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Business Information : Information Services
Business Gateway offers assistance to businesses in Scotland and provides access to publicly funded services. It is supported by Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Executive, Local Authorities and partner organisations. It doesn't just help people start businesses but offers a wide range of services to existing businesses, specifically aimed at helping businesses to sustain and grow.
Assistance available
Our team of information professionals can locate relevant information on your behalf. They have considerable local expertise and can assist you by:
Putting you in touch with business support services in Scotland
Telling you about the range of Business Gateway services on offer
Making an appointment for you to see a Business Adviser, if appropriate
Assessing your needs and referring you to other help, such as the Euro Info Centre or our Partner Organisations
Provide information from a range of specialist resources such as company directories, factsheets and market research reports
Book you a place on a training event, seminar or workshop
Assess whether you qualify for any special services, such as high growth start up, or Prince's Scottish Youth Business Trust
Whatever stage your business is at the Business Information Centre can help by:
Identifying business opportunities
Targeting customers
Monitoring the competition
Creating mailing lists
Locating local premises
Checking the financial status of suppliers or customers
Locating overseas trade fairs and worldwide business partners
Searching for funding
Establishing business procedures
Understanding existing and proposed UK and European legislation
Identifying key contacts in public sector and industry organisations
These are just examples and we welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular requirements and to identify if we can assist you in developing your business. Most services are free and we are usually able to respond to simple queries immediately. For a fast and confidential service call us on 0845 609 6611 or email your enquiry to bg-grampian@scotent.co.uk
Information Resources
Our team of information professionals have considerable local expertise and access to a wealth of specialist resources including:
Company databases - to locate local, national or international companies we have a range of sources such as Hoover's and Kompass UK
Business Information Factsheets - hundreds of guides/checklists to help answer the most common business questions from preparing a business plan to getting insurance cover
Business Opportunity Profiles - practical information on over 400 start up ideas from couriering to web design
Market research databases - reports from Mintel, Keynote and Euromonitor covering a wide range of industry sectors. Typically reports include market size, trends/forecasts, purchasing habits, supply structure and more
Newspapers/trade press - local/national newspapers and trade press
Scottish Property Network - to locate commercial and industrial properties meeting your specifications
Local Factsheets - have been prepared by the team, to respond to a diverse range of frequently asked questions from lists of training rooms to top companies in Aberdeen
European Information Officer - to assist with identification of tenders, legislation, business partners and funding opportunities in Europe
How we could help you - sample enquiries
Client re-locating to Aberdeen
A large international company is looking to re-locate to Aberdeen. We could help find information about available premises, transport availability, economic indicators - including salaries, housing costs and more.
Going Online
A local retailer is considering selling their golfing merchandise to consumers over the internet. An important first step would be to analyse the market conditions - we can help by providing key data such as market size, likely growth, competitor's activities, consumer purchasing preferences by consulting market research databases, statistical reports and researching the internet. Attaining E-commerce skills would also be vital and we can help by providing latest guides on good practice, or lists of local companies that the E-business might be outsourced to. We'd also put the business in touch with one of the Business Gateway's e-Business Advisors - who will assist with identifying this and other opportunities to develop the business.
Business Start Up
Considering various ideas and options not sure which are most viable or suited to your skills? Initially we'll send you details of the next Business Gateway 'Introduction to Business' course and provide a 'start up pack' with factsheets about business regulations, choosing the legal status of your business, tax/national insurance and more. At a later stage you can use the Information Centre to investigate which of your business ideas is most viable by exploring potential markets, customers and local factors.
Leave your business enquiry with us - free yourself to concentrate on other business matters. call us on 0845 609 6611 or email your enquiry to businessgateway@scotent.co.uk
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