A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2025-08-07 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-03 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-29 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
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

Lunch and Learn: Understanding the purpose and benefits of a business plan
2025-08-11 12:00 - 12:30
Do you regularly think to yourself, “I must sit down and write a business plan?” Or have you started to write plans in the past but never seemed to have the time to finish them?
If you fall into one or more of these categories, you’re in very good company. Most businesses (other than those that are “forced” to produce a plan to apply for bank finance), don’t have the motivation, resources, time or knowledge to write a really effective plan.
This session led by Mark Painter of plana will help you understand the purpose and benefits of a business plan and help you to start writing a practical and effective plan today.
Topics covered in this session:

The benefits of a practical business plan
How to approach effective business planning
The format of the plana “4 Step Business Plan”

Lunch and Learn: The biggest data mistakes SMEs make and how to avoid them
2025-08-14 12:00 - 12:30
Is your business data helping you grow or holding you back?
In this practical session led by Jane Jawad, you’ll find out how to clear the clutter and focus on what really matters. You’ll learn what to fix, what to build, and what to stop doing so your data starts working for you.
Topics covered in this session:

A simple data plan you can act on immediately
Confidence in using your numbers to guide decisions
Tools that suit your size – no tech team required

Scaling lead generation and developing a clear value proposition
2025-08-20 13:00 - 15:00
How to grow your business by scaling your lead generation with Laura Burton

How to design a scalable online lead generation system
The key assets and tools you need to do the heavy lifting for you (yes, we’ll talk AI)
What to consider before you scale your leads (There might be another way to grow)

Developing a clear value proposition with Leisa Pickles

Discover the three essential ingredients of a killer value proposition
Learn how to reflect your customer’s exact needs using their own language to build connection and trust
Explore how to communicate your value clearly on social media to attract better-fit leads and generate more interest

How your customer can tell you what you could do better
2025-08-21 11:00 - 12:30
This session will be delivered by GrowBiz Chief Operating Officer, Karen Nichol who has a background in business development, planning and marketing.
Karen will show you how collecting both numbers and stories from your customers can unlock powerful insights. You’ll discover how to use that feedback to elevate your offering—boosting loyalty, satisfaction, and ultimately, sales. Whether you run a product-based or service-based business, this session is packed with practical learning you won’t want to miss.
Join this session and you’ll walk away with:

Simple ways to ask customers for meaningful feedback
Tools to collect both data and rich customer stories
Tips to identify what customers really value (and what they don’t)
Strategies to use feedback to improve your offering and increase sales
Confidence to build feedback into your everyday customer journey

Join us to explore how small shifts in how you ask—and listen—can lead to big wins. One thoughtful question could spark your next breakthrough.

How Leaders Learn Leadership
2025-08-26 10:00 - 11:00
Join this webinar to learn how leaders learn leadership.
You’ll leave with practical, research-based insights that:

Show how your own experiences can help you understand your leadership strengths
Introduce strategies leaders use to enhance their learning
Build your understanding of the skills leaders see as essential to developing their practice

Led by Professor Carole Elliott from the University of St Andrews Business School, the session draws on the latest research and real-world examples. It explores how leaders use their unique environments to grow their leadership practice.
You’ll come away with clear, actionable strategies to help you reflect on your own approach to leadership.

Lunch and Learn: The state of small business marketing in the UK
2025-08-28 12:00 - 12:30
Running a small business in 2025 is no small feat. Between rising costs, shifting customer expectations and the constant buzz around AI, it’s hard to know where to focus your marketing – or if what you’re doing is even working.
In this Lunch and Learn session, we’ll share some of the latest trends shaping small business marketing in the UK – including how businesses like yours are approaching email, trying out AI tools and navigating the impact of inflation and global trade.
You’ll hear new findings from Constant Contact’s 2025 State of Small Business Marketing report, along with practical takeaways and ideas to help you plan your next steps.
Whether you’re hands-on with your marketing or just trying to keep up, this session is designed to give you a clearer picture of what’s working, what’s not, and where small businesses are headed next.
Topics covered in this session:

