Harper Macleod has been appointed to help Glasgow’s SMEs scale up over the next three years as part of an innovative new scheme by Glasgow City Council (GCC).

The firm’s corporate and commercial specialists will deliver business structure consultancy as part of a comprehensive business growth framework of support services being delivered by the council, in partnership with a number of advisers.

Harper Macleod will be advising growth businesses on structuring, board development, franchising, governance, valuation and succession planning under Lot 2 (Structure) of the framework, which is anticipated to support over 1,200 SMEs across all sectors. The law firm is one of six main providers appointed under the framework.

The firm will provide group interaction masterclasses on a number of different business structuring topics as well as one to one ‘interventions’ where tailored consultancy services will be provided directly to those SMEs.

Paula Skinner, lead partner of the Harper Macleod team which will deliver the services, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to the framework and look forward to working with many more of the area’s SMEs. We’re a business which grew in Glasgow and know the challenges that face those scaling up their business in the city.

“Rather than simply providing grants, this project will direct businesses to the professional advice they need and will significantly increase the assistance available to accelerate the growth of SMEs in the region. In Scotland as a whole, the focus is now on how to help our businesses achieve sustainable scale and reach their full potential. We need everyone working together to support the potential for growth at every stage of a business’ journey, which in turn should benefit the wider economy.

“Helping businesses to scale is in our DNA and we believe that this is a really forward thinking move by Glasgow City Council, to adopt this new model of supporting businesses. It’s a model we believe can be successful and it something that other authorities around the country will be watching with interest.”