Q&A with Marjorie Miller
Principal, Business Advice at Glasgow City Council (GCC)
What is your role within Glasgow City Council?
I design, deliver and manage a range of business support products for Glasgow's Small and Medium sized businesses, including access to business grants to improve sustainability and growth. I manage the Business Advice team within Economic and Social Initiatives, which is part of the Council's Development and Regeneration department. We offer business grants, and impartial business advice to Glasgow based companies. Our goal is to help companies in Glasgow become more competitive in a national and international market, which in turn will contribute to the safeguarding and creation of jobs.
I also manage the Business Gateway contact for Glasgow and work closely with colleagues delivering national and local Business Gateway objectives in the city.
What are the key objectives of the department?
Together with our partner organisations, our focus in Economic and Social Initiatives is to build sustainable businesses through a range of important business support programmes. By helping businesses to survive and grow the Council helps to improve employment opportunities for its citizens. Our teams of specialist business development and economic development professionals' work in partnership with other agencies to design and implement programmes that seek to create employment and help Glasgow companies to grow by improving the skills levels of the resident workforce. The department supports individuals into work via wage subsidies from the Commonwealth Apprenticeship Fund and the Commonwealth Jobs Fund. We also employ specialists who tackle financial exclusion and poverty and promote equal access to employment
What funding opportunities do you offer to support staff development?
Together with free business advice the Council currently has funding for our flagship programme; Skills and Business Growth. Grants of up to 80% are available for eligible Glasgow companies. This fund can be used to support the costs of engaging expert help to solve a business problem or take advantage of a business opportunity. All applications are assessed by our Business Advisers, who would be happy to answer any questions on eligibility and other sources of support. Small and medium sized companies make up 98% of all businesses in Glasgow.
What sectors of business can access funding?
Applications are considered from companies operating from business premises within the Glasgow City Council boundary, employing less than 250 employees' world wide. It's impractical to list all types of companies who may or may not be eligible for support so we're happy to take eligibility enquiries by phone or email. Due to budgetary restrictions and level impact on the economy, retail operations, professional services and companies that trade locally are not eligible for support.
What are the main criteria to enable companies to access funding?
Companies must be based within the Glasgow City Council boundary i.e. pay business rates to GCC. They must show a business development need for a business grant. For example, we would want to know what difference a grant would make to turnover and profitability. We expect companies to demonstrate a financial need for public sector intervention.
How does the funding process work?
All applications for funding are submitted with the company's audited accounts, or management accounts. Once initial eligibility is checked, a Business Adviser will visit to carry out a short appraisal of the company. This is a good opportunity for companies to find out about any other relevant support the Council or its partner organisations may be able to offer. Assuming that all the information needed to make a decision on the grant is submitted it should take no more than two weeks for a decision to be made. But remember grants can't be awarded retrospectively so approval must be given before a company commits to spend.
How important at the moment is investment in staff development, especially with the way the economy is at the moment?
I like the quote from Derek Bok; 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance'. It's more important than ever to keep abreast of changes in the business world. A company with a well trained and skilled workforce, who understand their customers' needs, will attract and retain clients. Businesses who fail to train their staff in the skills needed to outperform competitors are unlikely to survive. There is plenty of financial support to help businesses to access expertise. Owners and managers also need to consider their own development needs. Training is not just about providing basic skills for 'the workers'. For a business to thrive, the key decision makers need help too.
It is more critical than ever that businesses, whatever their size, invest in creating and maintaining a skilled workforce. Companies that have survived the recession and continued to trade are now operating in a changed economic environment. Newer, leaner businesses, using internet technology and social media to market their products have sprung up during the recession. Outdated, traditional business models must now take account of the communication revolution and look again at how they sell their products and provide an excellent service their customers. If company owners are in any doubt that things have changed, have a look around and ask themselves, are we keeping up?
For more info on any of GCC's our business support programmes you can get in touch with them on
0141 287 7259
training.grants@glasgow.gov.uk
GCC funding up to 80% is available on GO Group training courses subject to certain criteria. Call us on 0141 222 9585 for more details