Ready, Steady, Grow: How to Expand Your Business
2024-04-30 18:00 - 20:00, 2024-05-28 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
This workshop will take place online via Zoom. Joining instructions will be shared with you once you have reserved your space.
Ready to accelerate your business growth but unsure where to begin?
Look no further than our Ready Steady Grow workshop focused on accelerating business growth. Led by experienced business advisers, this session is designed to help you identify your growth potential and create a roadmap for success.
Through collaborative discussions with like-minded businesses, you’ll gain new insights, tools and knowledge to help support your growth plans. You’ll also walk away with a network of fellow business owners to connect with for ongoing support.
Don’t miss this opportunity to take your business to new heights!

Unlocking Angus: Harnessing Data For Tourism Success
2024-05-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Hospitalfield, Arbroath, DD11 2NH
This presentation is tailored to tourism businesses in Angus, aimed at revealing the power of data. In this session you’ll explore actionable insights, innovative strategies, and cutting-edge tools designed to enhance your business’s competitive edge.
Our expert speakers from the Moffat Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University will guide you through practical examples and case studies showcasing how data-driven decision-making can transform your marketing efforts, drive sustainable growth and monitor performance.
From understanding visitor trends to pinpointing untapped market opportunities, this workshop will equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to thrive in an increasingly data-driven world.

Creating and Implementing a Strategic Continuous Improvement Plan
2024-05-08 09:00 - 12:00 | ETZ Ltd, 53 Blenheim Place, Aberdeen, AB25 2DY
Join our Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) on Wednesday 8 May 2024, from 9:30am to 12:00 noon, for a free Lean Breakfast Workshop at W-Zero-1 collaboration space at ETZ, Aberdeen, which will provide you with the tools to support you through the Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme’s Process Excellence requirements.
The series is designed to help you develop your own continuous improvement strategies, to apply process improvements, improve workplace organisation and much more. Each workshop will also begin and end with a 30-minute networking opportunity.
Workshop one: Creating and Implementing a Strategic Continuous Improvement Plan
Our first session of the series will focus on helping your business develop a continuous improvement strategy. You will gain:

A structure to implement key business objectives
A framework to communicate key business objectives
The confidence and tools required for policy deployment

Our event is open to all manufacturers and producers – large, small and sector wide – who wish to improve business efficiency and begin their F4OR accreditation. It’s aimed at business leaders and managers who are looking to introduce a culture of change within the business and who wish to engage the workforce to look for opportunities to do things better and deliver process improvements that can benefit your business.

Cashflow management for your small business
2024-05-08 14:00 - 17:00
This webinar has been designed for small business owners, in order to help them with their short-term cash preservation and cashflow, as well as helping to prepare your business for the future.
You’ll learn about managing your short-term cashflow and preparing your business for the future, with effective cashflow forecasting and planning to put your business in the best position possible.
This webinar consists of three secions:
Financial assessment and review

reviewing cashflow forecasts
capital expenditure
working capital
sales forecasting
expenditure (variable and fixed) forecasting
actual versus forecast analysis

Financial management:

timely financial reporting
managing reduction in overheads
inventory (stock) management
managing debtor lists
managing creditor lists

Financial support:

alternative revenue streams
maintaining and meeting tax obligations
assessing financing options
applying for government support
bank services

Please note:
The breaks have been designed to coincide with a change in the webinar’s focus area within the subject of cashflow management. You can attend all three sections using the same link, or choose the parts that suit your needs.

Cyber security for you and your business
2024-05-09 16:00 - 17:00
Cyber security is an important skill for everyone to learn, whether you’re an employee or managing your own business. This course introduces learners to the main weaknesses that cyber criminals look for and the most common cyber attacks that take place. Learn about some of the key steps you can take to ensure you and your business are safer online, along with tips to securing devices and systems.
In this session you will learn:

what cyber security is and what are key threats to look out for
how to secure your devices and systems
how to create a secure customer experience

This session is run using YouTube and is 60 minutes long. The course assumes no prior knowledge or experience so there is no pre-reading necessary. There will be the opportunity to ask questions during the session.

