Invest in West Lothian - May Newsletter - West Lothian Business Week Edition

Celebrating Good News Stories in West Lothian

Invest in West Lothian Announces West Lothian Business Week!

We are delighted to announce that West Lothian Business Week will be taking place from the 18th – 22nd of May 2026!

During the week, you can look forward to:

• An exciting event each day

• Our LinkedIn challenge

• New case studies featuring local businesses

This will be a great opportunity for local business owners to attend valuable events, connect with likeminded entrepreneurs, and to celebrate local businesses. It will also raise awareness of the wide range of business support that is available in the area and highlight why West Lothian is a great place to do business.

We hope you will get involved and help us spread the word!

You can read the full story here.

Funding for Businesses in West Lothian

The Invest in West Lothian team have extensive experience of preparing funding packages for local businesses of all sizes. Each month, we will highlight a new funding opportunity that is currently available to eligible businesses in the area.

Employment Pathway Grant (EPG)

Would you like to grow your team and create a valuable employment opportunity for a West Lothian resident?

You could be eligible for the Employment Pathway Grant! Successful applicants of this grant will receive 100% of the salary of their new employee (based on the payment of the Real Living Wage), for a minimum of 12 hours and up to a maximum of 40 hours per week, for up to 3 months.

Applications are welcome from businesses and third sector organisations (including social enterprises) that are based in West Lothian, have been trading a minimum of 6 months, and have fewer than 250 employees. Anchor organisations (for example, educational institutions, healthcare institutions, etc) currently operating in West Lothian are also welcome to apply. Employers must implement the Scottish Government's Fair Work First guidance.

To qualify, the new employee must be:

• Aged 16–24 and currently unemployed, or
• A parent with a dependent child

You can view the full eligibility criteria and apply here.

Upcoming Events

We are delighted to be hosting the following free events during West Lothian Business Week:

Design-Led Innovation Workshop

Learn about practical design-led methods that help small businesses and freelancers unlock fresh ideas, refine their offering, and innovate with confidence. Attendees will get to hear from guest speaker David Wray , Managing Director of Grease Monkey, who will be sharing his story with the group. This is taking place on Monday, the 18th of May, from 9:30am – 12:30pm at the Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian office in Bathgate.

Simplifying the Business Start Up Process Networking Event

This session will give attendees the opportunity to learn more about the support that is available for new businesses in the area and to network with other aspiring entrepreneurs. There will also be a small business owner panel, featuring 3 local business owners who will be telling us all about their start up journeys. This is taking place on Tuesday, the 19th of May, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at West Lothian College in Livingston.

HR: The Essentials for Running a Business Webinar

As part of International HR Day, Business Gateway will be hosting an informative webinar that will explore the essentials of HR, including hiring, interviewing, payroll, pensions, contracts and remote working. This is taking place on Wednesday, the 20th of May, from 1:00pm – 3:00pm.

Meet the Council Drop In Event

Local business owners can stop by to meet representatives from West Lothian Council services and partner organisations to learn more about how they can support business growth. This is taking place on Thursday, the 21st of May, from 10:00am – 12:00pm (drop in at any time), at Livingston Football Club.

West Lothian Business Week 2026 Networking Event

Join us to reflect on the week, network with other business owners and hear from guest speaker Lindsay Girvan, Owner of Future Vintage, who will be sharing her inspiring business journey with the group. This is taking place on Friday, the 22nd of May, from 9:30am – 11:30am, at Bathgate Golf Club.

You can learn more and book your space at any of the events here.

If you would like to learn more about West Lothian Business Week and access free resources, please click here. If you have any questions, please email invest@westlothian.gov.uk .

Here’s to an exciting week celebrating West Lothian businesses!