Support for businesses - business advice

Business advisers at West Lothian Council's Enterprise Centre can provide a sounding board for your business growth plans and effect introductions to specialists and other intermediaries to help you take your business forward.

One To One Advice

It often helps to talk through a new idea with an unbiased third party. Many businesses use this facility before making an approach to a bank or other potential funding body.
Contact: Jim.Henderson@westlothian.gov.uk

E-Business

A specialist e-business adviser works with local growing businesses to help them take up new technologies and get involved in e-commerce. This includes the delivery of e-business workshops on subjects such as Transforming your Website; Trading Electronically; Internet Marketing and Best Practice Web Design.

The e-business adviser co-ordinates the West Lothian e-business club which holds a series of regular meetings to bring together local companies to network, exchange ideas and hear expert speakers on a range of topics of interest to businesses who trade online. Recently this has included how to use eBay to shift excess stock or test new products; how to choose an e-business supplier, search engine optimization and how to write copy for the web.
Contact: Michelle.Campbell@westlothian.gov.uk

Waste Minimisation and Environmental Management

Interest in waste minimisation and environmental management continues to grow, and an awareness of the environmental aspects of any business is now a necessity. A specialist adviser from the Business Environment Partnership (BEP) works alongside Economic Development staff at the Enterprise Centre, offering a range of support to local companies to help them minimise their environmental impacts whilst reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Contact: Donald.Rose@westlothian.gov.uk

People Development

West Lothian Council's Business Learning adviser provides a link to local initiatives that help to deliver growth for West Lothian firms through staff development and training. Working closely with West Lothian College, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Business Gateway, the Business Learning adviser can advise you about a range of local people development opportunities, including training courses and workshops, management development programmes and mentoring programmes.
Contact: Gordon.Murray@westlothian.gov.uk

Relocations and Expansions

West Lothian Council's business growth advisers deliver a valued service to firms expanding into West Lothian, providing information and contacts, including assistance to find suitable premises and explore funding sources.
Contact: Jim.Henderson@westlothian.gov.uk

Innovation

West Lothian Council's partnership with Innovators Counselling and Advisory Service for Scotland (ICASS) can provide you with targeted advice and assistance in the process of innovation, helping you to protect intellectual property and copyrights.
Contact: Jim.Henderson@westlothian.gov.uk

International Trade / Exporting

Business Gateway International Lothian provides specialist assistance for firms involved in exporting/ international trade. Advisers with the international team based at Alba Campus in Livingston assist clients to explore overseas market opportunities.
Contact: Elaine.philip@scotent.co.uk

The Enterprise Centre is part of the Community Planning and Regeneration service. You can download the latest annual report of the service (new window) here.