Hi,
Paul (57) from East Kilbride here.
I've not long had my foundation licence and struggling to hear anything with my handheld radio.
Hoping that maybe I'll get some advice here.

Hi Paul. welcome to the forum.
Long time since I have worked up in East Kilbride.
Try looking for repeater or gateway activity on https://ukrepeater.net/
You should pick up the activity from Glasgow and suburbs if you erect an external 2/70 antenna, or possibly a 6/2/70 for future use 6m can be good during sporadic e.
Enjoy the hobby.

Thanks for the welcome Peter!
I have all the repeaters in a 25km radius programmed in but I hear no chatter from any of them.
I think possibly my house location in a dip and the surrounding hills are blocking the LOS to the repeaters.
The only thing I've heard from the garden is the RSGB news bulletin on a Sunday morning and that's only while holding the radio (Baofeng UV-5RT with Nagoya NA-771 antenna) as high as I can.
I've just ordered a 70cm/2m antenna for the roof so here's hoping that improves matters after this weekend.

Hello Paul and welcome to the forum and the hobby. Sorry that i cant help you with your handheld problem as i never use vhf or uhf. Strictly HF for me so good luck with it and enjoy. Cheers

A rooftop antenna is fairly essential in this part of the world. Have a look at CSFMG.com for details of local repeaters and if you are going to use them on a regular basis don't for get to join and support them.