Business Gateway Fife | Achievements

overview

It’s been a busy 12 months here at Business Gateway Fife, however our core objective remains the same – to help individuals start up in business and support existing businesses to develop, create new jobs and support long-term sustainable growth in the Fife Economy.

We have evolved rapidly over the last year and worked hard to meet the needs of our clients as we support enterprises throughout Fife, from new emerging businesses to the more established traditional and entrepreneurial companies.

The changing demands and the growing international markets have challenged us to reassess our business model to carry out an extensive restructuring programme and to move to more cost effective premises.

This allows us to focus more of our budget on providing even more hands on support for our clients

with some superb new advisers to bolster our current expertise and experience.

We have introduced some exciting new services including a dedicated HR Adviser; our Low Carbon Support Programme and stimulating business on the high street through the Town Centre Business Support Fund.

As we look to the future, we will continue to work very closely with Fife Council and other strategic partners, blending our services and support interventions with their Economic Development team.

By consolidating our team, investing more in staff training and continually improving our service provision, we will continue to create a service that Fife can be proud of.

Brian BlackburnBrian Blackburn MD

Business Gateway Fife is a skills development and business support organisation, targeted to achieve exacting results. We are continuously evolving and will strive to meet the demands of our customers.

We have a superb team in place under the leadership of our new Managing Director, Brian Blackburn, and I am very pleased at the new direction we are moving in.

We are all keen to see Business Gateway Fife continue to progress with new services and solutions to support our clients as we adapt to the ever changing economy and worldwide markets.

John PenmanChairman

01

BGF The results we have achieved in the last 12 months are extremely positive with significant improvements in virtually every area

“I am very pleased at the

new direction we are moving in”

ABOUT US CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

02

growth

03

TODD FISHERIESTECHNOLOGY

Working on a new development project, Todd Fisheries Technology is looking to revolutionise the transportation of live seafood worldwide - delivering quality seafood to consumers in a cost effective way. They have invented an innovative, patentable live shellfish transportation system which can decrease the mortality rate from 15% to nearly zero, improving the quality as well as saving fuel.

Business Gateway Fife worked with the company to provide expert advice and financial support. Our growth adviser, a qualified environmental biologist, was able to provide bespoke advice to the client, whose product could be game-changing for the shellfish industry. Financial support came in the form of the Fife Investment Fund for office equipment and website development and attendance at the UK Aquaculture trade show from the Market Development Programme.

GROWING BUSINESSES 2013/14

2013/14 has been a very busy and productive year for the Growth Team at Business Gateway Fife.The emergence of the Fife economy from the recent economic downturn is clear with the Growth Team providing professional advice and support to no fewer than 624 businesses. To facilitate our increased work with established businesses, we have recruited two highly experienced Advisers to support a diverse range of clients within a variety of sectors including engineering, manufacturing and tourism.

There has also been a surge in creative businesses looking for support and this has been boosted by the Create in Fife Fund. Funding support was also provided to businesses in the form of the Fife Investment Fund

and although funding may be beneficial, all businesses profit from the help and practical advice that advisers can offer.

The launch of our HR Service and Low Carbon Support Programme continues to be very popular, enabling businesses to access expert advice on HR issues such as taking on employees to staff development and training. Over 50 businesses benefited from a Low Carbon Audit and found cost effective ways to reduce their energy bills.

The experience and expertise within our team enables Business Gateway Fife to deliver an even greater level of advice and support to established businesses which are looking to grow, develop or simply survive in the new economy.

04

624businessessupported

174 businesses assisted

with HR Support

51 businesses assisted with Low Carbon

Support

40businesses received

expert helpand support

SUPPORTING GROWING FIFE BUSINESSES 2013/14

694additional jobs

created though Fife Investment Fund

businesses supported

through FifeInvestment Fund

businessessupported through

East of Scotland Investment Fund

businessesassisted through

Town Centre Business Support Fund

77creative

businessesassisted

6 30238

start up

05

START UP BUSINESSES 2013/14

The primary function of the Start Up Team is to support individuals who are looking to get their idea off the ground and to those who are in the early stages of trading. Our Advisers provide a range of practical advice and guidance to ensure all our clients get the best possible start to their business.

This service is delivered by a team of Start Up Advisers and a dedicated High Value Start Up Adviser, operating from our main office in Glenrothes and from local offices throughout Fife, including Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline and Cupar.

Our Start Up Advisers provide an extensive range of support from delivering introductory sessions in a group based format to 1-2-1 appointments for those who are further down the planning stages. We see a wide range of clients, with different needs and varied business ideas and this makes our job extremely interesting and diverse.

We also deliver the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) contract and work closely with local Job Centres to help and support unemployed individuals set up their own business. This year 242 businesses were started through this programme.

To encourage growth within start-up businesses, last year we appointed a dedicated High Value Start Up Adviser (HVSU). Our HVSU Adviser works with clients over an 18 month period to help them create the most appropriate support plan for their business development.

The last 12 months has seen the Start Up team continue to deliver its exceptional levels of performance, assisting no fewer than 807 new businesses to establish themselves in the period.

