GLASGOW Opportunities is not only co-ordinating the Enterprise

Roadshows. Its staff will also be on hand to give information about its

own training and business counselling services, most of which are run in

partnership with other agencies.

GO is the local enterprise trust for Glasgow. Initially set up as a

partnership between industry and the public sector to help new and small

businesses in the Glasgow area. It has in the past 11 years developed

and extended its role to help businesses of all types and all sizes and

has become a centre of information about financial support and training

opportunities for companies and individuals, bringing in the resources

and expertise of established companies to help new and developing

businesses.

Over the years GO has developed its services to include loan funds,

training for owners and managers, innovation counselling, venture

capital introduction and general promotional activities to encourage and

help people become self employed. Its ability to attract finance from

the private sector and to direct financial support to clients in both

the private and public sectors make it a unique organisation. GO now has

more than 60 private sector sponsors.

Other sponsors include the Glasgow Development Agency, Glasgow City

Council and Strathclyde Regional Council, all of which are taking part

in the Enterprise Roadshows starting tomorrow.

GO offers business counselling, advice and support to people wanting

to start up in business or to develop an existing business, and all its

services are free of charge.

Executive director Agnes Samuel said: ''We try to identify and fill

gaps in the provision of business support services and training and not

to duplicate what other agencies are already doing. Our work complements

other schemes and initiatives in the Glasgow area.

''We have become increasingly successful at accessing European funds,

mainly from the European Regional Development Fund and the European

Social Fund, both of which are managed in this area by the Strathclyde

Integrated Development Organisation.''

Training is a vital part of GO's activities. For the past six years it

has been the city's leading provider of business skills seminars,

offering more than 12,000 places. GO has also developed advanced

seminars on marketing, finance and management.

In partnership with private and public organisations GO organises

programmes of enterprise seminars to serve as tasters for companies and

encourage them to take advantage of other services and facilities.

Its business and human resource development programme is designed to

equip senior personnel to use the company's resources to the full to

improve planning, training and development. This programme is supported

by Glasgow City Council and the European Social Fund.

Within its offices GO has a training suite which can be hired by

companies or other organisations. The suite has a large reception area,

two fully equipped training rooms, dining area and separate kitchen.

Buffet meals can be provided if required. Both training rooms have a

full range of visual and other aids.