Business Gateway - exceeding customer expectations
Business Gateway is Argyll and Bute Council’s dedicated business support resource, providing free, confidential practical advice to existing and start-up businesses in Argyll and Bute.
The service offers advice through experienced business advisers, business skills workshops, information, guides, templates for key documents, networking and can signpost available funding.
Since its launch in Argyll and Bute in 2009, Business Gateway has provided support to hundreds of local businesses, helping them to start up, survive or grow. Last year more than 100 new start-up businesses in Argyll and Bute and more than 250 existing businesses were supported by the team.
Business Gateway Argyll and Bute achieved top ranking for meeting customer expectations last year, according to an independent customer satisfaction survey, with 94 per cent of respondents saying that their expectations were met as well as 93 per cent saying that their business would benefit from the support provided. Overall customer satisfaction is consistently above the national average for Scotland.
In the last quarter, 100 per cent of respondents said that they had got what they wanted from an adviser. More than 300 meetings with local business advisers have been completed in the first six months of this year and the team is keen to hear from anyone looking for help to start or grow a business here in Argyll.
Recent comments from businesses supported by a business adviser include:
‘Very helpful as my situation was quite tricky to explain and the adviser was able to tell me what I needed to do’
‘The adviser dealing with my plan was very helpful, always smiling and cheery. They led me in a good direction to get started with my plans’
‘Very knowledgeable about businesses. Made great suggestions and guided us to relevant information and contacts’
‘Really helpful, realistic, honest and gave clear advice on next steps. It was a very new idea and they took it seriously’
The business adviser for the Mid Argyll, Kintyre and Islay area is Donald Melville.
Donald joined the Business Gateway team in 2013, having previously worked for Highlands and Islands Enterprise to support business start-ups and community groups. He holds the Premier Adviser qualification and in 2000 was recognised as Business Adviser of the Year for the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust. To book an appointment with Donald please call 01546 604555.
Business Gateway also offers a wide range of free to attend workshops, covering 25 topics including marketing, PR, HR, customer service, book-keeping, business start-up, as well as workshops on 13 digital topics ranging from Twitter to data analytics to creating video content for social media. So far this year 33 workshops have been held across Argyll and Bute, with well over 300 attendees.
Spaces are still available at Lochgilphead workshops coming up soon, including Better Business Websites on October 4, Practical Basic Book-keeping on November 1, Build Your Own Business Website on November 20 and Paid-for Advertising on November 28. Book now with the local team or online at www.bgateway.com/events.
As well as assisting small businesses, Business Gateway works with both Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise to identify companies with high growth potential and support them through a growth pipeline.
Contact the local team on 01546 604 555 or email business.gateway@argyll-bute.gov.uk