars on topics from bookkeeping to social media.
- For free, comprehensive business intelligence and market research, you can turn to our Information Service.
- Browse our online A-Z of over 100 market reports or request a free report if your market sector isn’t covered.
- Our handy guides explain how to create a business plan, digital marketing strategy, HR, intellectual property and other essentials that can help your business through these challenging times.
Get in touch with your local Business Gateway office today.
Setting up a website is a great start, but DigitalBoost can help you to make the most of your online presence.
Tap into our free local webinars, 1:1 expert adviser support and online tools and tutorials to help you improve your digital performance. Our DigitalBoost guides have been downloaded 20,000 times and some 1,200 workshops have together attracted more than 14,000 business people.
A DigitalBoost HealthCheck can pinpoint your digital strengths, where you could do more and how we can help. Take five minutes now to fill in our form and discover how to give your business a real boost.
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.
Local Programmes
Business Gateway West Lothian offers a range of support to new and existing businesses in the area. These include:
Planning To Start
Find out what support and tools are available to you by answering a few simple questions with our Planning To Start tool. Then get contact from your local office to take your business idea forward.
Business Loans Scotland
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 the Business Loans Scotland or call 01506 283 260.
Childminding Grant
You can get a grant to start a registered childminding business. The loan is to meet the Childcare Commission's requirements for registration as a childminder. Anyone starting a registered childminding business in West Lothian is eligible to apply. To find out more visit the West Lothian Council website.
Council Services
West Lothian Council has a range of services that are useful to new start businesses. These include:
- Environmental Health and Trading Standards - They enforce a range of consumer legislation through inspection of trade premises, testing equipment, sampling goods and investigating complaints. Call 01506 282 500 or email tradingstandards@westlothian.gov.uk to find out more.
- Licensing - Find out if your business needs a license to trade and how to apply. Call 01506 281 632 or email licensingservices@westlothian.gov.uk for more information.
- Planning - Guidance on all the aspects of the planning process. For more information call 01506 282 456 or email planning@westlothian.gov.uk.
- Business Rates - For information on the billing or collection of Business Rates call 01506 776 982 or email businessrates@westlothian.gov.uk.
- Commercial Property - The council provides a search facility to help businesses find property to suit their needs. Call 01506 283 285 or email propertymanagement@westlothian.gov.uk.
For more information on these services call 01506 777 400 or visit the West Lothian Council website.
The Women's Business Centre
The Women’s Business Centre is a digital platform designed to support women at the pre start-up and start up stages of their business journey. Operated by Women’s Enterprise Scotland, the 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.
Supplier Development Programme (SDP)
SDP is a public sector partnership which delivers a variety of FREE tender training, via classroom style workshops working in conjunction with Local Authorities across Scotland, digitally via webinar and also provides a range of online resources connecting businesses with the Scottish public sector. Registration for SDP events is free for Scottish SMEs, and will connect your business with your local authority’s SDP Rep who can offer your business additional support.
Find your nearest office
Business Gateway Livingston
Almondvale Boulevard
Livingston
EH54 6QJ
Opening hours:
Mon, Tues, Thurs
08.30 - 17:00
Weds
09.30 -17:00
Fri
08.30 - 16:00