Return to Trading Standards home page
The Trading Standards Business Advice service is provided as part of Trading Standards.
Our aims
We aim to provide a high quality, accessible Business Advice & Education service in Highland to ensure that businesses are well informed on the effects of new and existing trading standards legislation and to assist businesses to comply with requirements.
Where appropriate, we can conciliate between businesses and consumers with a view to assisting in the resolution of consumer disputes.
Who we can help
The Business Advice service is available to businesses trading in or based in Highland.
The service is available not only to existing businesses but also to prospective businesses prior to start up.
How to contact us
In person
During normal office hours ( Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm) at 38 Harbour Road, Inverness IV1 1UF.
(If specialist advice is needed, an appointment may be advisable)
By telephone at 01463 228700
Telephone calls will be answered promptly. If a business adviser is not available immediately, you will be ‘phoned back within a reasonable time.
Outwith normal office hours a telephone answer machine service is available.
By letter, e-mail or Fax
FAX 01463 223723
email trading.standards@highland.gov.uk
The Business Advice service can also be contacted by letter, e-mail or by Fax
Via Service Points
The Business Advice & Education service can be contacted via the Council's extensive network of Service Points.
Confidentiality and privacy
Information you give to us will be treated as confidential. Meetings with you will be held in conditions of privacy, usually in a dedicated interview room.
What it will cost
There is no charge for the Business Advice service.
How we can help
We will treat all businesses treated equally and fairly.
We will give you clear and accurate information on the trading standards law relating to your problem and may be able to give you practical advice on complying with requirements affecting your business.
We may be able to advise you of trade organisations, development agencies or other enforcement bodies relevant to your business or to advise you of relevant information sources.
We will offer advice in the following ways :
• Individual written and/or oral responses
• Written advisory material eg leaflets
• Web based advice
• Providing business advice as part of routine enforcement visits
• Trade seminars
• Advisory visits
We will endeavour to answer specific requests for advice or information quickly, but we may not be able to answer complex enquiries immediately. We aim to have dealt with 90% of Business Advice & Education enquiries within 14 days.
What we can't do
Our primary role as an enforcement body is to ensure that trade and business is carried out fairly and safely and that trading standards legislation is complied with. We will do our best to advise you, but we cannot act as business consultants.
If we can't help you
If your problem is outwith the scope of our service (for example, you are not a Highland business or it is not a trading standards matter), we will try to direct you to the agency best able to help.
If you're not satisfied
We aim to provide a high quality service, but if you're not satisfied with how we dealt with you, complain to us and we will investigate.
Return to Trading Standards home page