CASE STUDY : KOMANDOR SCOTLAND

Launched with support from Business Gateway’s High Value Start-Up Service, Komandor Scotland specialise in the design and fit of quality fitted furniture, including unique sliding wardrobes, for both private and commercial customers.

Although the business is in its early stages, Ken and Peter are already looking to the future with plans afoot to potentially open a new showroom in the coming year.

HELPING NEW BUSINESSES IN FIFE 2013/14

06

started through New Enterprise

Allowance Scheme

807businesses started

1,113jobs created

380started by women

171started by

young people

127High ValueStart Ups

HELPING NEW BUSINESSES IN FIFE 2013/14

workshops delivered by start up advisers

242

61

training

WORKSHOPS/SEMINARS

Developing the skills of both employees and the management team is one of the most effective growth strategies for any business and it continues to be a key focus for Business Gateway Fife.

With over 200 free workshops covering a range of topics, including sales, marketing, finance, social media and bookkeeping, we deliver our courses in conjunction with a number of professional training providers and partner organisations, some of which have specifically been developed for our purposes.

All of our courses provide key skills, which are essential in today’s environment, to not only those starting out in business but also to clients who are looking to grow and develop their existing business.

Over the past year we have delivered over 30 specialist events such as selling into international markets, project management and sector specific sessions which proved to be highly successful.

We aim to improve the variety and quality of our events by continually looking to develop and adapt to client requirements.

EXAMPLE COURSES

• Pre-Start

• Business Planning/ Finance

• IT

• Newly Self Employed

• Business Expenses & Capital Allowances

• Bookkeeping

• Marketing Your Business

• Advertising & Promotion

• Mastering Selling

• Pr

• Becoming An Employer

• Getting The Most Out Of Your People

• Intellectual Property

• Communication And Organisational Success

• Real Results From Your Website

• Improve Search Engine Ranking

• Trading Online

• Social Media

• Wordpress

07

BGF All of our courses provide key skills which are essential in today’s environment

08

10trainingpartners

204skills workshops and

seminars

32ad-hoc events

50course topics

1767attendees

83%customer

satisfaction

BUSINESS GATEWAY FIFE EVENTS 2013/14

“I found all of the Business Gateway Fife workshops that I

attended very informative, enjoyable and beneficial. The sessions were well-

organised and well-presented with plenty of opportunity for relevant discussions and networking. I would recommend Business Gateway Fife events to anyone starting or

running a business”.

Roy Malcolm

new initiatives

Business Gateway Fife is aiming to stimulate business on the high street with a range of funding packages from Fife Council’s Town Centre Development Unit. Businesses can access 3 funding packages and these include: Vacant Property Improvement Grant, Business Improvement Grant and Expert Help. With the overwhelming response in applications for this fund, Business Gateway Fife secured extra funding to extend the support.

With a dedicated HR Business Adviser as part of the team at Business Gateway Fife, we have helped no fewer than 174 companies over the last year to put their people first by offering advice on issues such as employing staff to skills and training. We work with our external part-ners to deliver this service to ensure businesses get the most out of their staff.

An alternative to funding, Business Gateway Fife have been assisting businesses to achieve efficiencies and boost competitiveness by iden-tifying ways in which they can develop renewable technology or make their premises more energy efficient. This support is offering clients both short and long term savings.

We are delighted to be able to offer our clients the chance to come in and speak to a range of experts at our 1-2-1 surgeries. These sessions run monthly and bi-monthly from our office in Glenrothes and cover business areas such as exporting, marketing, intellectual property and legal issues.

09

TOWN CENTRE BUSINESS SUPPORT FUND

HR SUPPORT

LOW CARBON PROGRAMME

1-2-1 SURGERIES

HR SUPPORT

174

LOW CARBON

51

Town Centre Businesses

Helped

30

Working in partnership with:

Business Gateway Fife is a collaborative organisation which works hand in hand with a number of strategic partners to meet the requirements of our entire client base.

By acting as the first point of call for our partners, we can assess the requirements of the clients and promote the right solution or the right partner to contact, whether that is funding, training, property or specific services.

START UP LOAN FUND

Business Gateway Fife are pleased to offer a new start-up loan through Fife Council and Start Up Finance Scotland, which offers support to individuals looking to start a business and to those who have recently started trading.

Aimed at individuals and businesses who have been trading for less than 12months. Loan amounts are determined on the needs of the business - averageloan size around £6,000. 6% interest rate applied.

10

LOOKING AHEAD INTO 2014/2015

East of Scotland Investment FundI n v e s t i n g i n B u s i n e s s

GREENBUSINESSFIFEImproving Efficiency | Reducing Carbon

The Business Gateway Fife office is based at:

Saltire HousePentland ParkGlenrothesKY6 2AL Other area offices are staffed on a part-time basis, but pre-arranged appointmentscan be organised by calling us on 01592 858333. They are at:

Kirkcaldy BusinessIncubator Centre

Myregormie PlaceMitchelston Industrial EstateKirkcaldy KY1 3NA

WestportBusiness Centre Office 31 Old School RoadCupar KY15 4EZ

DunfermlineBusiness Centre

Izatt AvenueDunfermline KY11 3BZ

To find out about Business Gateway Fife services -

Call: 01592 858333Email: success@bgfife.co.ukVisit: www.businessgatewayfife.com