A £7 million contract has been awarded to continue a scheme which offers support to local businesses across Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen.
Elevator – Scotland’s leading social enterprise for work on entrepreneurship, enterprise and employability – will deliver the Business Gateway service for the two councils from April.
Elevator has been delivering economic development activities to the local business community on behalf of the local councils for 30 years.
Business Gateway is a national service supporting start-ups and growing businesses, offering free advice and support.
As well as one-to-one support, Business Gateway includes a workshops to develop key business skills such as sales and marketing, financial management and IT.
Companies with an aspiration to grow can also get support to help them realise their plans. Business Gateway can provide support to those facing difficult trading conditions by providing consultant support to diversify, restructure or enter new markets.
Elevator was formerly known at Enterprise North East Trust, and I serve on its board (a non-renumerated appointment).
That’s all very well but why is money being spent in this way when from what I can see most businesses would benefit from lower, or at least smaller increases in, their rates? Surely that would be s a simpler way and less cumbersome way to help business then involving a third party?
Indeed, you are right that a significant number of North East businesses would welcome a lower increase in their rates. But it is not in the gift of Aberdeenshire Council to do as you suggest. These are both the responsibility of the Scottish Government. The government requires councils to collect non-domestic rates and the money goes off to Edinburgh, to be redistributed around the country. The government also requires Business Gateway services to be offered around the country. Its primary role is to be help people set up a business and nurture them in the first years. Councils have a local role to play in overseeing the local delivery, and that includes awarding the contract to a provider. Thousands of people have been helped to get started in business.