Business Development and Growth Programme

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Monday the 12th, 19th, and 26th of January, and Monday, the 2nd of February 2026 (you must attend every session)
Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Location: The Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian office, Bathgate, 20-22 King Street, Bathgate EH48 1AX

Join us for our brand-new Business Development and Growth Programme to learn how to develop a strategy which ‘future proofs’ your business.

You will gain the clarity and confidence needed to take your business to the next level, and will leave the programme with a toolkit that can easily be implemented, continuously reviewed and fine-tuned going forward.

The programme consists of 4 half-day sessions, delivered by the fantastic Michelle Brown, owner of Michelle Brown PR. Here’s what you can expect from the sessions (you must attend every session):

•  Session 1 (12^th of January) – Review your current business model, brainstorm new ideas, identify opportunities and barriers, and learn how to safeguard for the future, using Michelle’s 9 Step Model
• Session 2 (19^th of January) – Learn how to develop or strengthen your entrepreneurial mindset using Michelle’s 5 Step CAPLL Model
• Session 3 (26^th of January) – Learn how to stay true to your brand and build trust, examine the evolution of your brand, build an effective marketing strategy, and how to present yourself and your business to a high standard
• Session 4 (2^nd of February) - Present your refreshed business in front of a guest speaker, providing examples of how you will future proof your business and sharing opportunities you have identified from the programme. After the session is complete, you are welcome to stay behind and join us for a light lunch.

The sessions will be very interactive, and will give you the opportunity to network and brainstorm with a group of likeminded business owners.

Participants that have attended all 4 sessions will then be given the opportunity to apply for up to £500 of funding that can be used to help grow their businesses.

This programme is perfect for:

• Entrepreneurs that are ready to grow their businesses
• Entrepreneurs that feel like their business has reached a point of stalemate, perhaps due to a lack of strategic vision and/or an inability to adapt to change
• Entrepreneurs that need a new perspective or lease of life for their business
• Entrepreneurs that have been running their business for a minimum of 1 year
• We do not recommend this for anyone that has participated in, or is planning to apply for, our Women in Entrepreneurship Programme

This programme has a value of £500, but is free to eligible West Lothian business owners. There is a maximum of 1 space available per business.

To apply, please complete the booking form below: