£6m lift for Tayside business start-ups

INVESTMENT: Social Enterprise Elevator awarded contract for Business Gateway in Tayside councils

A social enterprise dedicated to supporting businesses and start-ups has been awarded a £6 million contract to deliver Business Gateway throughout Angus, Perth and Kinross and Dundee.

For the next five years, Elevator will work with business leaders and entrepreneurs across the region to help improve local employment and the economy, and to continue the delivery of Business Gateway services across the three local authority areas, as it has been doing since 2007.

It is anticipated that 150 businesses per annum will gain access to specific growth support to help them enter new markets, develop new products and secure investments.

Elevator director Andrew Burnett said the award of the contract comes at a time of great investment across the region and plays an important part in the delivery of the Regional Economic Strategy.

He said: “Tayside is currently embarking on one of the most significant phases of economic opportunity that it has ever seen.

“New developments across several key sectors including tourism, hospitality and food and drink coupled with existing strengths in software, energy and life sciences will likely see the region increase its prominence on both national and international stages.

“Elevator is exceptionally pleased to be continuing its involvement in supporting the future prosperity of the region.

“The next Business Gateway contract will see Elevator providing fully funded business advice, training and information to some 3,600 new start-ups across Angus, Perth and Kinross and Dundee with intensive business growth assistance provided to over 500 of the region’s most ambitious businesses.

“Business Gateway is expected to complement other Elevator initiatives currently under way across Tayside, including the delivery of enterprise coaching within schools, and higher education.”

Dundee City Council’s development convener Councillor Lynne Short said: “I am delighted that Elevator has won this contract. It is really important for the future of the area to grow entrepreneurship in Dundee so that more people can take advantage of new opportunities.

“There is a great feeling of optimism about Dundee and its economy. I want people to be able to aim for new goals, and the Business Gateway service in Tayside delivered by Elevator is a great way of supporting them to do this in business.”

Elevator, which employs 17 members of staff in delivering Business Gateway services across Tayside, has 19 business centres across Scotland and runs several community-driven initiatives.

There is a great feeling of optimism about Dundee and its economy. COUNCILLOR LYNNE SHORT

Picture: Andrew Ramsay. Elevator director Andrew Burnett said Tayside is embarking on one of the most significant phases of economic opportunity it has ever seen.