Insights
Unlock the potential of your business with our practical guides, customer stories, and technical industry factsheets.

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Sector insight helps LiberEat target new markets
Our market research provided sector analysis and information on competitors and potential customers to help LiberEat prepare market insights for investors.
Published: 21 Oct 20203 minute read -
Selling online
Get useful guidance on how to sell online effectively and find out about the support we can offer to help your business reach new and existing customers online.
Published: 18 Aug 2020 -
Community co-operatives in Scotland
Meet the local groups using a co-operative business model to enhance their communities and provide vital services.
Published: 02 Jun 20205 minute read -
Employee ownership video guide
Could switching to employee ownership help your business? Learn more with Glen Dott, a specialist adviser at Co-operative Development Scotland, and get the information you need in our series of short videos.
Published: 10 Mar 2020 -
Co-operatives video guide
Co-operatives can help create fairer, stronger and more resilient businesses. Learn more with our specialist advisers at Co-operative Development Scotland in our series of short videos.
Published: 10 Mar 2020 -
Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative
The Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative was formed to showcase the region and reach out to wider markets, expanding the scope of local businesses through a collaborative approach.
Published: 10 Mar 20205 minute read -
How employee ownership saved the Priory Hotel’s identity
See how a new business model allowed this Highland establishment to carry on its role in the community.
Published: 10 Mar 20205 minute read -
How to find a supplier for your business
Supply chain mapping is a useful tool for better understanding your supply chain. This guide will take you through how to map your supply chain and provide an overview of UK directories for key industries.
Published: 09 Mar 2020 -
STAR-Dundee benefits from employee ownership
Find out how employee ownership helped this aerospace engineering company preserve its culture and empower the team who create its cutting-edge products.
Published: 04 Mar 20204 minute read -
The legal process for receiving funding
This guide describes the process you need to go through to receive funding after your application has been accepted.
Published: 23 Jan 2020 -
How banks make business lending decisions
A guide about the areas banks look at when they're deciding whether to fund your business.
Published: 23 Jan 2020 -
A guide to debt
Find out about the different types of debt available to you and which may be most suitable for your business.
Published: 23 Jan 2020 -
Tax relief schemes for raising equity
Government schemes designed to encourage investment into early-stage businesses.
Published: 23 Jan 2020 -
Using your business plan to raise finance
This guide summarises what sections to include when preparing a business plan for raising finance.
Published: 23 Jan 2020 -
Securing equity investment
When you're raising equity to fund your business, you'll need to go through a several-step process. This guide explains the different stages and what you need to do in each step.
Published: 23 Jan 2020 -
Raising equity funding
If your business needs money to grow, one of the options open to you is issuing new shares in exchange for investment.
Published: 23 Jan 2020 -
Becoming investor-ready
Find out how you prepare your business to the point where equity investors would be willing to support your growth aspirations.
Published: 23 Jan 2020 -
Raise finance using financial projections
Financial projections are a key management tool for any business and are an essential tool when fund raising. This guide covers financial projections, how they're created, and their role in business planning and raising finance.
Published: 20 Jan 2020 -
Market research helps 1nhaler access funding
Find out how we supported 1nhaler, a Scottish medical company that has developed the 1nhaler device, a new technology platform for inhalable dry powder medications.
Published: 29 Nov 20192 minute read -
How to lead a successful international team
Understanding cultural differences is an essential tool to achieving organisational effectiveness, but managing international teams isn’t always straightforward. Leadership and business culture guru Erin Meyer shares her advice.
Published: 01 Oct 2019 -
Benefits of language skills in international business
From gaining a competitive edge to winning new contracts, family-run business ACE Aquatec is finding that developing language and intercultural skills among its team and accessing the right support, is helping it grow in international markets.
Published: 13 Sep 20195 minute read -
SoilEssentials - using data to improve farming
Started by a couple of insightful farmers, this Scottish business puts data at the heart of its operational strategy to help farms, across Scotland and overseas, achieve the best possible results.
Published: 02 May 20192 minute read -
What is debt funding?
Debt or loan funding is often a cost-efficient way of getting the finance you need for the short to medium term.
Published: 06 Dec 2018 -
What is equity funding?
If your business doesn't have the revenues or financial history necessary to successfully apply for a business loan, equity funding is another option.
Published: 06 Dec 2018 -
Debt vs equity funding
When you want to grow your business, you may want to look at external sources for finance. At this point, you have a choice of taking on debt or raising capital through the sale of equity.
Published: 22 Aug 2018