Help and Advice

Whatever stage your business is at, you will find enthusiastic, professional staff at West Lothian Council.  The Business Gateway team is your one-stop shop for all Council services.

Advice & Support

It often helps to talk through a new idea with an impartial and discreet adviser. Many businesses work with us before making an approach to a bank or other potential funder. We will help with the business planning process in a practical way, especially with sensitivity analysis of cashflows and profitability forecasts. 

Find Business Support - Reduce The Cost of Doing Business

Rising costs make it tough to run a business. That’s why Find Business Support has created this section along with partners in order to help you find the support your business needs.

Browse the categories on the webpage to find funding, advice, and other support tailored to your needs - from making your business greener and more efficient, to managing your finances more effectively.

Reduce The Cost of Doing Business Webpage

Access To Funding

Our business advisers are well versed in the eligibility criteria for many of the schemes of financial assistance on offer. They'll help you search for grants appropriate for your business and have a proven track record in accessing these funds. And where financial assistance is unlikely to be forthcoming, they'll give you a straightforward answer.

Economic Development staff co-ordinate a full schedule of events, seminars and programmes, including Business Gateway Start-Up and Growth workshops, designed to keep businesses informed and proficient in areas such as Management Development, Finance, Digital Marketing and Social Media.

Business Information Service

Our professional approach to sourcing the information you need for your business could save you time and money - and give you a real competitive advantage. The Business Information Service can assist your company in so many different ways.  Well informed market research is crucial - whether you're just at the stage of writing your business plan, or are planning to develop locally, UK-wide or overseas.

Property

In addition to a substantial portfolio of Council, we provide impartial access to all publicly available commercial property.   covering all available industrial, retail and office property throughout West Lothian.