An introduction to business strategy
2024-05-10 15:00 - 17:00, 2024-06-12 15:00 - 17:00
This webinar is practical, outcome driven, and designed to fit with the needs of small businesses in both B2C and B2B environments. It will help you develop a strategically led approach that can turbo charge business growth, identify the core growth strategy(ies) that are right for your business, and develop an action plan.
We will look at:

Your business today – identifying your strengths and areas for development
The key pillars of a business and why balancing all areas is essential for success
Personal and business ambitions and using these to guide strategy development
Ansoff’s Matrix as a tool for identifying core growth strategies
The core components of your business delivery
How to develop a methodical, strategic approach to developing your business for future success

After the webinar, you will understand:

How to undertake a balanced review of where your business is that helps identify areas for development
Ansoff’s Matrix and how to use it as a core strategic planning tool
How to create a strategic plan for growing your business

How to generate and increase sales
2024-05-13 15:00 - 17:00, 2024-06-06 13:30 - 15:30
Sales are the lifeblood of every business. This webinar focuses on a pragmatic approach to sales strategy and delivery and is designed to fit with the needs of small businesses in both B2C and B2B environments.
We will cover:

Why a clear understanding of what an ideal customer looks like, and a good understanding of their problems, needs and wants is key to sales success
How to develop your sales platform using digital tools, platforms, and techniques
The different motivations potential customers may have and how to identify which ‘buttons’ your business needs to press
The key phases in prospecting, qualifying, and converting sales prospects
The value of a ‘sales funnel’ and how it can be used to help plan and achieve sales
Why keeping the customers you already have is the best sales strategy of all
The importance of appropriate customer service in retaining customers

Essential Leadership - Taster & Information Session
2024-05-15 09:00 - 10:00, 2024-06-12 09:30 - 10:30
Are you a new business leader, someone who aims to move to a leadership role in the next two to three years, or the leader of a business that’s in the early stages of growth?
If so, the Essential Leadership programme could be for you.
You can join our taster session, which will give an overview of the programme. This will help yo ensure it’s the right leadership development programme for you. You’ll also get the opportunity to ask the team questions about the programme.
Whats involved in the programme?

Pre-programme onboarding – diagnostics (including 360) will be undertaken with each participant prior to the structured learning sessions. During the feedback session the diagnostic results will be discussed, and you’ll identify and agree on actions to take forward.
Five half-day workshops – this programme of workshops is delivered over approximately three months. These facilitated sessions are where the like-minded individuals come together to learn, and to share issues and solutions. You will support, challenge, and inspire each other.
Four hours of coaching – with a dedicated qualified coach to further develop you as a leader. The focus can be on business or personal development.
A half-day forward action planning session – you’ll review what you have learned, track your progress to date and plan the next steps, with the support of your sponsor.

How much does the full programme cost?
There is a cost to the programme, which has been significantly subsidised by Scottish Enterprise – cost payable per delegate is £700 plus VAT.

Managing the growth of your small business
2024-05-15 16:00 - 17:00
Starting a venture is one thing, growing it is another. Scaling effectively can be one of the most challenging aspects, with mis-managed growth often leading to downfall after so much time, effort and money has been invested. So if you are a business owner that has started to see growth, this webinar will help you to gain more creative, time and financial freedom as your venture transitions to offer greater reach and impact.
This session will look at the principles of growth and:

the distinction between self-employment and business ownership
identifying and implementing optimal systems for record-keeping, decision-making, monitoring and evaluation
devising a range of risk-management processes to better manage business functions and the people involved
how to hire to enable and enhance expansion
improving workflow and project management
licensing, franchising, acquiring another venture

Growth Leadership - Taster Session
2024-05-16 10:00 - 11:00
Are you a leader of a business with planned growth aspirations, a leader looking to build on previous leadership development over the next two to three years, or the leader of a business that’s in the early stages of growth?
If so, the Growth Leadership programme could be for you. You can join our taster session to get an overview of the programme. This will help you ensure it’s the right leadership development programme for you.
You’ll also get the opportunity to ask the team questions about the programme. Growth Leadership is aimed at leaders whose businesses have planned growth aspiration, as well as experienced leaders wishing to build on previous leadership development participation.
What’s involved in Growth Leadership?

