The E3 hubs, operated by Elevator UK, are part of a network across Scotland offering a range of advice and services to people looking to start their own company as well as existing businesses.

The council received £791,280 from the UK Government through the UK Community Renewal Fund to deliver the hubs.

The Cumbernauld hub is based within the Muirfield Centre on South Muirhead Road and in Shotts, the hub is located in Hillhouseridge on ShottsKirk Road.

The service also has an electric vehicle which will take the hub services to local communities.

Both hubs will offer a range of business support services free of charge including mentoring, funding, one-to-one advice, diversity and inclusion training, webinars, and an initiative to enhance community leadership and support the growth of sustainable businesses.

There will be a focus on digital skills education, with social media training vouchers of up to £2,500 per business, bookable 1-1 support with digital consultants, digital innovation masterclasses, and a range of webinars.

A series of initiatives will also be available:

• Give It A Go grants of up to £300 for 18 to 30 year olds to test the market with their business idea;
• a female entrepreneurship programme, I Can and I Will, aimed at supporting women who are new to the world of business and need help to form their idea into a viable business start-up;
• an accredited carbon literacy training programme, delivered by Keep Scotland Beautiful, to help increase awareness of key environmental issues and the direct impact businesses can have on Scotland’s efforts to achieve net zero; and
• An agricultural diversification programme called ‘Seeds of Success’, aimed at equipping agri-entrepreneurs with the skills, knowledge and confidence to add value to their existing assets and increase their business income.

“Our team of six skilled advisers within the hubs are here to help anyone at the very early stage of entrepreneurship who has a business idea and needs help to take the next step, to people who have just set up a business and want to grow, to more established companies looking to develop,” said Councillor Allan Graham, Convener of the Enterprise and Growth Committee.

“As well as the hubs themselves, the advisers will visit local communities around Cumbernauld and Shotts with their mobile office to ensure their services are available to everyone.”

“We are very excited to see the positive impact this new partnership will have on the local community,” said Kirsty Macdonald, Project Manager – North Lanarkshire, at ElevatorUK E3.

“People can contact us using our online enquiry form and we will get in touch, or pop into the hub to chat with one of the E3 team. We welcome anyone looking to chat about their initial business idea, what support is available to them, or even if they simply want to learn how to create a personal Facebook page so they can connect with their community and local businesses.

“We are here to support and encourage local networks and hopefully create some new ones along the way.”

For more information and to register for E3 support, visit www.e3hub.org or complete the online enquiry form at Contact Us | E3 (e3hub.org).