Business support organisations - Scotland

Free impartial support and access to funding to help businesses save energy, money and carbon. From initial planning through to project implementation, Business Energy Scotland has tools, guides and training to help you every step of the way.

Now the home of the Green Champions Training

Business Energy Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government to provide free, impartial support and access to funding to help small and medium-sized enterprises save energy, carbon and money.

Free support in the form of practical advice and support on how to start up and develop a business.

Business Gateway provides:

  • Free workshops and events, run across Scotland, covering a range of useful topics such as bookkeeping, social media strategy, e-commerce and exporting.
  • Online resources; guides, articles, videos and templates for support on all aspects of starting up or running a business.
  • 1-1 business advice at local offices

For more information visit: Business Gateway

For information and opportunities from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Business Gateway and Visit Scotland covering:

  • Self-help guides,
  • Programmes,
  • Research and information,
  • Consultancy and advice
  • Funding
  • Training

Visit the Scottish Government Find Business Support website

The Energy Savings Trust in Scotland provides information and support for home energy efficiency and advice and support for businesses on transport issues such as:

  • Grant funding for electric vehicle charge points
  • Bike funding information
  • Low carbon transport loans
  • Free fleet reviews, vehicle comparison reports and advice
  • Advice and support for employee engagement

Manages

  • ChargePlace Scotland Grant Fund - Domestic, workplace and public charge-point grant
  • Low carbon transport loan
  • Bike business loan
  • Business transport advice
  • Sustainable transport reviews
  • Plugged in Households Grant Fund (for not-for-profit housing associations and community groups
  • ebike trials for staff engagement

For more information visit: Energy Savings Trust

Scottish Enterprise has a range of business support covering areas such as:

  • Business development of products and services
  • Accessing funding
  • Exporting and international markets
  • Improving productivity and skills
  • Manufacturing
  • Digital development and/innovation
  • Low carbon transition.

Manages: Funds supporting innovation and collaboration in all parts of Scotland other than the Highlands and Islands.

For more information visit: Scottish Enterprise

For information and opportunities from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Business Gateway and Visit Scotland covering:

  • Self help guides,
  • Programmes,
  • Research and information,
  • Consultancy and advice
  • Funding
  • Training

Visit the Scottish Government Find Business Support website

Highlands and Islands Enterprise has a range of business support covering areas such as:

  • Business development of products and services
  • Accessing funding
  • Exporting and international markets
  • Improving productivity and skills
  • Manufacturing
  • Digital development and/innovation
  • Low carbon transition.

Manages: Funds supporting innovation and collaboration in the Highland and Islands area (HIE).

For more information visit: Highlands and Islands Enterprise

For information and opportunities from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland, Business Gateway and Visit Scotland covering:

  • Self-help guides,
  • Programmes,
  • Research and information,
  • Consultancy and advice
  • Funding
  • Training

Visit the Scottish Government Find Business Support website

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) ensures that businesses comply with environmental regulations. SEPA, working with others including SBSP members, also encourages businesses to go beyond compliance and improve their environmental performance.

SEPA supports resource efficiency measures and the transition towards a circular economy.

For example SEPA offers the ”End of waste classification service”, which sets out the steps that need to be taken to allow the reuse of materials previously classified as waste.

The SEPA Communication Centre (SCC) – can provide answers to queries or find appropriate staff to deal with questions on any aspect of SEPAs work.

Tel: 03000 99 66 99

NetRegs provides free plain English guidance covering environmental compliance and good practice, linking to support organisations where appropriate.

Managed by SEPA and delivered by approved bodies:

  • Landfill tax communities fund

For more information visit: SEPA

A range of services aimed at businesses, government and the public sector:

  • Tools and guidance on energy efficiency, employee awareness and carbon footprinting.
  • Design and manage long term multi-stakeholder projects to deliver results aimed at moving towards a low carbon economy
  • Independent assurance and certification services that recognise achievements in sustainability.

Manages

  • the Green Business Fund
  • the BEIS Industrial Energy Efficiency Accelerator fund
  • Energy Efficiency Financing

For more information visit: Carbon Trust

Carbon Trust: An SME guide to financing energy efficiency projects

An organisation working hard to make a positive difference to a wide range of environmental impacts and challenges. This includes tackling the litter on our streets, educating our young people on environmental topics and cutting the carbon emissions which threaten our planet.

Keep Scotland Beautiful provides grants and support for community-led organisations to tackle climate change by running projects that reduce local carbon emissions.

Manages

  • the Climate Challenge Fund

For more information visit: Keep Scotland Beautiful

An organisation focussing on developing the food and drink sector across Scotland which offers free advice and guidance on:

  • Local food and drink businesses and organisations
  • Regional food groups
  • Collaborative projects that promote local food and drink
  • Start-ups and SMEs looking to develop capabilities
  • Change behaviour in food and drink production, promotion, procurement and ultimately consumer purchasing towards local choices.
  • Strengthen the local food and drink economy including the seafood supply chain (diversifying and improving access to local markets).

Manages

  • the Regional Food Fund

For more information visit: Connect Local

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Funding Platform offers members direct access to hundreds of business funding options with a single application. They help you find the right funding for your business, save you precious time, and lower the overall cost of finance.

The environmental compliance scheme Ecosurety has launched a £1million innovation and research fund for projects that seek to reduce the impact of packaging, batteries or WEEE (electronic waste) on the environment. The fund will be spread across three years with individual grant applications of up to £150,000 being accepted.

Applications to the Ecosurety Exploration Fund can be made via the Ecosurety website from Thursday 28th November 2019.