Pre-programme onboarding – you’ll get personal and business assessments and diagnostics prior to the structured learning sessions. Before the learning phase, the diagnostic results will be discussed and actions to take forward will be identified and agreed.
Learning phase – you can join eight 0.5-day workshops, delivered over approximately three months. These facilitated sessions bring the group of leaders together to learn, share issues and solutions and support, and challenge and inspire each other.
Post-programme support and implementation – you’ll review what has been learned, track progress to date, review the action plan and plan your next steps.
You’ll also get coaching with a dedicated qualified coach to further develop you as a leader – your coach can focus on business or personal development.

Pricing
The cost to participating businesses is £1600 (plus VAT) per participant.
The programme is significantly subsidised by Scottish Enterprise.

The essential guide to Trade Fairs
2024-05-22 12:00 - 13:00
If you’re thinking about selling wholesale via trade shows and not sure where to start, this session will help you understand what’s involved and how to get started.
You’ll learn more about:
• How to choose your stand
• What you need to think about when setting up
• Pricing and marketing yourself
• Navigating contracts to follow up
Exhibition industry experts Becky and Stacey will give an overview to help you decide if this could be a worthwhile route to market for your business.
Springboard Events call on decades of experience in trade shows to bring you the basics of what you need to know to navigate this daunting move.

Delivering profit to drive growth
2024-05-23 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-18 10:00 - 12:00
The course covers financial analysis, strategic decision-making, resource allocation, and the role of innovation and scalability in leveraging profit for long-term success.
We will cover:

Getting to know your financials
Controlling growth
Improving decision making
Opportunities
Cash is king
Controlling change
Pricing strategies for maximum profit
Measuring profit

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2024-05-27 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-19 14:00 - 16:00
New and established businesses will require a business plan for getting a loan, grant or just to consider the direction they wish to go in. This webinar will teach you what you need to include and how. We will walk you through what should be included within a business plan, how a business plan is used to improve your prospects for a loan or a grant, and how you can develop a business plan to meet your needs.
We will:

Provide a structure for a business plan
Review each section of what should be included within the business plan
Explain when and how to use a business plan
Explore the connections (and importance) between the words and the numbers
Look at how to identify and manage cashflow within the business planning process

Cyber security for your small business
2024-05-29 15:00 - 16:00
Around 83% of small and medium-sized businesses are not financially prepared to recover from a cyber attack – which could mean going out of business.
This event aims to introduce start-ups and new businesses to the risks they face and provide top tips on how to avoid some common threats, protect their organisation and enable them to win new business and gain stakeholder support.
Your host Jim Wright will introduce security, how it can benefit businesses and allow them to seize opportunities while minimising risk. Jim will also discuss common frameworks and fundamental principles that business leaders should know from the start of their business venture.
By the end of this webinar, attendees will:

understand security risks
understand the benefits of security
have an awareness of threat actors
have an awareness of threat vectors
have an awareness of the services that can be offered to support start-ups
understand the regulatory environment in which they work
understand the common frameworks relating to security

Jim Wright is the founder and principal consultant of Principle Defence, a Hertfordshire-based security and data protection consultancy and training provider. Jim has over 17 years of experience in security having served in the British Army before moving into the private sector.

