Posted Friday, 30th January 2026
At our January Business Networking event, we welcomed local entrepreneurs, freelancers and business owners into Lockerbie Old School for a morning of conversation, learning and connection.
The atmosphere was open, supportive and full of honest discussion. It was a reminder that many local businesses are navigating similar challenges and that there’s real value in creating space to share ideas, ask questions and learn together.
This session felt like another important step in shaping how the building can support local enterprise, now and into the future.
What We Talked About
Across the room, similar themes kept emerging. Many of us are juggling how to:
- Increase visibility and market our work more effectively
- Access funding and understand what support is available
- Build confidence in promoting ourselves and our businesses
- Connect with other local businesses and feel less isolated
- Funding and support pathways were a major focus. There was a strong appetite for clear, jargon-free guidance on grants and business support, particularly for people moving from early ideas towards more sustainable ventures.
Some attendees were already engaging with support programmes, while others were keen to understand what options might be available next.
We also spent time talking about space and connection. Interest in hotdesking wasn’t just about having a desk, it was about meeting rooms, professional space, creative use of the building and being part of a supportive local business community. Lockerbie Old School was seen as a place where collaboration and connection could genuinely grow.
Spotlight on Techscaler
We were delighted to welcome Sarah- Jane from Techscaler as our guest speaker for the session.
Techscaler supports ambitious startup founders with the skills, knowledge and connections needed to grow innovative, tech-enabled businesses. Their work focuses on building confidence alongside capability, helping founders move from ideas to scalable ventures with the right support around them.
The session offered practical insight into:
- What Techscaler offers
- Who the support is designed for
- How local businesses can access funding, mentoring and development opportunities
For many in the room, it helped turn big questions about growth and funding into clearer, more achievable next steps.
From Q&A to Action
The Q&A session was one of the most valuable parts of the morning, and we want to be clear about how your questions are shaping what we do next.
Here’s how we’re using what you shared:
Funding and grants
We heard a strong need for step-by-step, plain-English guidance. This is shaping plans for future workshops and business surgeries focused specifically on funding pathways and applications.
Marketing and visibility
Many people are looking for practical, hands-on support that feels manageable. This is informing future sessions around social media, digital presence and simple marketing. Designed to feel accessible, not overwhelming.
Confidence and leadership
Beyond technical skills, there’s a real desire for support that builds confidence and helps people take their next step. This is guiding the development of sessions focused on mindset, leadership and sustainable growth.
Flexible, welcoming space
Questions about hotdesking, meeting rooms and creative use of space are helping us shape the building as a place for real work, collaboration and connection.
More chances to connect
The appetite for networking and peer support was clear. This reinforces our plans for regular networking events, themed workshops and community-led sessions rooted in local needs.
Everything shared, both during the discussion and through feedback forms, is directly informing how we design future training, networking and pilot programmes. We’re building this together, and your voices matter.
Looking Ahead: Our Next Business Networking Event
Building on the momentum from January, our next session will focus on one of the biggest challenges raised during the discussion: marketing and online presence.
Social Media & Building a Digital Presence
With Darby Stewart
This session will explore realistic, confidence-building ways to show up online — whether you’re just getting started or refining what you already do. It will be practical, friendly and supportive, with space for questions and shared learning.
You can join us for free:
Lockerbie Town Hall
23rd Feb
11am
Useful Links from January Networking Event
Nocode resources
LinkedIn group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/nocodefounders/
Nocode community - https://nocodescotland.carrd.co/
Nocode learning & resource - https://www.nocode.tech/
Nocode videos - https://www.youtube.com/@codebase8376/videos (search nocode)
Help Shape What Comes Next
As Lockerbie Old School continues to grow as a place for ideas, learning and connection, we’re inviting people to be part of our steering groups.
These small, welcoming groups help shape future training, networking and activity — making sure what we offer reflects real local needs, experiences and ambitions. Whether you’re a business owner, freelancer, creative, community organiser or simply passionate about the future of the building, your voice is welcome.
You don’t need any formal experience — just an interest in contributing ideas, sharing perspectives and helping us build something meaningful together.
If you’d like to be involved, we’d love to hear from you.
Find out more and sign up here:
Get Involved – Lockerbie Old School