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Local Outcome 1: Helping businesses to grow for it

Support continued to be provided to businesses in East Dunbartonshire during 2025/26, including fresh funding and opportunities to grow skills, sales and contacts.

Briefings were held in Kirkintilloch and Milngavie in September 2025 – aimed at helping local entrepreneurs and enterprises apply for a:

  • Green Business Support Grant
  • Cyber Security Grant.

The sessions were organised by the Council’s Business Support team, who deliver Business Gateway services in East Dunbartonshire – helping start-ups and existing firms in the area.
As well as briefings such as the above, the team hosts regular meetings of the networking group ED-Net – which allows attendees to share ideas, opportunities and experiences.

ED-Net is free and open to all businesses within East Dunbartonshire – regardless of size or sector.

The team also organises special events such as the 'Women Can' Roadshow, which took place in September 2025 – aimed at supporting women to start their own enterprises. It was a chance to explore challenges, skills, strengths and practical strategies to overcome potential barriers.

person using a laptop
person using a laptop

As well as helping local firms to achieve success, the Council’s Business Support service has been notching up its own achievements.

Business Gateway (BG) Quality Assurance scores for July 2025 to June 2026 saw East Dunbartonshire achieve 96% ‘satisfaction’ – the highest in the BG network. From April to June 2026, it was 100%.

One local firm said, “Business Gateway was an invaluable resource in the early years – providing advice and access to resources. I have no doubt that our longstanding relationship has been an essential part of our growth journey over the years. I’d recommend their services to anyone doing business in Scotland.”

Fully-subsidised, free assistance is available – for businesses based in commercial premises or at home, including:

  • Practical one-to-one advice from experienced advisers
  • Direct links to the Council’s discretionary support and funding initiatives – including its Business Growth Grant
  • A comprehensive range of training webinars
  • Regular networking events
  • Referrals to public sector partner organisations providing support
  • Access to market intelligence.

Advisers can help with business planning, marketing and business finance. 

Heather Holland, the Council’s Executive Officer for Land Planning & Development, said, “We offer a range of assistance for enterprises large and small, new and established.

“The Business Gateway service is just one of the ways the Council supports shops, service providers and firms locally – helping to strengthen the economy and employment opportunities.”

Regular Business Gateway East Dunbartonshire events and workshops include:

  • How to start a business
  • How to generate and increase sales
  • Bookkeeping
  • Briefings on new discretionary grants
  • Marketing and building a brand
  • Social media
  • How to create engaging online content
  • Google analytics
  • How to write funding applications
  • An introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for small businesses
  • Delivering profit to drive growth.

For more information, visit the Council website, visit Business Gateway East Dunbartonshire, email business.support@eastdunbarton.gov.uk or call 0141 578 8530.