Expanding into the US can feel like a leap into the unknown for Scottish businesses, from understanding how different states operate to building trust and getting in front of the right decision makers. For Burns Gym, a company delivering virtual fitness programmes designed specifically for care homes and assisted living communities, GlobalScot became a critical enabler of their US expansion. The support helped them move faster, with greater confidence, and with far stronger results.

The challenge

Breaking into the US market came with some familiar hurdles: building credibility as a foreign business, understanding regional differences and accessing senior decision makers – all without spending months navigating the landscape alone.

The team needed a way to bridge the gap quickly and effectively.

The GlobalScot support

Through GlobalScot, they received a tailored mix of support, including:

• Strategic market entry advice to help them approach the US with clarity and focus

• Warm, trusted introductions to senior contacts across the senior living and healthcare sectors

• Local, on the ground insight into how different US states operate commercially

The quality of the introductions made a real difference, helping them get in front of the right people, rather than starting from scratch.

What changed

GlobalScot gave the company immediate credibility and access.

Instead of starting cold, they entered conversations through trusted introductions, which significantly improved both the speed and quality of their engagement in the US. What could have taken months quickly turned into meaningful commercial conversations.

As the company put it:

“GlobalScot has been an invaluable part of our US expansion. Having immediate access to experienced professionals on the ground, who understand both the local market and the Scottish business landscape, has significantly accelerated our ability to build relationships and gain traction.”

GlobalScot has now become a core part of how Burns Gym approaches international growth, particularly as they continue to explore opportunities across different US states.

Advice for other Scottish businesses

Their message to other companies considering GlobalScot is simple:

Use it early and use it properly.

The network is incredibly strong, but the real value comes from being clear about what you need and actively engaging with the people you’re introduced to. For this business, GlobalScot has become a core part of how they approach international growth, not an add on.