Smaller businesses in Scotland are the most likely to say they struggle to access finance among the UK’s devolved nations, according to new research from the British Business Bank in conjunction with Business Gateway. The Scotland SME Access to Finance Report 2025 found that 42% of respondents
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A Stirling tour operator using traditional Scottish folk music as a way of enticing tourists to visit Scotland is expected to reach £1.5 million turnover after the owners received specialist advice from Business Gateway.
A Greenock business that has seen significant growth is now set to target the European market. LilyBee Ltd was set up in June 2021 by Katy Kennedy, who started to feel the onset of the menopause which affected her badly, meaning she had to take early retirement from her position as an ICU neonatal n
A Lanarkshire quality compliance expert has started her own quality assurance business after she received specialist start-up support from Business Gateway. After being made redundant from her role as a director of Quality Compliance at Phillips, Alexis Williams decided to use her 30 years of experi
An Inverclyde football coach is helping local children find their feet (and the back of the net) with dedicated football coaching after accessing support from Business Gateway.
A Lanarkshire dog walking business has doubled the size of its premises and is looking to bring in new staff after the owners received specialist advice from Business Gateway.
An Edinburgh-based business is brewing up success with its unique whisky barrel-aged coffee. With help from Business Gateway, Georgia and Grant Fraser launched Cortino in August last year. The business duo blended their passions of coffee and Scottish whisky to create one-of-a-kind barrel aged coffe
A Greenock local who opened the region’s first reformer pilates studio after she accessed support from Business Gateway has reached over 350 clients in the first three months. Swan Grace Pilates opened in November last year and was met with “overwhelming” support from the local com
A producer has started her own independent TV production company, based in Inverclyde, after she received specialist support from Business Gateway. Rachel-Anne Clarke founded Pure Leo Ltd. in March 2023. The business is the only TV production company with a live events arm, and is also looking to ex
A luxury hotel in St Andrews is set to launch a growth leadership programme after the business owners received support from Business Gateway. Rufflets St Andrews was originally built as a private home in 1924 for the widow of a Dundee merchant. The property went on to be transformed into one of Scot
An Edinburgh University graduate has launched Scotland’s first female graduate and young professional network as a fully structured organisation after accessing support from Business Gateway. Annabel Blackwood first launched Girl Grads as Girl Grads Run in September 2023, aiming to create a ru
A Cumbernauld local has turned her passion for dogs into a thriving business after she accessed start up support from Business Gateway. Newly qualified dog groomer, Anca Simtea, took the plunge to set up her own dog grooming service in the summer, launching The Groom Studio Cumbernauld in Augu
An Aberdeen local has turned her online side hustle into a fully-fledged business after opening her own boutique gift shop in Cults with support from Business Gateway.
Two Towns Down, Paisley's first brewery in over a century, has expanded its premises and boosted production thanks to support from Business Gateway. The business was started by Sandy McKelvie and specialises in flavoured distilled beers. It offers a wide range of products and flavours for purch
A former Michelin level pastry chef has launched a new range of healthy granola after the owner accessed specialist support from Business Gateway. Jacqueline Thompson set up The Golden Bottom Bakery in March 2024, after spotting a gap in the market for granola made using quality Scottish oats. The b