West Lothian Council's Business Gateway service delivers high-quality customer-focused business advice and support services to a range of existing and new start enterprising organisations from across the third sector in West Lothian. This includes an excellent range of training workshops as well as one to one support from highly experienced business advisors. In addition, advisors can signpost and network social enterprises into a wide range of local and national business support programmes and funders.
Business Gateway advisors work in close partnership with other support bodies such as The Voluntary Sector Gateway, West Lothian Social Enterprise Network, Just Enterprise, SCVO, Senscot, Community Ownership Support Service, Development Trust Association, Firstport, as well as most of the major funders, to ensure a seamless delivery of support from across a range of different bodies.
Business support services include; one to one advice tailored to the needs of each organisation, high-quality support on business planning, finance raising, grant and loan applications, legal structures, charity regulation, organisational reviews, property, process management, leadership, skills training, social and environmental impact measurement and all other aspects of business performance.
West Lothian Council can also offer specialist advice in all aspects of Community Asset Transfer.