How UK small businesses are adapting their marketing strategies in 2025
Actionable ideas and strategies to improve your marketing
Practical ways to navigate current challenges

Lunch and Learn: Spotting opportunity in disruption
2025-08-29 12:00 - 12:30
When the pandemic made Gail Irvine’s core business model unsustainable, she didn’t scale down – she redesigned.
In this 30-minute session, Gail shares the real story behind that reinvention and offers practical strategies any small business can use to pivot, simplify and scale, even with limited resources.
This session is ideal for founders, community interest companies (CICs) and business owners navigating change, uncertainty or growth.
Topics covered in this session:

How to spot opportunity in disruption: Learn how to read the market and pivot strategically without starting from scratch.
A clear path to reinvention: How to tidy up your offer, simplify your day-to-day and grow – even without a big team.
Tools and tactics to work smarter, not harder: Get practical ideas to automate admin, increase visibility and boost income without a big budget.

An introduction to business strategy
2025-09-02 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-01 10:00 - 12:00
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

Future-Proofing Our Independent Businesses
2025-09-02 18:00 - 20:00 | The Montrose Playhouse, The Mall, Montrose, DD10 8NN
Are you a local independent retailer in Angus and feeling a bit uncertain about what the future holds? You’re not alone, this session is here to help!
Across Angus, we’re lucky to have a large number of fantastic independent businesses that bring life, character, and community spirit to our high streets. But with rising costs and global changes, it’s understandable that things might feel a bit tough right now.
This session is all about helping you feel more confident about the road ahead. We’ll share useful tips, fresh ideas, and expert advice to help your business stay strong and continue to thrive. Our expert business and retail consultant, Kimberley Guthrie, will guide you through new ways to connect with customers, how to make the most of your footfall, and explore simple digital tools to save time and money.
And the best part? This session is designed to be interactive, so feel free to ask questions at any time! Whether you’ve got a specific challenge or just want to bounce around ideas, Kimberley is here to help and happy to chat.
What we’ll cover:

Getting to know your customers even better
Turning footfall into sales
Making new trends work for your shop
Simple ways to use digital tools and AI to save time
How local shops can spark a social buzz in our towns

Let’s build a bright, sustainable future for Angus’s independent businesses. We’d love to see you there!

Black Friday 2025 - Plan For Success
2025-09-03 14:30 - 16:30
With demand set to surge across eMarketplaces around Black Friday 2025, now is the perfect time to refine your online selling strategy and skills.
Whether you’re an experienced online seller or just starting out, this session will provide actionable steps to set you up for success on eMarketplaces like Amazon.
This event will guide you through the essentials of preparing your product listings, optimising keywords, and ensuring your offers are visible to the right customers at the right time.
We’ll dive into practical tactics for boosting conversions, including how to create compelling product content and designing strategic pricing strategies.
Attendees will also learn how to leverage Amazon’s promotional tools, advertising options, and customer insights to capture more buyers during peak traffic hours.

Selling Your Business Masterclass
2025-09-18 10:00 - 12:00
Have you considered a succession plan for your business? Have you considered selling your business to an employee ownership trust? It’s never too early to start thinking about your options.
Employee ownership is fast becoming the preferred exit route for business owners. Attend this free online workshop to learn how employee ownership offers a tax efficient exit route that protects your company’s legacy while ensuring you get a competitive price for the business.
Aimed at business owners considering an exit from their company, this free online session will give you the opportunity to hear from Isle of Arran based Auchrannie Resort and UK and Ireland specialist holiday firm McKinlay Kidd. They’ll talk about the factors they considered in choosing employee ownership and how things have worked out.
Ralph Leishman from 4-consulting will talk through all your ownership succession options before focussing on employee ownership and how to ensure the employee buyout is a smooth process.

