The Basics of Starting a Business
2024-12-03 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
This webinar will give you the information needed to build a start up action plan. The plan will enable you to consider which actions are relevant to your plan, start building a set of SMART Goals, give thought to business skills development and provide a clear path for steps to launch your business.
You will also learn about the key considerations when starting a business and what steps you will need to take from legal, financial and strategic standpoints.
By the end of the webinar, you will have the information required to start building an action plan and be confident about understanding the next steps.

Behind the business: Challenges, wins & strategies for success
2024-12-03 12:30 - 13:30
In celebration of Small Business Saturday, we’ve brought together three business owners from across Scotland to reflect on their business journeys so far, and plans for the future. The panel will discuss the challenges that come with running a small business, as well as the various opportunities for growth and learning.
The session will explore:

The most rewarding parts of running a small business
The biggest challenges and how to overcome them
What support has made the biggest difference
Different options for financing growth
What changes would make a difference to Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Whether you’re looking to start-up or grow your business, this session will offer tools and inspiration to help you succeed.
Panellists include:
Hugh Lightbody, Chief Officer, Business Gateway National Unit (Host)
Dr Kate Smith, PhD, Founder & CEO, ProfessorMe
Karen Robinson, Founder, Three Robins
Douglas Hardie, Director, Highland Food & Drink Trail

Intellectual Property (IP) Masterclass
2024-12-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Arbroath Football Club, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, DD11 1QJ
This masterclass will explain Intellectual Property (IP) and provide clear guidance on how to address issues related to copyright, trademarks, patents, and more that SMEs might encounter. Our expert speaker, Alan Rae, has years of experience with IP legislation, offering guidance to a number of academic and commercial organisations on raising IP awareness and managing any arising issues.
During the masterclass, you will see several relevant examples of IP issues that may affect your business. This is an interactive workshop, and we encourage participants to ask specific questions they may be facing in their own business. This is your chance to get expert feedback and help others who might be dealing with similar issues.

Understanding Co-ops
2024-12-04 09:30 - 12:30 | The Studio Glasgow, 67 Hope Street, G2 6AE
Are you thinking of starting a business? Or looking for a different approach to your existing business or community venture? Have you considered a co-op?
If you’re looking for an inclusive, democratic approach to your business, then a co-op could be the perfect fit.
Our free event, Understanding Co-ops, is brought to you by Co-operative Development Scotland, one of Scottish Enterprise’s services, and explores how your business can thrive as a co-operative.
Why co-ops?
All kinds of businesses operate as co-ops. These include pubs, energy suppliers, taxi firms, bookstores, community gardens, wine sellers, farms, sports clubs, and much more.
Co-ops are run by their members. They can be customers, employees, residents, or suppliers. They have a say in how the co-op is run – this makes it a fairer, more collaborative, and democratic way of doing business.
Co-ops are also resilient as a business model. They are more than twice as likely to survive the early years of trading when compared to other start-up businesses.
What to expect
The workshop will be led by a co-op specialist from Co-operate Scotland LLP and will feature guests from local co-ops:

Radiophrenia
Greencity Wholesfoods

Our guests will share their experiences of starting and running a co-op.
This informative and interactive workshop will give you a more in-depth understanding of co-operatives, as well as the initial steps required to start one. You’ll discover:

The different kinds of co-ops available and learn which type might suit you best
What membership means
The strengths of co-ops versus traditional business models
Co-op values and principles
Co-op facts and figures
The different legal forms a co-op can take
Support for co-ops from Co-operative Development Scotland

Ready, Steady, Grow: How to Expand Your Business
2024-12-04 16:00 - 18:00, 2025-01-22 18:00 - 20:00
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!

Improving Your Business Using Lean and Digital Tools
2024-12-05 09:30 - 11:00 | HALO Enterprise and Innovation Hub, Hill Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 3HY
This event will give you an overview of the support and guidance available from the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS).
This will be followed by a case study of ACS Clothing Ltd that details how it created its roadmap for success. We’ll look at various traditional Lean Tools and how these can effectively solve business problems.
Finally, we’ll discuss digital technologies, their potential limits, and provide examples of where they can help bridge gaps.
Who should attend?
Anyone who has responsibility for driving business improvement within the workplace should join our event. We invite people who are involved in the implementation of new processes and new ways of working. This includes those who have responsibility for the financial side of business improvement and expenditure.

