A Perthshire-based food and drink training business has strengthened its internal operations and embraced new digital tools after receiving tailored growth support from Business Gateway.

Craft Skills Scotland, operational for over 50 years, is a specialist training provider delivering on-the-job training and Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) including Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs) to employees across the food and drink industry – including cafes and restaurants, farm shops, butchers, breweries, distilleries and even ice cream parlours.

The organisation was previously known as Scottish Meat Training.

The organisation supports learners to work towards Level 2 and Level 3 qualifications, helping businesses raise standards, improve food safety and build a skilled, confident workforce. Its programmes focus on equipping people with the confidence, knowledge and practical ability needed to succeed in a fast-moving and highly regulated sector.

All MAs delivered through Craft Skills Scotland are available to all age groups and abilities including new and existing staff, helping employers invest in staff development without them leaving the workplace. As a growing business, Craft Skills Scotland was keen to take a step back and review how it operated internally to ensure it was well positioned for future growth.

Working with Business Gateway, the business received one-to-one support from adviser Andrew Webster, alongside access to a Skills for Growth analysis. This process focused on understanding staff strengths, identifying development opportunities and ensuring the whole team had a voice in shaping the business’s future.

The team was keen to diversify after previously having a focus on butchers. Business Gateway supported them with opportunities to grow the business by introducing them to other industries and supporting the growth.

Alongside this, Craft Skills Scotland accessed specialist marketing and social media support, as well as signposting to external digital training, including courses on tools such as ChatGPT. Thanks to Business Gateway, the team is welcoming two marketing interns in January who will help share the business more widely.

The business was also introduced to wider funding opportunities, including the Tay Cities Fund, opening up new ideas and potential routes for development.

The impact has been wide-ranging. By listening more closely to staff and using their experience to inform decision-making, the business has made practical improvements to how it works day to day, from rethinking how meeting spaces are used, to creating stronger, more consistent social media content using tools like Canva. The team has also begun using digital tools to support everyday tasks, improving efficiency and confidence across the business.

Claire Simpson, Training Manager at Craft Skills Scotland, said:

“The support from Business Gateway has been incredibly valuable. The Skills for Growth work helped us better understand our team and how we can use everyone’s strengths more effectively. It’s encouraged a more collaborative approach and given us the confidence to make changes that will benefit the business in the long term."

"The team also helped us move into different industries and diversify a 50 year old business, which has been a fantastic success and allowed us to provide more training opportunities. We now have the tools, insight and confidence to keep building on this work as demand for our training continues to grow.”

Andrew Webster, Business Gateway adviser, said:

“Craft Skills Scotland provides an essential service to Scotland’s food and drink industry, supporting both businesses and employees to develop the skills they need to succeed. Claire and her team have been very open to new ideas and have engaged fully with the support available. It’s been great to see how that’s translated into practical improvements that will support the future growth of the business.”

To find out more about Business Gateway and how they can help your business grow and succeed, visit here.