Meet the Team
John King
John is the Business Gateway Team Leader for Dumfries & Galloway, guiding the advisory team and ensuring local businesses receive practical, high‑quality support. With strong expertise in the food, drink and tourism sectors, he helps rural and local enterprises identify opportunities and achieve sustainable growth.
He brings experience from major brands including Black & Decker and T‑Mobile, along with running his own business, giving him a grounded and commercially focused approach that clients value.
John works with businesses at every stage, from early ideas through to established firms looking to grow or diversify. Outside of work, he’s usually attempting to get through a game of five‑a‑side football without injury.
Amanda Beattie
Amanda joined the D&G Business Gateway team as a Business Adviser in Oct 2020, She brings with her several years’ experience working in the Employability & Skills Service as a Development Officer and as a Fair Work Officer, and worked within HR for around 7 years as a HR Change Management Assistant. Prior to working in the public sector, Amanda has experience working in retail, manufacturing, hospitality, and service sectors.
Gary Calderwood
Gary has worked in and around the employability and business support field within the public sector for 9 years, where he was involved in supporting the development and delivery of European funded programmes in recruitment, skills and training and has also supported growth accelerator business support projects within the local authority. Gary is an avid supporter of fair work and sustainable inclusive growth
Fiona Smyth
Fiona Smyth joined the Business Adviser team in July 2024. Having built her own successful company from the kitchen table, she brings 20 plus years of hands-on experience and knowledge in all aspects of setting up and growing a successful entrepreneurial business to private equity exit. Passionate about the environment and the Dumfries and Galloway region, she is eager to support others in turning their business ideas into reality.