Invest in West Lothian - November Newsletter

Celebrating Good News Stories in West Lothian

Business Support Helps Livingston-Based Sister Companies Edinburgh Instruments and SCION Instruments Grow and Create Local Jobs

The businesses, which were acquired by the Techcomp Lab Products group 10 years ago, produce market-leading scientific instruments used worldwide.

They experienced impressive growth after the acquisition, but the coronavirus pandemic affected the group’s cash flow at a time when funding was required to allow the businesses to grow and continue product development.

To overcome this challenge and support the continued growth across the group, we carried out a Growth Assistance Project. This project provided support with: growing the team and expanding the business facilities; improving consistency across the Project Management team; and developing a sustainable process for one of their product accessories.

With the combined support of the Growth Assistance Project, efficiency and productivity has increased, and the group has been able to continue on its exciting growth journey.

You can read the full case study 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

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 (EPG)! 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:

•  A West Lothian resident
• 16-24 years old and currently unemployed or underemployed (i.e., on a zero-hour contract), or,
• A parent with a dependent child, or,
• Aged 25+ and unemployed.

You can view the full eligibility criteria and apply here.

Upcoming Events

We are delighted to be hosting the following free events:

1:1 Procurement Surgery Sessions

We are offering eligible West Lothian businesses the opportunity to book a free, 1:1 virtual surgery session with a procurement expert from Intend Business Development Ltd. These sessions have been created to help West Lothian business owners improve their understanding of the procurement process and improve their success rate with tender bids. Sessions last 1-hour and flexible appointments are available.

Finance for the Non-Financial

This workshop is perfect for non-financial business owners and managers that want to increase their understanding of the use of accounting and finance in the business context. By the end of the programme, you will be able to communicate effectively and confidently on financial matters within your organisation. This is taking place on Monday, the 17^th of November, from 9:30am – 3:30pm, at the Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian office in Bathgate.

Social Media for Business Masterclass

Our social media masterclass constantly evolves to take into account the fast-moving nature of social media and features bang up to date case studies and examples. This in person event is suitable for everyone from a beginner (or even a sceptic), to social media and marketing professionals. This full day session aims to ensure you remain ‘business focused’ with your own usage of social media. This is taking place on Friday, the 5^th of December, from 10:00am – 3:00pm, at the Bathgate Business Centre.

To view our full calendar of events and book your free spaces, please click here.

Using Flexible Work to Attract Top Talent

This informative and interactive workshop, delivered by Flexibility Works, is designed for employers who may be struggling to attract and recruit the right staff to fill vacancies. It is taking place on Tuesday, the 2^nd of December, from 10:00am – 11:30am, at the Scottish Procurement Alliance Hub in Livingston.

You can learn more and book your space here.

If you have any questions about any of the topics covered, please email invest@westlothian.gov.uk .

Have a fantastic month!