Welcome to the beta version of the new Business Support Hub. Please use this form to provide any comments or suggestions.
One of the most important steps for your business is to seek expert advice from partner and support organisation who can help you improve and grow. This guide covers the key organisations who specialise in tourism and events, and the opportunities they offer including funding, training, and tailored advice.
As a business owner, you need to work with and understand the industry and your sector. Working with partners can provide many benefits for your business in the long term, from training and development opportunities to general marketing support. This will help your business to identify areas for improvement, making day-to-day operations much smoother, mitigate risks, and create well-developed strategic plans.
lothianBridge staff
The Find Business Support website is an essential resource for identifying support opportunities from key national and regional organisations. The website covers options from more than 100 Scottish public sector organisations, all in one place.
Their website covers grants, loans, funding, advice and other support available for your business. Filter the search by region and sector to help you find tailored support.
Go to Find Business Support.
Business lunch, Harvey Nicols
The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) is the main representative body for Scottish tourism and hospitality. Their mission is to resolve issues and challenges the industry faces to help shape a vibrant future for Scotland’s people, visitors, and those who work within the sector. The STA works closely with industry partners to align with Scotland’s tourism strategy, ensuring sustainable growth, business resilience, and enhanced visitor experiences. They can help your business channel its voice through collaboration and knowledge sharing. Membership is open to businesses, trade associations, and other organisations that are interested in tourism.
Find out more about the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA).
This industry body represents the hospitality sector across the UK. It spans a wide range of operators including bars, hotels, and visitor attractions. As the voice of the industry, UK Hospitality provides strategic support, regulatory advice, and lobbying services to influence public policy in favour of the hospitality sector. Additionally, they offer extensive resources aimed at enhancing business operations, improving customer service, and boosting employee engagement. They address workforce challenges, promote hospitality as a career, and guide businesses on compliance.
Find out more from UK Hospitality.
VisitScotland Connect
© Newsline Media
Local Chambers of Commerce are membership organisations that run throughout Scotland. They host regular networking events and providing business support tailored to your area which can all help to grow and expand your business.
There are 30 chambers set up across Scotland who support and connect businesses, share best practice, create new opportunities and provide practical support.
Find out more about the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and find your nearest chamber.
Scottish Enterprise is Scotland’s national economic development agency. They can help provide key insights for your business on how to expand and compete against a global market through coaching, access to funds and grants, and much more. They also help to support sectors including life sciences, food and drink, creative industries, and for those who wish to expand their business internationally.
Learn more about Scottish Enterprise.
Loch Katrine Experience
© Digital Tourism Scotland / Matt Davis
Business Gateway Scotland provides free business support to everyone in Scotland. Whether you want to start or grow your business, access one-to-one business advice, online resources, webinars, and events.
They have offices across Scotland that can provide support at a local level.
Find out more about Business Gateway and find your local Business Gateway office.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) supports business owners by offering tailored apprenticeships and training programs in industries like tourism. SDS also provides funding through schemes like the Flexible Workforce Development Fund, aiding businesses in upskilling employees. Their strategic skills planning helps businesses align their training with the necessary skills and knowledge. By collaborating with SDS, business owners can enhance their efficiency, increase employee retention, and drive sustainable growth through a skilled and motivated staff.
Find out more about Skills Development Scotland and see the hospitality and tourism programs and qualifications available.
Dancers at the Cowal Highland Gathering
© VisitScotland/Kenny Lam
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) work alongside local businesses, communities, and social enterprises to make the region a leader in sustainable economic growth and development. They work closely with businesses to achieve this goal by:
Work with Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE) supports local communities throughout Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders. SOSE can provide expert advice tailored to your business on training and a range of funding schemes including grants and loans. Whether you’re looking to start up your own business within the region or finding new ways to adapt your product and services, they can help make a difference.
Find out more about South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).
Southwest Coast
VisitScotland provides extensive sector support to tourism businesses, helping them grow, innovate, and stay competitive. They offer marketing opportunities, including website listings, destination campaigns, social media promotion, B2B networking, paid advertising, and media exposure. Additionally, VisitScotland provides industry insights through market research, visitor trends, and sector reports, helping businesses understand customer behaviour, adapt to changing demands, and identify growth opportunities. Through training, sustainability initiatives, and collaboration with key partners, VisitScotland supports businesses in attracting visitors, improving customer experiences, and adapting to industry trends.
Find out more about VisitScotland.
VisitBritain offer comprehensive support for the UK tourism sector, working to promote Britain globally. They provide resources for businesses looking to attract international visitors and engage effectively with the travel trade. Their services include market insights, digital marketing tools, and extensive training on accessibility and sustainability in tourism.
Find out more from VisitBritain.
Peebles Hydro restaurant
The Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group (ILG) consists of a mix of people from the public, private, and third sectors. Individuals apply through an open application process based on their knowledge and expertise within their own destination, business, or sector. Their main purpose is to support the sustainable growth of the hospitality and tourism sector in the long term.
Through ongoing activity, the group consider five key priorities based on Scotland Outlook 2030. They are:
Launched in 2020, Scotland Outlook 2030 is the national tourism strategy developed by the Scottish Tourism Alliance in partnership with the Scottish Government. This ambitious strategy is designed to transform Scotland into a leading travel destination by 2030, focusing on driving growth and ensuring the sustainability of Scotland’s tourism industry through strategic collaborative efforts.
Find out more about the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group (ILG).
The Tourism and Hospitality Skills Group (THSG) work closely with partners and stakeholders to support the growth of the sector to make sure it aligns with Scotland Outlook 2030.
The group consists of a mix of industry representatives which includes:
See the full list of Tourism and Hospitality Skills Group (THSG) members.
Local councils offer support to businesses to help them invest, grow and thrive in that area. But they also play a key wider role in tourism from promoting council-owned experiences to maintaining the general area and running local events.
Key actions a council may take to boost tourism include:
Make sure visitor experiences are accessible, eg walking trails, viewpoints and public toilets, and ensure signage is clear and easy to understand.
Maintain historical sites and landmarks regularly to mitigate decay. Preserve and promote the human stories of people who built, lived, or worked in them for future generations to have access to this knowledge.
Organise events and festivals to attract more visitors and for them to experience the very best of local culture.
Market the local area through social media platforms, brochures, and campaigns.
Partner with local businesses such as restaurants, hotels, cafés, and accommodation to enhance or add new services to their product.
Make sure there is a strategy in place to manage the flow of visitor numbers and to avoid any negative impact on the local community and environment.
Adapt job roles and training facilities for the sector to thrive for future generations.
Find out more about local councils in Scotland or find your local council to learn more about what happens in your area.
Explore our resources and articles to actively enhance your marketing strategies across diverse channels, ensuring your business captivates and expands its audience. Take action now to leverage every opportunity from SEO to user experience, and see what a well-crafted promotion strategy can do for your business.