Inclusive business models: identifying opportunities for plural ownership
2024-12-05 10:00 - 12:30
Hosted by Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS), this workshop will explain how inclusive business models can help your organisation deliver your Community Wealth Building (CWB) agenda.
CWB is described by the Scottish Government as a practical approach to economic development focused on five pillars of activity: spending/procurement, workforce, land and property, finance, and plural ownership.
Co-operative Development Scotland contributes to the plural ownership pillar by supporting companies and community groups across Scotland that want to adopt an inclusive business model, such as employee ownership or forming a co-operative.
The event is aimed at frontline business and community advisers, individuals with a policy or strategic role, and other interested parties from across local authorities, the enterprise agencies and third sector interfaces (TSI).
It will help you develop an in-depth understanding of inclusive business models, so you can identify, develop and signpost appropriate referral opportunities to CDS.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have:
• An in-depth understanding of inclusive business models such as co-operatives and employee ownership, including legal structures and governance
• An increased awareness of why these models are important against Scottish policy landscape
• The knowledge to identify future opportunities for start-ups and existing enterprises to adopt inclusive business models
• An understanding of the support available from Co-operative Development Scotland on behalf of all Scotland’s enterprise agencies (Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and South of Scotland Enterprise)

An introduction to business strategy
2024-12-05 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-01-08 13:00 - 15:00
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

Unlocking productivity: the power of collaborative robotics
2024-12-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Smart Hub Lanarkshire, New College Lanarkshire, Motherwell, ML1 2TX, United Kingdom
Smart Hub Lanarkshire helps small to medium-sized manufacturing businesses explore the uses of collaborative robots (cobots). Scottish Enterprise helps Scottish companies unlock productivity through capital investment. This event combines both areas of expertise to help companies understand the support that’s available when they invest in collaborative robots.
The event will run for two hours from 10am to 12pm, with the following agenda:
• Scottish Enterprise’s mission: capital investment for productivity
• Overview of Smart Hub and cobots capability
• Case studies – the applications of cobots in different manufacturing settings
• Interactive cobot demonstration and learning session
• Next steps – exploring the cobot offering and grants
If there is enough demand for this workshop, an additional afternoon session will be arranged to accommodate the numbers.
The Smart Hub team will be in contact a few days before the workshop to share a welcome pack with logistical details. They’ll also ask about your areas of interest to help shape the workshop content to suit the audience and maximise learning.

UK and Scottish Budget Breakdown
2024-12-10 12:30 - 13:30
The UK and Scottish Budgets are two of the most significant political events of the year, setting the tone for the nation’s economic priorities and policy direction.
This webinar will unpack the key announcements from the UK and Scottish Budgets and explore their implications for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Scotland. Our expert panel will break down the fiscal measures, funding allocations and policy updates that could shape the business environment in 2025 and beyond.
Whether you’re navigating tax changes, seeking growth opportunities, or planning for potential changes, this session is designed to provide practical insights and actionable advice tailored to SMEs. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a clear understanding of the budget’s impact and discover strategies to position your business for success in the evolving economic landscape.

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2024-12-12 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-01-17 10:00 - 12:00
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
2024-12-16 11:00 - 12:00
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.
He has worked with both private and public sector clients as a consultant, working on multi-billion pound projects providing information security and data privacy advice and services. He holds a number of certifications including Fellow of Information Privacy from the International Association of Privacy Professionals and the Lead Security and Information Risk Advisor (L-SIRA) from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).
Principle Defence is a Trusted Partner of the Eastern Cyber Resilience Centre (a policing-led initiative) and is a Cyber Essentials Certification Body.

Business Support – Drop In Sessions (Carnoustie Library)
2024-12-16 13:00 - 16:00, 2025-01-20 13:00 - 16:00 | Carnoustie Library, 21 High Street, Carnoustie, DD7 6AN
The Business Gateway team will be at Carnoustie Library to offer expert advice and support for all your business questions.
Drop in and speak to us, or use the book now button and a member of the team will be in touch to book an appointment.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow business, our advisers are here for you every step of the way.

