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/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 Support
At Business Gateway Dumfries and Galloway we know that growing your business can be as hard as starting it. That's why our site and our advisers are on hand to offer advice on everything from researching your idea, getting started, through to business planning and developing your early-stage business … and much more.
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.
Local Advisers
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've something to help.
Early-Stage Development
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.
Property relocation
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.
Employability
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.
Business Continuity Planning
Experience shows that businesses are far more likely to survive a disaster if they have thought about it in advance, and planned accordingly.
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.
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.
Find your nearest office
Business Gateway Dumfries
The Crichton Estate
Glencaple Road
Dumfries
DG1 4ZZ
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday
09:00 to 17:00