Business Gateway’s decade of difference for Inverness and Highlands
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AS it marks its 10th anniversary in Inverness, new figures have revealed the decade of difference business advisory service Business Gateway has made to the Highlands and Islands.
This includes helping businesses to create more than 7300 new jobs, supporting more than 2700 start-up businesses and helping more than 550 existing businesses to develop and grow. Business Gateway has also enabled more than 6000 people to attend free workshops about every aspect of starting, managing and growing a business.
Business Gateway also provides one-to-one support from business advisers, extensive online resources and expert support on topics including innovation, exporting, finance and new markets.
Business Gateway chairman Steven Heddle said: “These figures demonstrate the crucial role that the Business Gateway service plays in driving growth, skills, regeneration and sustainable communities across the Highlands.”
Danny Gallagher (pictured), Business Gateway manager for the Highlands and Moray, said the last decade has seen remarkable changes.
“The NC500 is a good example of the increased popularity of the Highlands and has seen a huge tourist boom in the last five years,” he said. “New businesses have accelerated in that area – from accommodation providers to laundry businesses. With superfast broadband now reaching over 90 per cent of the Highlands, rural areas are fast catching up with Inverness in terms of business growth.”