How to start a business: The basics
2024-12-28 10:00 - 12:00
Whatever your reasons may be for considering being your own boss, we are here to support you and help you decide if this is the right path for you.
We will cover:

Personal finance
Planning – how much do you need to earn?
Researching your market – who your customers are, understanding your competition and what the trends are within your chosen field
Business structure – what are the core business structures? How to decide which is right for you and how to register as a business
Creating your start-up action plan – an outline
Marketing
Pricing
Naming the business
Basic bookkeeping
Forecasting
Financing, banking, insurance, and VAT
Tax

How to build a digital marketing plan
2025-01-09 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar will guide you through the steps needed to create an effective digital marketing strategy, ensuring you focus on the right tactics to meet your business objectives and goals.
We will cover:

The importance of planning your digital marketing activities
Building your plan around a simple framework
Conducting a situational analysis (and understanding customers and competitors)
Developing your brand and tone of voice
Planning your content strategy
Prioritising digital channels
Evaluating your Digital Marketing efforts

Business Planning: Secure Your Funding
2025-01-09 15:00 - 17:00 | Business Gateway Arbroath, Unit 9 Harbour Visitor Centre, Arbroath, DD11 1PS
An in-depth walkthrough of our standard Business Plan template, designed to help clients, especially those applying for the Angus Council Grant, create their best possible business plan.
Attendees will be provided with and guided through a comprehensive business plan template, perfect for your application to the Angus Council Start and Grow grant.
Our expert Business Gateway advisors will guide you through the template in a step-by-step presentation. Afterward, all three advisors will be available for one-on-one sessions to discuss your individual plans in more detail.

Business Support – Drop In Sessions (Monifieth Library)
2025-01-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Monifieth Library, 48 High Street, Monifieth, DD5 4AE
The Business Gateway team will be at Monifieth Library to offer expert advice and support for all your business questions.
Drop in and speak to us, or use the book now button and a member of the team will be in touch to book an appointment.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow business, our advisers are here for you every step of the way.

Social media essentials: LinkedIn
2025-01-13 14:00 - 16:00
No longer just an online CV, LinkedIn can be an incredibly powerful – and profitable – business tool.
During this webinar, you will:

Learn how to create a LinkedIn strategy to boost your business reputation via marketing and brand promotion initiatives
Learn the difference between personal and company profiles and how to optimise them for both maximum visibility and brand awareness
Understand that content is king on LinkedIn, and we’ll show you how to plan and produce captivating content that enriches your brand

How to build your brand
2025-01-14 09:30 - 11:30
This webinar will define what a brand is (and is not) and explain how it is more than just creating a logo. We will explore how a business can use their brand to show its identity, purpose, personality, message, and values in order to stand out from competitors, build a loyal customer base and make more sales.
This session will:

Provide you with a clear understanding of the difference between brands and branding
Help you understand what a brand is
Show you why branding is important
Look at your brand strategy, brand identity and action
Help you learn how to develop your brand’s positioning, character, and purpose to differentiate your business from its competitors
Demonstrate how to set up a brand kit and style guide to ensure consistency across websites, social media, business cards, posters etc.
Teach you how to create simple promotional graphics using a variety of tools including Canva
Highlight a variety of free tools including Google Drive, Hubspot and Mailchimp that can save time and simplify marketing tasks

Business Planning: Secure Your Funding
2025-01-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Montrose Port Authority, Harbour Office, South Quay, Montrose, DD10 9SL

An introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for small businesses
2025-01-15 10:00 - 12:00
You’ve heard of Artificial Intelligence, but do you know how it can help you as you run your business? This practical webinar will explore how AI can help improve your business marketing to be more efficient and cost-effective, through the automatic creation of content for all your digital platforms; as well as helping you better understand your customers and business opportunities.
This webinar will cover:

What is Artificial Intelligence
Current AI tools and systems to use right now (including ChatGPT and MidJourney)
Automating digital content for blogs and social media
Using AI for business strategy and customer profiling
The pros and cons of AI for small businesses

This webinar will help you understand how you can integrate AI into your existing marketing, looking at the potential consequences (good and bad) of Artificial Intelligence, and its impact on small businesses and their customers.

