Renfrewshire

Ochoco-Law Renfrewshire works with individuals and businesses across Renfrewshire to support them to achieve their ambitions and goals. Whether you are considering self employment, starting a business or already running a new or existing business, we can support you with a range of advice, expert knowledge, business information & market intelligence.

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How we can help

Ochoco-Law Renfrewshire has a wealth of free expertise, advice and information to support your business, whether you are thinking about starting a business, have recently started a business or are already running a business.

There are many ways we can support your start-up journey.

Our Business Support Tool is a great place to begin. It takes just 10 minutes to complete and provides you with an instant toolkit with key resources & information. We'll then connect you with a member of the team at our local office for further support.

Our website offers a business plan guide and template to download when you’re ready, market reports and research, as well as handy online guides, articles and video tutorials. Plus, we have a great range of webinars to hone your start-up skills – from writing a business plan to marketing on a budget.

With our help, you could be in business sooner than you imagined.

Our resources and one-to-one support can help you strengthen your business.

Whether you’re looking to take on premises or learn more about digital marketing, we can help you take the next step. Get started by taking 10 minutes to complete our Business Support tool and get a personalised dashboard of online resources and webinars.

We can also offer 1-1 advice at a time that works for you. Together, you and your business adviser can create a strategic action plan to help you achieve your goals.

Our online resources and webinars can help you learn new skills, create opportunities and gain confidence. From HR to restructuring, innovation and digital marketing - we can help. And if specialist input is required, we can connect you to other sources of support.

Invest in Renfrewshire can provide financial support to small to medium sized enterprises to help them start up and grow.

Growth New Start Fund

We can provide assistance of up to £1,000 towards the start up costs of new businesses that are able to demonstrate growth potential. The grant can support the costs of commercial rent, IT or website development.

Growth Company Development Fund

Funding of up to 50% to a maximum of £10,000 is available to help businesses meet specific business growth objectives. It can support capital expenditure, property expansion/improvements, exhibiting at a national trade show or the costs of developing innovative products or processes.

Social Enterprise Small Grants Fund

We can provide grant funding of up to £5,000 to support Renfrewshire’s social enterprises and social economy organisations become more enterprising or to support feasibility work for development projects.

Business Loans Scotland

Business Loans Scotland (formerly operating as West of Scotland Loan Fund in Renfrewshire) offers secured loan funding up to a maximum of £100k to small and medium sized enterprises) which can be used for working capital, equipment or property.

The fund operates alongside commercial lending agencies, who are expected to provide 50% of the funding package.

Repayable Grant

This fund aims to support the creation of new businesses and help existing small businesses to grow and create jobs.

We can offer unsecured funding of between of between £1,000 and £5,000 to help with start-up costs, purchasing assets and property improvements.

Find out more

Well connected business networks are valuable to any new or growing business. We work in partnership with a number of local organisations that can help your business, including Renfrewshire Chamber, Federation of Small Business (FSB), banks, lawyers and accountants.

Talk to an adviser to find out how our networks can help.

See how local property services and funding can help you and your business.

Empty Property

From 1 April 2016, if your property (standard commercial) is empty you will have to pay 50% business rates for the first three months. After these three months you will be entitled to 10% relief. For industrial properties you will not have to pay business rates for the first six months. After these six months you will be entitled to 10% relief. For listed buildings, properties in the hands of certain trustees, or properties with an RV of less than 1,700 you will get 100% relief and will not have to pay business rates.

Fresh Start Scheme

Under the Fresh Start scheme, if a shop, office, hotel, pub or restaurant with an RV under £65,000 has been empty for 12 months or more, and is then occupied as the same, a 50% relief can be applied for 12 months if no other reduction is being made.

Mandatory Relief

Registered charities and amateur sports clubs can apply for up to 80% relief on any non-domestic property which is used wholly or mainly for that charity or club. If you qualify for this relief we may remove the remaining 20% of the bill by awarding discretionary relief.

Discretionary Relief

Relief of up to 100% may be available for properties which are used by certain organisations which are not run for profit, for example, sports, theatre, arts, clubs and so on. It is possible for certain licensed clubs to receive discretionary relief.

Disabled Persons Relief

You may be eligible for up to 100% relief if you provide residential accommodation for the care of people who are ill or if you provide training, welfare services or workshops for disabled people.