The creation of a plan is essential before setting up any business venture and every successful business will review and adjust its plan regularly to ensure it continues to meet its needs and objectives, as well as to respond to economical changes.

A high quality plan can assist businesses to secure funding and will allow the business to measure success. It will cover:

• objectives
• strategies
• sales
• marketing
• financial forecasts

A business plan has many functions, from securing external funding, to measuring success within your business.

The plan doesn’t only help during business setup; it is essential to continually review progress against objectives and targets and it can be used to identify key growth areas in order to create a road map to the next stages for your business.

Business Gateway provide a full ‘Business Planning’ section on their website to assist you with building your plan, which includes a template and a link to more business plan support. You can also download a business planning app to assist you on the move.

Visit the Business Gateway business plan section.

The Angus Reputable Trader Scheme (ARTS) (@angusrts) aims to support local businesses, while giving consumers peace of mind.

By becoming a member of the scheme, businesses will sign up to a code of practice which ensures they operate their business in a fair and honest manner and comply with legislation. When a business joins the scheme it is audited by trading standards to ensure that it meets the standards required. Going through this process will give your customers the confidence that you are a reputable trader.

If there is a dispute, we will work with both the trader and consumer to have the matter resolved.

By using scheme to find a trader, consumers can expect:

• full disclosure of call out charges
• written quotations and written schedules of work
• to be consulted when the quotation price is likely to change
• to be consulted when the work schedule is likely to change
• to receive a friendly, reasonably priced aftercare service

View the list of reputable traders

If you have used a member of the Angus Reputable Trader Scheme, you can leave feedback about the service you received.

If you would like to join the scheme, email traderscheme@angus.gov.uk for more information.

ARTS is run by Angus Council’s Trading Standards service in cooperation with Police Scotland and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) to encourage high standards of commercial behaviour by Angus businesses.

Businesses are legally obliged to dispose of their waste and recycle certain materials, you must:

• segregate, store and transport your waste appropriately and securely
• check that waste is transported and handled by authorised businesses
• document all waste you transfer, and keep them as a record for at least two years

For more information on legal responsibilities and duty of care for waste, visit the Netregs website.

There are a number of commercial waste recycling centres available across Angus and the local Council can assist with any queries – call ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778 or visit the Angus Council website.

A license may be required for some business activities, from booking offices to window cleaning and from tattooing to late hours catering.

Angus Council provides information on licenses provided by them and required by businesses in Angus.

The Gov.uk website has a very helpful tool which allows you to find the correct license for your business or activity.

If you have any questions, or would like to speak to someone regarding this, please contact us.

There are a number of Health and Safety standards with which businesses have to comply and businesses should create their own health and safety policy, providing a general statement of your policy on health, safety and welfare of employees, non-employees and visitors on your premises. Angus Council provide a guide and template for creation of a policy for your workplace – download the Health & Safety Policy template.

Information relating to health and safety at work is available from the Health and Safety Executive and Angus Council’s Environmental & Consumer Protection team can also answer queries. The council carry out frequent inspections for business premises and information in relation to health and safety inspections can be found on the Angus Council website.

Healthy Working Lives helps employers create a safer, healthier and more motivated workforce. They provide advice to businesses of any size of type, free of charge, to help improve health & safety in the workplace. Advice includes:

• Training and Events
• Safety
• Health Risks
• Risk Assessment
• Mental Health

The Health and Safety Executive provide a ‘Basics for business’ guide which will provide information on topics such as managing the risks in your business, first aid and insurance.

Trading Standards is the local authority service provided to enforce trading legislation and to give provide advice to both consumers and traders. The local Trading Standards officers provides the following to businesses in Angus:

• free confidential business advice
• complaints service, to report illegal activities of suppliers and competitors
• information in relation to responsibilities under Consumer Protection and Trading Standard laws
• Angus Reputable Traders service
• leaflets and booklets containing guidance & advice

Find out more about Trading Standards in Angus on the Angus Council website or by calling 03452 777 778.

The Trading Standards Institute’s Business Companion website provides free, impartial legal guidance for businesses that sell goods and/or supply services to customers. When visiting the website, change the dropdown at the top of the page to ‘Scotland’ to ensure you are presented with the relevant information.