Understanding Process Improvement Training
2024-06-11 09:00 - 12:00 | ETZ Ltd, 53 Blenheim Place, Aberdeen, AB25 2DY
Join our Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) on 11 June 2024, from 9:30am to 12:00 noon, for a free Lean Breakfast Workshop at W-Zero-1 collaboration space at ETZ, Aberdeen, which will provide you with the tools to support you through the Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme’s Process Excellence requirements.
The series is designed to help you develop your own continuous improvement strategies, to apply process improvements, improve workplace organisation and much more. Each workshop will also begin and end with a 30-minute networking opportunity.
Workshop two – Understanding Process Improvement Training
The second session in our series will focus on supporting your business with process improvements. You will learn:

The flow of departments within a company
The importance of gathering data to prioritise improvement actions
Practical tips and tools to identify waste and how to challenge it

Our event is open to all manufacturers and producers – large, small and sector wide – who wish to improve business efficiency and begin their F4OR accreditation. It’s aimed at business leaders and managers who are looking to introduce a culture of change within the business and who wish to engage the workforce to look for opportunities to do things better and deliver process improvements that can benefit your business.

Growth Leadership - Taster Session
2024-06-11 10:00 - 11:00
Are you a leader of a business with planned growth aspirations, a leader looking to build on previous leadership development over the next two to three years, or the leader of a business that’s in the early stages of growth?
If so, the Growth Leadership programme could be for you. You can join our taster session to get an overview of the programme. This will help you ensure it’s the right leadership development programme for you.
You’ll also get the opportunity to ask the team questions about the programme. Growth Leadership is aimed at leaders whose businesses have planned growth aspiration, as well as experienced leaders wishing to build on previous leadership development participation.

Precision Medicine Opportunities in the USA
2024-06-12 15:00 - 16:00
This webinar is delivered in partnership with healthcare market specialists, AVIA, and will empower companies involved in Precision Medicine & Data-Driven Healthcare to increase market awareness and improve understanding of health systems, potential customers and investors in this $25 billion marketplace.

Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) Bill
2024-06-18 09:30 - 10:30
The Data Protection and Digital Information (DPDI) Bill was first introduced to Parliament in 2022. It is the first major piece of data protection legislation since the UK left the EU, but the legislative approval process was paused to enable collaboration and input from business leaders and data experts.
The latest version of the bill, presented to Parliament in March 2024, is intended to establish a UK data protection regime that works for individuals and organisations while maintaining high standards of data protection.
In this webinar Data Protection specialists, Loretta Maxfield and Morgan O’Neill will discuss some of the changes proposed by the bill and key provisions organisations should be made aware of.
Who should attend?

Individuals responsible for managing privacy
Data Protection and Governance professionals
Managers
Business owners

Ready, Steady, Grow: How to Expand Your Business
2024-06-18 10:00 - 12:00
Ready to accelerate your business growth but unsure where to begin?
Look no further than our Ready Steady Grow workshop focused on accelerating business growth. Led by experienced business advisers, this session is designed to help you identify your growth potential and create a roadmap for success.
Through collaborative discussions with like-minded businesses, you’ll gain new insights, tools and knowledge to help support your growth plans. You’ll also walk away with a network of fellow business owners to connect with for ongoing support.
Don’t miss this opportunity to take your business to new heights!

Build your Business Confidence in Tourism
2024-06-18 10:00 - 13:00 | Strathmore Rugby Club, Inchmacoble Park, Forfar, DD8 1RL
Do you feel your business confidence could use a boost?
This is your chance to enhance your tourism expertise with professional support.
This course is designed for individuals who understand the importance of working on their business, not just in it. In the initial masterclass you will be encouraged to audit your own business or business idea, identify key areas impacting your success and explore tools and techniques to overcome your obstacles.
The two follow-up sessions are designed as individual consultations, providing attendees with the opportunity to discuss their specific business needs. This ensures that you will finish the course feeling more confident and armed with your very own business action plan.
Throughout the course, you’ll be supported by our friendly and relatable course leaders, Kate Mason and Debbie Hutchison, two local businesswomen with years of experience in building tourism brands. They understand first-hand the challenges you face and how to overcome them.
Book now and take the first step towards transforming your business today!

