The Research Service provides free, high-quality information to businesses and entrepreneurs across Scotland to help you plan and grow your business and reduce the risks involved in decision making.

Want to get to know your markets, customers and competitors better? Looking to expand your operations in local or global markets? You can save time, money, and effort by getting in touch with the Research Service.

They have access to trusted sources of quality information and market research. They can provide information on:

• market size
• growth potential
• key opportunities
• competitive landscape
• drivers, challenges, and trends

All within 5 working days of your initial request.

International research

You can also request research on your global markets, including information on country risk, routes to market and potential customers, partners, suppliers or competitors.

Company lists

The service can provide lists of companies by location, size, and industry, to help you identify potential customers, competitors, partners, suppliers or investors. Each client can get the details of up to 1,000 companies from anywhere in the world.

These lists can include general points of contact and physical addresses, as well as financial and organisational information.

Company profiles

You can also ask for in-depth profiles on potential clients, suppliers, or your competitors. These can include:

• financial and credit reports
• market and news coverage analysis
• competitor market segments
• investor profiles

Market and sector reports from Business Gateway

Business Gateway also offers more than 100 ready-made free market reports. You can download market reports directly from the Business Gateway website, external link which will open in a new windowopens in a new window.

Yes, if you’re a business based in Scotland or that plans to set up business here.

This is a free service.

Any business based in Scotland, at any stage in its life cycle.

This depends on the nature of your request. Most market research is completed within 5 working days.   

Tell the Research Service a bit about your business and your market research needs and they'll give you an update within 5 days.

You'll need to explain:

• what is unique about your business
• your current situation
• any general gaps or frustrations that you're encountering
• any possible routes to markets and countries you could target

The team can then help you identify market trends and buying behaviours and find potential customers, partners and competitors.

For more information and to request research, submit an enquiry and a member of the Research Service will be in touch.