Okay, so on paper the work that the Glasgow West Regeneration Agency do is great. They offer a…read moreservice to people who are starting up in business - particularly those in areas that are part of Glasgow's regeneration project. This means that as well as offering business advice and support, they also award grants and loans to certain businesses. This means that if you're thinking of starting a business, it might be an idea to look into getting premises in a regeneration area as they may give you some money towards your rent! However, they're not particularly flexible about who they help. I live two minutes walk from this very office, and the first four digits of my post code are exactly the same. I phoned to find out about what help may be available and the woman who answered the phone was almost exactly like the woman on the "computer says no" sketch on Little Britain. Our conversation went exactly like this; Me: Hi, I'm calling to find out about what support you may be able to offer my new business. Glasgow West Regeneration (GWR): What's your postcode? Me: G11 6__ GWR: [types it into computer] No, you're not in our area. Me: But I can practically see your office from my window. GWR: You're not in our area. Me: So you can't offer me a grant, can you offer me any other advice or support? GWR: No, you're not in our area. Goodbye. See what I mean?

Ever come up from the Buchanan Street Subway Station and wondered what the funny looking…read moremulti-coloured building on your right is? Well, here's your chance to find out - it's a Business Gateway branch. Along with the other Glasgow city centre branch on North Hanover Street, Business Gateway are a public service that offer advice and support to new and growing businesses. If you have a business idea and would like some help to put it into practice - then this is the place for you! This branch of Business Gateway is the branch where you'll meet up with your personal business advisor. It's a really friendly looking building on the outside, and you'll be pleased to know that it's just as welcoming on the inside. The staff at the reception are friendly and helpful - and if you pop in and ask them they'll make you an appointment with an advisor. If you're feeling a bit nervous - don't be. Business Gateway isn't at all intimidating and they'll provide you with all the help and advice you need. The only slight problem is that every time a subway train goes past underneath the whole building rumbles. I've been assured that you get used to it after a while though!

When I first threw away my teaching career for a life as a writer, I decided that I needed a brand…read more So I set myself up as a business, and bothered The Gateway for advice. For the next six months, they sent me on courses, tipped me off to various necessities and prepared me for life as as a business. The quality of the courses can be hit or miss: I have been disappointed by ones that last a day (too general), but anything ongoing is usually a winner. Sine they have a wide range of advisers, they can assess your plans from a variety of angles. They offer instruction on everything from branding to tax, and can pass you on to appropriate support.

This place is free now, which is an obvious inclination to go…read more The building looks great from the outside, an iconic landmark in Motherwell, and has a really fresh modern interior. It is closely tied with Motherwells apparent interest in geneology, with a great geneology section in the nearby Library. Motherwell and Wishaw has a rich history rooted in steelworks with the knock on effect of unemployment when the Ravenscraig steelworks in Motherwell closed still very apparent. In conjunction with this, a longstanding hatred towards Thatcher is also still vibrant. I once saw a man sporting an 'I STILL HATE MAGGIE THATCHER' t-shirt. I wonder where he bought it. There are some decent family research facilities in here and let's not forget, the viewing tower, where you can watch people scratching themselves at the bus stop. It's like a cheap version of the Bat Signal, and quite cool on a dark night.. (Worst Yelp joke of 2010 nominee?). A decent afternoon can be had in here, if what the place has to offer is of interest to you and The Bentley Hotel next door is a good shout for a bite to eat before or after.

If you want to know a little bit about the history of Motherwell, this is the place to be…read more Free entry, with an ever changing line of exhibitions being showcased in the lobby, it's not a bad shout if you are at a bit of a loss for something to do. The actual exhibitions need a lick of paint and a wee dust though, as they have not changed since i was a kid. The wee 'cinema' inside has a dummy lady that's supposed to give you a ticket, and she never has. Ever. Check out the website for details of exhibitions and workshops for kids which run throughout the school holidays.

I've been local to Partick on and off for about 20 years now (wow). In that time it has changed…read morequite a lot, for the better thankfully. I used to be told when I first moved to the area all those years ago 'Partick's fine. Just don't go past the train station, that's where it gets a bit sketchy...' Me being the daredevil I am I did upon a few occasions venture past said Partick Train station and it wasn't great but it wasn't as scary as folk made out. There just wasn't much really in the way of decent shops. Now there are lots of great wee shops and businesses in this area. I am a big fan in partick-ular (oh, I had to do the bad pun!) of the many second-hand furniture shops on Dumbarton Road. They're full of great bargains and absolutely brilliant if you're setting up a home in the area & you need some furniture at a really great/cheap price. There are also loads of nice charity shops, newsagents, cafes, hair salons, nail/beauty bars, pubs and pretty much everything you should require is in the Partick area. It also has it's on library, cricket ground, mini park and aforementioned train station, 2 subway stations (if you include Kelvinhall, which I do) and a bus station. Living in Partick you really have no need to use a car for getting about as the public transport is great. It was one of the reasons why I ended up moving back to Partick. Favourite places in Partick of mine are: Station Wok & Crazy Wok (Chinese/take away), Cafe Avanti (chip shop/cafe), The Sparkle Horse (pub), The Tea Garden (cafe), Morrison's (for handiness), the HUGE British Heart Foundation shop (great again for furniture), The Pacific (for cocktails), Siempre, Meadow Road, My Home Bakery, Deli/Cafezique and newcomer, For Fika Sake for coffee and cakes and I know there are LOADS more so if you should ever find yourself in Partick you'll never be stuck for something to do or somewhere to eat/drink/shop.

