A £7million contract has been awarded to continue a scheme which offers support to local businesses across the north-east.

Elevator – Scotland’s leading social enterprise for work on entrepreneurship, enterprise and employability – will deliver the Business Gateway service for Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City 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, the Business Gateway offering includes a catalogue of workshops helping to develop key business skills such as sales and marketing, financial management and ICT. Businesses with an aspiration to grow can also get support to help them realise their plans.

Business Gateway can also provide support to those facing difficult trading conditions by providing consultant support to diversify, restructure or enter new markets. The award of the contract comes at a time of great investment across the region and is seen as playing an important part in the delivery of the Regional Economic Strategy.

The new contract shows the strength of both councils’ commitment to supporting local business, and the investment is expected to bring employment and improvement benefits for the local economy.

The region already has a strong start-up culture and it is important to build on this so that new businesses are able to invest in the area and sell their goods and services across the globe.

Aberdeenshire Council is managing the contract and Co-Leader, , said:

“The award of this contract comes at an exciting time for the north-east. Across the region we are seeing regeneration as well as new investment in our towns and facilities and with this comes new opportunities for start-ups and growing businesses.

Aberdeenshire Council recognises the importance of its local businesses and this investment will help secure future prosperity and maintain our international trading position.”