Support for business

Expert Help from Business Gateway

With free Expert Help from Business Gateway Edinburgh, you can connect with specialist consultants who will work closely with your business for up to 3 days. A range of support is offered from a 90 minute Expert Help Lite option up to 1 to 3 days of advice from expert consultants across a wide range of topics such as

  • Strategy
  • Finance
  • HR
  • Business Development
  • Legal
  • Growth of Sales and New Markets
  • Marketing

How to access Expert Help support

Contact your Business Gateway advisor now to discuss your business needs. Or email bglothian@bgateway.com to get an Advisor assigned to you as a first step to in accessing this help.

Other business support:

Get free advice and support from Business Gateway to help you start or run a business in Edinburgh.

Business Gateway runs free events to help you learn new skills

Exporters

Applications are currently open for our Export Support grant.  A grant of up to £2,000 is available to provide the funding you need to design and develop new products and services to meet the needs of new or existing international markets. 

For full scheme guidance and an application form email bglothian@bgateway.com

The Export Grant is funded through The UK Shared Prosperity Fund and City of Edinburgh Council.

The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. Visit government website for more information.

New businesses

A start-up grant fund for those in their first 12 months of trading is now available for applications.  Awards are available for up to £4,000.

We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from business owners from underrepresented demographics. These include people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ people, women and those living in SIMD 1 and 2 (lowest economically active postcodes).

For full scheme guidance and an application form please speak with your Business Gateway adviser. If you don’t have an adviser yet then you can get one by emailing bglothian@bgateway.com

Social enterprises

Edinburgh is home to many social enterprises. Our Enabling Enterprise Strategy explains how we will help them grow.

Contact is for help and advice to new and existing social enterprises.

  • Business Gateway can give you free advice and support to help you start or run a social enterprise.
  • Just Enterprise provides a range of useful support to the enterprising  third sector
  • Edinburgh Social Enterprise Network provides news and support to local social enterprises.

Young people aged 18 to 30

In addition to Business Gateway, Prince's Trust Youth Business Scotland can advice and support you to start or grow a business.

They provide grants of up to £1,000 and loans of up to £30,000.

Business Gateway local office

Telephone: 0131 529 6644