Another great public library in Glasgow, in a beautiful building with a good range of opening hours…read moreand completely free services! Excellent. Indeed, Glasgow has a wide range of libraries that are fairly well equipped. This meaning, as M.K. has mentioned, their stock - book wise - can be a little on the dated side and slightly limited. In saying this, if your desired book is in another Glasgow library somewhere else you can easily fill out a request, be informed how long your wait may be and pick it/them up at your local library. Meanwhile, there's a good range of magazines, dvds, cds and videos that you can flip through before popping onto one of their computers. These allow you to surf the worldwide web, type up any important emails/letters, shop and also print/photocopy and even - I believe - now scan documents. Everything you could need in an easily accessible place and all either free (or for a marginal fee e.g. printing and photocopying). This particular library is really local, handy and has a lovely, quiet and relaxed vibe to it. Perfect.

I always consider one of the greatest privileges that we have as Scots is the institution of the…read morepublic library. They are warm, reassuringly musty, located in beautiful buildings and best of all - free to everyone. There were no doubt fears that libraries would be left behind in the Internet age, with books becoming redundant, over sites like Wikipedia and youtube. Thankfully, libraries have moved with the times and the Couper has done exactly the same - by introducing computers complete with decent software and Internet access. There are times when I've gone down there and used the computers and I've had no problem with access. The place is always stocked with recent magazines and newspapers. On the book front, things are less impressive but the Couper can't be blamed for that. People simply don't use the library there as much as they used to and return and take books from elsewhere. As a result, you tend to see the same old stuff on the shelf. I delight, however, in seeing something that has just been released and am proud that my local library has managed to pick it up. There is also an impressive children's section which I used a lot in my youth. Despite us now living in an Internet world where information can be accessed in less than a second, the death of libraries would be unforgivable. We should be proud and I'm proud of the Couper.

Yes, it does feel slightly strange doing this review but I reckon needs must. There are times in…read moreeveryone's life when the job front is looking bleak and you need to go a hunting. While, there are lots of fancy websites now geared completely towards this end; sometimes only the job centre will do. Unfortunately, this is a fact that an increasing number of people are having to accept in the recession crisis. So here goes - this particular job centre is decent enough. It has the standard colours, decor and fixtures and fittings. It's clean, relatively tidy and always pretty well staffed. It does, however, have limited job hunting machines which means that you need to time you job hunting well or else you could be onto a loser. Meanwhile, the interactions you endure - yes, endure - with staff and other 'customers' is a very mixed bag. Some are very sweet and helpful; while others are extremely strained. For instance, when enquiring about what kind of graduate work they could find me and telling them my Arts degree, I was actually laughed at. This followed by a "Well, you won't find anything with that will you?". Government at it's best.

The Weavers Cottage is a National Trust for Scotland property. If not a member, it is still very…read morecheap entrance fee. It is well worth it as it really is a little time capsule and is so well loved and looked after by the stewards that their enthusiasm is infectuous. There is a real loom and spinning wheel which the stewards work for you (in period costume)and you are given the opportunity to try it out too. Nothing has changed in the cottage since the 1800s - furniture is all authentic. It really is remarkably well preserved. It is also very child friendly. Kids are given treasure trove sheets to go through as they walk around. It has a lovely garden at the back to sit in on a summer's day. A great day out for all the family.

As libraries go this one is on par with most but nothing special. Found at the bottom of Maryhill…read moreRoad (after the big tesco, before the railway bridge) this old but nicely restored building (big old colums, moulding and a cracking skylight) is cosy, quiet and filled with a decent collection of reading material for all ages. As for other services, its DVD collection is maybe on the wee side, as is the CD collection, but hey its got books....if you want a DVD go to a DVD rental store!! The only down side for this place is the lack of Wifi, however this is made up for with a number of well maintained PC's available for use if you remember your library card. Must also make mention to the friendly and helpful staff who, by the looks of the customer review sheets on the main desk, make sure that all enquires and questions are answered in a nice manner....seems like this should be a given, but hey we have all had the STARE from other library staff when asking a "stupid" question.

Lovely little library, warm, bright and welcoming. I enjoyed spending some quality time there…read moretoday. It's a beautiful old building but has been very pleasantly and attractively modernised inside. I particularly liked all the pictures around the walls which reflect the industrial heritage of this very interesting district of Glasgow. There's a varied collection of books for adults and children, plus DVDs and CDs. There are computers and free internet for public use too, study spaces, a toilet (ask for key) and very helpful and friendly staff. Opening times: Monday 10am 5pm Tuesday 10am 8pm Wednesday 10am 5pm Thursday 1pm 8pm Friday 10am 5pm Saturday 10am 5pm Sunday Closed