Business Support
Whether your business is looking to start, scale, innovate or locate in Stirling, there will be a service to help it thrive here.
Incubators
STEP – Having marked its 40th anniversary in 2023, STEP is arguably Scotland’s original incubator and today offers full-service business support and affordable rents to help businesses grow. With over 200 businesses in various industries across five locations in Stirling, STEP offers mixed-use work, office, kitchen and storage space. As an incubator, STEP provides comprehensive business support, including HR assistance, and affordable rents to foster business growth.
Stirling University Innovation Park (SUIP) – A leading science park, SUIP houses 70 businesses across 109,000 square feet of office and lab space on the University of Stirling campus and close to the city centre. Its community of innovative businesses offers opportunities to work alongside over 400 like-minded professionals.
CodeBase – Part of the UK’s largest tech incubator and at the heart of Stirling’s city centre Digital District, CodeBase Stirling provides the ideal base for tech-driven start-ups with competitive rents, scale-up education, flexible workspace, mentoring and events.
Business Advice
Business Gateway Stirling – STEP delivers the publicly-funded Business Gateway service on behalf of Stirling Council, which offers advice, support and skills training specific to Stirling.
University of Stirling Business and Enterprise – The University of Stirling has a strong reputation for research impact and business engagement and its Enterprise Programme provides a range of support services. From support for start-ups and entrepreneurs and its on-campus incubator to business consultancy, training courses, apprenticeships and opportunities to recruit students.
Scottish Enterprise – Training and support to high growth companies based in Scotland
Scottish Enterprise provides training and support to high growth companies based in Scotland.
Business Networks
Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce – Affiliated to both the Scottish and the British Chambers of Commerce, the Forth Valley Chamber offers a range of products and services aimed at helping members across Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire grow and develop their businesses.
Go Forth Stirling – Stirling’s Business Improvement District (BID) provides advice and support to businesses in Stirling city centre. The BID aims to deliver projects and services that will improve the trading environment of the Stirling BID area to the benefit of businesses, their customers and visitors to the city centre.
Employer Engagement Forum (EEF) – The EEF brings together all key national, regional and local actors within employability to collaborate with businesses and identify solutions to emerging skills, recruitment and funding needs. Preparatory training and dedicated recruitment support ensure businesses can access local people keen to find and sustain local employment in growth sectors.
Development Partner
Stirling Development Agency (SDA) – SDA, a joint venture partnership between Stirling Council and real estate investor and fund manager Cromwell Property Group, is Stirling’s dedicated and experienced development partner. SDA is well-placed to support specialist builds, with designs tailored to suit specific requirements at cost-effective prices, including at sites such as Kildean Business Park.
