Monthly Newsletter
Invest in West Lothian - September Newsletter
Welcome to the September edition of the Invest in West Lothian newsletter! In our newsletter, we will be sharing the latest news stories, funding opportunities, and events for businesses in West Lothian.
Here at Invest in West Lothian, we are committed to helping businesses in West Lothian grow by providing confidential and impartial advice, highlighting funding opportunities, and sharing helpful resources. We can help new and established businesses that are currently based in West Lothian, or are looking to relocate to the area. You can learn more about the support we offer by visiting www.investinwestlothian.com .
Celebrating Good News Stories in West Lothian
Sky Welcomes Planning Approval for New 21,000 m² Campus in Livingston
Broadcaster Sky has had planning permission approved for a new campus in Livingston.
The new site will span 15 acres and 21,000 m², replacing four existing buildings at Kirkton Campus and leased space on the Alba Campus.
Sky has been one of West Lothian’s largest employers for over three decades and the new expanded campus will provide a future-ready home for the company’s workforce while supporting their long-term growth ambitions in Scotland.
You can read the full story here.
Business Gateway West Lothian Invites Local Businesses to Show their Support for #ScottishStartUpMonth
September is #ScottishStartUpMonth!
This campaign is a month-long celebration of the Scottish entrepreneurial spirit. Throughout the month, Business Gateway West Lothian will be highlighting the wide range of support that is available to help new and aspiring business owners learn more about the wide range of support available to help them take the leap and launch their dream businesses.
Established businesses can also get involved by pledging their support on the Business Gateway website. By doing this, they can help inspire the next generation of Scottish entrepreneurs.
You can learn more, pledge your support and access resources 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.
Exporting Health Check
We are delighted to offer eligible West Lothian businesses the opportunity to have a fully funded Exporting Health Check, carried out by the excellent St Andrews Management team!
The Exporting Health Check will involve a short interview session to determine the business’s readiness for exporting. After the interview, the business will receive a detailed analysis of its current operations with recommendations for priority action areas. This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses that are new to exporting or businesses that would like to improve their existing processes.
To learn more or request an Exporting Health Check, please email invest@westlothian.gov.uk
Upcoming Events
We are delighted to be hosting the following free events in September:
Women in Entrepreneurship Programme
The Women in Entrepreneurship Programme is back! Over 4-weekly sessions, delivered by the fantastic Michelle Brown, attendees will learn how to refresh their businesses to take them to the next level. Sessions are taking place from 9:30am – 12:30pm on Tuesday, the 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th of September, at Almond Valley Heritage Centre in Livingston.
AI Masterclass: Practical Artificial Intelligence for Business
During this practical workshop you'll discover how tools such as ChatGPT, Canva AI, Gamma and other leading AI platforms can help with everything from content creation and marketing to planning, research, administration and strategic decision making. This is taking place on Wednesday, the 9th of September, from 10:00am – 3:30pm, at the Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian office in Bathgate.
Goal Setting for Growth
This workshop gives participants the clarity, structure, and motivation they need to set meaningful goals that drive real progress, both personally and professionally. It is taking place on Thursday, the 17th of September, from 10:00am – 1:00pm, at the Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian office in Bathgate.
AI Power User: Getting Real Results from LLMs
Learn advanced techniques that transform how you use ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI tools - from prompting them properly to getting them to catch their own mistakes. This is taking place on Tuesday, the 22nd of September, from 10:00am – 12:30pm, at the Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian office in Bathgate.
Continuous Improvement and Process Busting
This webinar gives participants the tools to spot inefficiencies, challenge outdated ways of working, and introduce simple, effective improvements that make a real difference. It is taking place on Tuesday, the 29th of September 2026, from 10:00am – 1:00pm.
You can view our full calendar of events and book your spaces here.
If you have any questions about any of the topics covered, please email invest@westlothian.gov.uk .
We hope you have a brilliant month!