Renfrewshire Start-Up Street helps local entrepreneurs thrive

Renfrewshire Start-Up Street offers affordable workspace and wraparound business support to entrepreneurs across three town centre hubs in Paisley, Johnstone and Renfrew.

The hubs are based in refurbished council-owned units, including former police station garages, and offer subsidised rent, free Wi-Fi, utilities and business development support.

Rebecca Corsetti joined Start-Up Street Johnstone in 2024.

Since then she has launched her business Gut Punch, which produces fermented foods and hot sauces

Rebecca said: "Being able to focus on developing our products without the worry of high overheads has been invaluable, and the guidance from on-site advisors has helped me plan and scale effectively.

"Moving to a bigger premises is a direct result of the support and opportunities I’ve had while in Start-Up Street."

The scheme, launched in 2020, has reached full occupancy across all three sites and boasts an 86% two-year business survival rate, significantly higher than the national average of 67%.

Among participants, 59% of businesses are female-led and more than half at the Paisley hub are run by entrepreneurs under the age of 30.

Stephanie Cairns, owner of The Lash Lady salon in Paisley, praised the scheme for helping her start her business.

She said: “Thanks to Start-Up Street, I found the confidence to start my own journey into self-employment, going out on my own after working within the beauty industry for years.

"I started doing lash extensions and facials myself, and now I’m creating opportunities and affordable space for young entrepreneurs to begin theirs within my salon

"I’ve been able to join networking events and take masterclasses on accounting and bookkeeping which I think is a massive subject we aren’t taught in school. 

"Self-employment is an option and Start Up Street helps teach you how to do it and keep yourself right."

Renfrewshire Council's Start-Up Street is helping entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground (Image: Renfrewshire Council)

Scott McCaw, who runs Energy Saving Guru from the hub, credited the scheme with boosting his business strategy.

He said: "Beyond the excellent physical space, the on-site support and business guidance has made a real difference to our confidence, capability and strategic planning.

"Access to mentoring, workshops and tailored advice has enabled us to refine our offer, connect with fellow entrepreneurs and accelerate our business development.

"Start-Up Street has been more than just a location; it has been a catalyst for our progress, providing us with the tools, network and confidence to grow with purpose."

Councillor Andy Steel, convener of Renfrewshire’s economy and regeneration policy board, highlighted the programme as a blueprint for inclusive economic success.

He said: "Start-Up Street is a fantastic example of Renfrewshire Council investing in our local entrepreneurs and town centres.

"We’re helping people turn ideas into sustainable businesses that create jobs and contribute to our local economy.

"The programme continues to deliver strong outcomes — businesses are growing and expanding, and we’ve supported people who might not have had the opportunity otherwise."