Introduction to Lean Workshop
2025-01-22 09:00 - 12:30 | UHI Perth, Crieff Road, Perth, PH1 2NX
Improving productivity in your business can reduce costs and increase competitiveness.
One way to boost your productivity – and keep it high – is to employ Lean Thinking Principles.
Hosted in partnership with Tay Cities Engineering Partnership and UHI Perth, this breakfast workshop is an ideal opportunity to learn all about lean techniques and how they could help your business.
As well as providing a short overview of the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS), this interactive workshop will explore how lean manufacturing can help engage people and create sustainable change in your business.
As the workshop will take place at the UHI Perth, this will also be an opportunity to hear how our partners at Tay Cities Engineering Partnership are sharing expertise and collaborating to drive up the skills and technology base of the sector.
Who should attend:
This event is for business leaders who want to understand the basics of improvement through team-building exercises and practical application.
Through the manufacturing simulation provided, you’ll gain an understanding of the wastes and learn the importance of Performance Management.
This activity workshop provides the opportunity to step back from current operations, review the essential implementation elements of improvement, and assess the way forward for your organisation.

Delivering profit to drive growth
2025-01-22 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

The 2025 playbook: this year's key business trends
2025-01-22 12:30 - 13:30
From advancements in AI to shifts in social media, customer behaviour and attracting talent, this session will provide actionable insights to keep you ahead of the curve. Our expert panel, hosted by Hugh Lightbody, will share their predictions, case studies, and strategies for leveraging these trends to drive growth and ensure you can stay competitive in an ever-changing landscape.
This session will cover:

The significant trends shaping the business landscape in 2025
How businesses can adapt to the rapid pace of change in technology and market demands
Effective strategies to help small businesses remain resilient during uncertain times
How consumer preferences and behaviours will evolve this year
The role of digital transformation in helping businesses stay competitive
How businesses can train and bring in new talent

Panellists include:

Hugh Lightbody (Host), Chief Officer, Business Gateway National Unit
Genevieve White, Business Gateway Adviser & Founder of Campion Comms
Sean McGrath, CEO, Entrepreneurial Scotland Foundation
Gary Ennis, Founder, Managing Director & Senior Consultant, NSDesign Ltd

EOI - Scaling Internationally with Amazon & Other Global Marketplaces
2025-01-23 10:00 - 16:00
If you’re an established company looking to scale internationally, this flexible accelerator programme is for you.
With a primary focus on maximising success on Amazon, you’ll also explore other key online marketplaces including eBay and Etsy, as well as specialised wholesale online marketplaces like Alibaba, Wayfair, Faire and more.
The programme will provide you with actionable strategies to expand your reach, optimise marketplace performance, and grow sales globally.
You’ll also benefit from a bespoke action plan and personalised 1-2-1 support to create your custom international growth strategy.
Programme Format:
This online programme will start on Wednesday 22 Jan 2025 with an in-person event.
The learning modules will then be released online, and followed with bi-weekly Teams catch ups.
The programme will end on Wednesday 23 Apr 2025 with a final in-person event.

Understanding Co-ops for Creative Industry Businesses
2025-01-24 09:30 - 12:30 | Civic House, 26 Civic Street, Glasgow, G4 9RH
Are you thinking of starting a new creative business? Or looking for a different approach to your existing business or community venture? Have you considered a co-op?
If you’re looking for an inclusive, democratic approach to your business, then a co-op could be the perfect fit.
Our free event, Understanding Co-ops, is brought to you by Co-operative Development Scotland, one of Scottish Enterprise’s services, and explores how your business can thrive as a co-operative.
Why co-ops?
All kinds of businesses operate as co-ops. These include pubs, energy suppliers, taxi firms, bookstores, community gardens, wine sellers, farms, sports clubs, and much more.
Co-ops are run by their members. They can be customers, employees, residents, or suppliers. They have a say in how the co-op is run – this makes it a fairer, more collaborative, and democratic way of doing business.
Co-ops are also resilient as a business model. They are more than twice as likely to survive the early years of trading when compared to other start-up businesses.
What to expect
The workshop will be led by a co-op specialist from Co-operate Scotland LLP and will feature guests from local creative industry co-ops:

Hen Hoose
Glasgow Theatre Arts Collective

Our guests will share their experiences of starting and running a co-op.
This informative and interactive workshop will give you a more in-depth understanding of co-operatives, as well as the initial steps required to start one. You’ll discover:

The different kinds of co-ops and learn which type might suit you best
What membership means
The strengths of co-ops versus traditional business models
Co-op values and principles
Co-op facts and figures
The different legal forms a co-op can take
Support for co-ops from Co-operative Development Scotland
