Setting Up A Business In Glasgow: 4 Vital Tips To Consider
Glasgow is a magnificent city bustling with life. Home to all but one of Scotland’s national performing arts organisations, and the Neo-Gothic University of Glasgow rumoured to have been the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Hogwarts. Known as ‘The Shopping Capital of the North’, Glasgow has the largest retail space outside of London; if you’re in the retail business, you could be at the centre of the bustling action on Glasgow’s Style Mile, where you’ll find the majority of the city’s stores.
Setting up a business can be a daunting and rewarding experience. When you have your business strategy prepared, a customer pool, and you’re ready to find the perfect location to build your base of operations, Glasgow is one of the best up and coming locations outside of London to choose for your company. Voted the friendliest city in the world year after year, this gorgeous city with a fantastic attitude could be the most suitable place to set up your business, and we’re here to help with these four vital tips to remember.
Choosing The Perfect Office
The first step in setting up your business in Glasgow is to find the perfect office space. It should be in an area that allows you to grow and operate your business efficiently. Your office should also be easy to find; an office that has low visibility could result in your clients becoming lost or not knowing you exist. This could affect the long-term success of your business and stunt your companies growth.
Areas with cheaper rent or office prices may not lead to a more profitable business if the surrounding area is run down, as it will have a negative impact on your companies image and sales. A more popular and well-maintained neighbourhood will have better long-term prospects for your business.
The size of the office and the building it’s housed in is also an essential aspect of finding the perfect office. If you choose an office the is fit for size now; you may outgrow the space too quickly and end up spending more money on relocation. Choosing an office that has space available for growth and to utilise for staff breaks or meetings will help with your client’s first impressions. However, an office that is too large can also have adverse effects on your businesses success; if you are spending too much money on rent or utilities, it could slow growth. Selecting a suitable building is a task in itself; you have to consider how you want your company to be represented and if the building is in a good state of repair. If you will be responsible for maintenance and repairs in the building you choose, it is important to make sure that the previous tenants have left it in good condition, or you may end up spending most of your budget on renovations.
With so much to consider for your office space, you can become overwhelmed, but you’re in luck. There are plenty of companies that can help you find exactly what you are looking for in Glasgow. Stelmain are a fantastic resource for Glasgow office spaces and can help you find the best one for you.
Transport Links and Parking
Like many historic cities in the United Kingdom, Glasgow’s streets were initially designed to be used by horses and carriages. As the city has developed, so has the transport links and parking. It is crucial when setting up your business in Glasgow to be suitably located to take full advantage of the local public transport.
A business that can be easily accessed is vital and will impact many areas of your business. Home to four universities, Glasgow has a vast talent pool of graduates to choose from, and a company that is difficult to reach from public transport can dramatically decrease the potential employees available to you in the future.
Local Amenities and Businesses
Local amenities and businesses don’t just affect where residents choose to live; they can also affect the growth of a company. Having access to a large pool of suppliers and networking opportunities early on when you set up a company can impact the speed your organisation grows. Equally, having local coffee shops and restaurants nearby will give you plenty of places to entertain current and prospective clients if you don’t have room in your office to impress.
Funding
Funding is an essential part of any business, and in Glasgow, you will have plenty of support to get started. Glasgow City council have a wide range of grants for every business need from the New Business Start-Up Grant that awards up to £1,000 to new businesses or the West of Scotland Loan Fund can help start-up SMEs with funding up to £30,000. There’s something for every business to help your company grow to its full potential.