Circular Communities Toolkit Launch
2024-06-18 13:00 - 14:00
The circular economy can bring with it many advantages beyond just being better for our environment.
With the launch of the Circular Communities Toolkit, find out how your local area can get involved and what the benefits could be for your communities!
Co-presented by Kimberley Guthrie, Chief Officer, Scotland’s Towns Partnership with Deborah Mooney, Consultant (Partnerships) and Cheryl Robb, Partnerships Manager, Zero Waste Scotland.

Summer School 2024: Innovation in Town and City Climate Action
2024-06-19 09:00 - 2024-06-20 14:00 | University of Strathclyde, 99 George Street, Glasgow, G1 1RD
The Glasgow Climate Pact, signed at COP26, was a step forward in our effort to tackle climate change. But there are serious concerns that it is not enough. While the Glasgow Climate Pact gives guidelines on how we tackle climate change, it’s not legally binding.
A clear sign that we are not moving fast enough is that COP26 aimed to ‘keep 1.5ᵒC alive’, to minimise a rise in global temperatures. In 2023, just two years later, 1.5ᵒC has already been breached. More needs to be done.
Slow progress is not a new problem. The friction between countries on a global stage has always been a barrier to progress. That’s why there is a growing consensus that climate action has to be driven by towns and cities at a local level. The place management industry has every incentive to lead on this.
Not only are our towns and cities exposed to extreme weather events which are taking a toll on the business community in areas hit by repeated storms and flooding, but there are also a number of co-benefits to climate action which can bring economic growth. Furthermore, as outlined in our ground breaking virtual event ‘Divided We Fall’ there needs to be the type of coordinated approach that necessitates the involvement of place management.
Following the legacy of COP26, Summer School 2024 will take place in Glasgow with a range of keynote sessions, workshops, study tours and panel debates. We will explore a number of issues crucial to local climate action including recovering from extreme weather, business engagement on sustainability, the 15 minute city, and the impact of net zero on regeneration. We will use an amended format to deliver more interactive workshops and panel debate to allow members to share best practice.

Operational Excellence Breakfast Workshop
2024-06-20 09:00 - 12:30 | Michelin Innovation Parc, Baldovie Road, Dundee, DD4 8UQ
At this highly interactive event, the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) will simulate how businesses are run, highlight some of the typical daily challenges that we experience and demonstrate an alternative way of looking at your business via simple ‘lean thinking’ principles. This approach is designed to help you gain a better understanding of what might be required to get you started on, or maintain, your operational excellence journey.
There will also be a live practical demonstration from SP Automation and Robotics. The demonstration will showcase some of the company’s products in automation, Industry 4.0 technology and collaborative robots that look to improve productivity in manufacturing production.
You will also hear from Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) and The Skills Academy, delivered by Dundee and Angus College. You’ll learn how, by providing access to creative spaces, skills training, business advice and support, the MSIP site has become an innovation ecosystem for manufacturers across the region and a prime location to sustainably grow your business.
This event is open to all manufacturers – large, small and sector wide – who wish to improve business efficiency. Particularly those who have responsibility for championing or driving business improvement within the workplace and/or those involved in the implementation of new processes, technologies and new ways of working.

Boost your productivity with AI
2024-06-20 14:30 - 15:30
This Google Digital Garage session introduces learners to cutting-edge AI tools that are already available from Google and others, to show some of the smartest ways digital-age workers can use them to save time at work and on tasks.
In this session, you will learn:

an introduction to generative AI and how it works
how to use AI-powered tools and techniques to save you time
an overview to crafting effective prompts

This session is run using YouTube and is 45 minutes long.
The course assumes no prior knowledge or experience so there is no pre-reading necessary.
