The lingering effects of the pandemic, rising inflation, and the ongoing pressures of the cost-of-living crisis have shaped one of the most challenging environments for small businesses in recent memory.

It’s understandable, then, that many business owners across Scotland may feel at a loss when it comes to starting-up or growing their business operations further.

That’s why Business Gateway in Inverclyde is encouraging business owners to make the most of its services to help them start-up and succeed.

“When it comes to setting up a new business, it's important to remember that Scotland’s business support organisations, including Business Gateway Inverclyde, have specialist advice and support available”, says Barbara Mennie, Business Adviser at Business Gateway Inverclyde.

Barbara continued: “Small businesses make an important contribution to the economy in Inverclyde. To help them start and succeed, Business Gateway has a range of support available. Whatever stage you are at, businesses can meet with an experienced local business adviser, by phone, virtually or in person at our Clyde Square office, for free and in confidence.”

Business Gateway’s advisers in Inverclyde can also signpost other relevant support, such as specialist advice or sources of grant funding.

One business that has benefitted from Business Gateway Inverclyde’s support is Fairlie Curved, an e-commerce business that sells a range of clothes and accessories for bigger-busted women.

The business was founded by fashion designer, Jayne Lasley, who approached Business Gateway after identifying a gap in the market for selling clothes for women above a D-cup.

Business Gateway was instrumental in helping Jayne to secure her first HQ office premises in early 2021, and also offered guidance on securing an interest-free loan to purchase initial stock. Business Gateway’s research services have been essential for helping expand Fairlie Curved’s product range, with Jayne regularly introduced to new contacts, including the supplier of her best-selling leather jacket.

Through Business Gateway, Jayne was also able to access free marketing workshops and specialist advice on WordPress, which helped to lay the groundwork for her now fully established website.

Business Gateway also introduced Jayne to Invest in Renfrewshire and Graduate Career Advantage Scotland, and, as a result, she now employs a Graphic Designer and a Social Media Marketing Executive. With additional guidance on grant funding, Jayne has also secured over £2,000 as part of a 50/50 grant to purchase computers for her new team.

Within just over three years of trading, with support from Business Gateway, Jayne has grown a community of 20,000 followers on Instagram. She was awarded Business Women Scotland’s Start-up Business of the Year and has been listed in The Telegraph’s 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch.

Jayne Lasley, founder and owner, Fairlie Curved, said: “Business Gateway Inverclyde played a huge part in helping me to take the plunge to transform Fairlie Curved into an

established business. It was incredibly daunting, but I always knew that my adviser would be at the other end of the phone. My success is rooted in the support I received from the Inverclyde team.”