The Business Gateway service is provided locally by Scottish Borders Council and offers information, advice and guidance to people who are considering starting a business or growing their existing business.

The Business Gateway service offers a ‘one-stop shop’ for business support enquiries as well as providing direct support and a conduit to other business support services provided by the Council and its partners, such as Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.

The service reached 219 business start-up customers during 2015/16, and also performed well in respect of assisting higher value start-up customers and growth advisory services.

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) money awarded to the service will be used to further develop the business support service in 2016/17 and includes boosting the start-up team as well as a new geographic focus for the growth advisers.

There will also be an increase in the number of events delivered across the whole of the Scottish Borders and there will be an emphasis on the areas of exporting and innovation. A series of retail workshops will also be provided to assist local High Street traders and those interested in setting up business in town centres.

A Business Week will also be organised in November, tying in with the Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

Councillor Stuart Bell, SBC’s Executive Member for Economic Development, pictured said: “I am pleased that the Business Gateway service is adjusting the way it works and the services provided to meet the dynamic needs of local businesses in the area.

“Once again, the Business Gateway team has successfully engaged with a significant number of businesses and entrepreneurs and has set them on the road to growing or establishing their business and the survival figures for businesses accessing Business Gateway services continues to show the value of this service to firms in the Scottish Borders.”