Our Mission & Impact Model
GrowBiz is committed to making Scotland’s rural economy more prosperous, innovative and sustainable.
Providing Free, Community-Based Business Support For All of Rural Scotland
We are the leading provider of business support services for small businesses, social enterprises and the self-employed in rural Scotland.
Our work centres around promoting and developing entrepreneurship and providing enterprise support designed to meet the needs of micro-enterprises and the self-employed in Scotland’s rural areas.
My GrowBiz mentor provided a safe space to talk openly and honestly about my fears and having my horizons widened to consider what I can achieve. They have enabled me to do what I do today.
All our services are free to any business or enterprise in rural Scotland.
How GrowBiz supports rural entrepreneurship
We are putting the needs of rural business owners at the top of the agenda
The challenges faced by business owners operating in rural Scotland differ in nature from those of their counterparts in urban areas. Increased transportation costs, a lack of digital connectivity and access to talent are just a handful of the business growth obstacles which are magnified in remote or less populated regions of Scotland.
To learn more about the characteristics of Scotland’s rural economy visit our page - An Introduction to Scotland’s Rural Economy.
We support and champion Scotland’s rural business community to help them to start, develop and scale their businesses in a number of ways;
One to one business support with an expert - We pair our clients with real people who have expertise in the area that they need to focus on. We have a team of 20+ business advisors who come from a range of professional backgrounds, each chosen for their support skills and specialist knowledge to help our clients overcome any business challenge. Visit our support services page to read more about each of the services we offer.
Training & upskilling - We offer year-round training through informal and interactive peer learning online workshops which are developed in response to the skills our clients are seeking. Check our upcoming events and browse the latest learning sessions.
Networking - We host regular networking opportunities both in-person and online to help our clients connect with their peers. We run focussed networking events for specific sectors, regions and groups which are underrepresented as well as national sessions for Scotland’s rural business community. Check our upcoming events for networking opportunities.
Access to funding - We can assist you to find business funding and with the application process, read more on our funding page. We even offer grant funding of up to £1,000 for rural micro-businesses through REDS.
Advocacy - We advocate for the needs of the rural economy to industry and government. Through our relationships with the Scottish Government, its relevant agencies and the wider enterprise support ecosystem in Scotland we work to ensure the needs of Scotland’s rural business community are heard and met.
4 Key Areas of Development
With more than 14 years of expertise in assisting rural businesses, GrowBiz has identified a framework of 4 key areas which are critical in aiding the development of sustainable entrepreneurship and industry in rural Scotland.
Support under-represented groups
GrowBiz aims to create a strong and diverse enterprise culture throughout rural Scotland by encouraging under-represented groups such as young people, migrants and people with health issues and disabilities to create sustainable businesses.
2. Eradicate digital exclusion
Digital exclusion continues to be a major issue partly because of poor digital connectivity in many rural areas and partly due to a higher than average number of individuals developing enterprises who have little or no experience of using digital, or have disabilities, learning or health issues that prevent them from fully taking advantage of digital services.
GrowBiz provides regular online training workshops to upskill business owners in a broad range of key digital skills.
3. Build self-sustaining peer networks
GrowBiz will continue to develop strong, self-sustaining networks of entrepreneurs who can support each other.
Existing networks developed by GrowBiz are listed below.
Perthshire Artisans - for talented creatives across Perth & Kinross.
Communities Care Perth and Kinross - for care and wellbeing practitioners across Perth and Kinross.
REDS - for small business owners and the self-employed across all of rural Scotland.
Perthshire Adventure - a collective of outdoor activities businesses operating in Perthshire.
Bookkeepers and accountants - a supportive interconnected network upskilling in preparation for the roll out of Make Tax Digital in April 2023.
Social Enterprises - for those considering starting or running social enterprises, this peer group provides an opportunity to share best practice and collaborate to develop their ethical and business elements in parallel.
4. Challenge age-old perceptions of rural
GrowBiz aims to challenge the lingering perception that rural employment and business opportunities are centred around the traditional agricultural and fishing industries by showcasing the diversity and variety that exists in Scotland’s rural economy.
Take a look at the client stories to see a colourful and diverse selection of business owners and business types that constitute Scotland’s rural economy.
GrowBiz works to promote the achievements of its broad clientele base within Scotland’s media.