Lunch and Learn: Simple, low-risk ways to start outsourcing today
2025-09-22 12:00 - 12:30
Great leaders focus on the road ahead, not clearing up what’s already passed.
In this session led by Abi Phillips, we’ll explore how outsourcing helps you step out of the weeds and lead from the front. From virtual assistants to accountants and specialist freelancers, you’ll learn how to identify the right tasks to delegate, choose the right people and make it cost-effective.
Create the space to focus on strategy, growth and the work only you can do – without hiring a full team.
Topics covered in this session:

How to spot the tasks holding you back from leading effectively
Simple, low-risk ways to start outsourcing today
How to treat outsourcing as a strategic investment in leadership and growth

Lunch and Learn: Building your business without sacrificing your wellbeing
2025-09-26 12:00 - 12:30
You know entrepreneurship is hard. But do you know why it’s so hard, and how you can support yourself to thrive, rather than burn out?
In this webinar, Nonie White, positive psychology practitioner and founder coach, reveals the often-neglected links between wellbeing, performance and creating a sustainable business. She also lays out some evidence-based practical takeaways so you can optimise your results alongside your wellbeing.
Topics covered in this session:

The paradox of entrepreneurship – why it’s so potentially brilliant and bad for you, all at once
Why you’ve been focusing on the wrong metrics – and how you can feel better, while doing better
Auditing your own wellbeing and performance habits – then select your evidence-based practices for more sustainable success

The BG Interview: Roan Lavery
2025-09-29 12:00 - 13:00
Join host Hugh Lightbody for a virtual Q&A with Roan Lavery, co-founder of FreeAgent, one of Scotland’s most successful tech stories. This is your chance to hear firsthand how a personal challenge evolved into a game-changing platform for small businesses—and how it grew into a scalable company now backed by NatWest.
In this conversation, we’ll explore:

The personal inspiration behind FreeAgent’s creation
Pivotal moments that signalled scale-up potential
Tough early decisions and their long-term impact
Customer-driven innovation and product pivots
Core values that shaped and sustained company culture
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in Scotland
The role of community and support networks in startup success
The unique advantages and challenges of building a tech company in Scotland

Whether you have a business idea you’d like to turn into a reality, are a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the journey from startup to scale-up, this session promises insights, inspiration, and practical advice.

Lunch and Learn: How to turn procrastination into progress
2025-09-30 12:00 - 12:30
We all put off the things that matter most – chasing leads, making the call or setting clear targets. It’s not laziness, it’s often fear or lack of clarity.
In this session, Mark Elliott will explain why this avoidance happens. He’ll also share a simple tool you can use to spot the bottlenecks holding your business back – and then fix them.
Topics covered in this session:

Why avoidance is a normal response, not a personal failing
How to use the Customer Factory tool to identify your business’s weakest link
One simple action you can take this week to build momentum again

Lunch and Learn: Identifying ideal customers and validating potential demand
2025-10-03 13:00 - 13:30
In this session, business consultant Paul Cunningham will introduce you to actionable tools and frameworks you can use to identify your ideal customers and validate that there’s demand for what you’re selling.
Topics covered in this session:

How to model your ideal customer profile for accurate and cost-effective marketing
Validating potential demand to scale your efforts and investments to match
Simple tools and frameworks that accelerate and sustain your progress

Lunch and Learn: Building a loved local brand
2025-10-06 12:00 - 12:30
In this webinar, Teresa Ferreira, creative director and founder of Ferrgood Studio, shares some practical ways to cultivate a positive and beloved brand presence in your immediate local community.
Learn how to foster customer loyalty, increase footfall and drive sustainable growth.
Topics covered in this session:

How to identify the key elements that contribute to a “loved” local brand that stands out on the high street
A simple framework for connecting with customers through storytelling, visuals and tone of voice
Budget-friendly ways to enhance shopfronts and digital channels
Other resources and tools you can use to build your brand

How to scale your business on TikTok Shop
2025-10-07 10:00 - 11:00
The eCommerce marketplace has expanded from established platforms like Amazon to dynamic discovery commerce ecosystems like TikTok Shop, where content and commerce seamlessly merge.
While traditional marketplaces remain essential, TikTok Shop offers businesses a unique way to drive sales through features like shoppable videos, LIVE shopping, and partnerships with creators.
This free webinar, led by Nora Zukauskaite, Integrated Marketing Director at TikTok Shop UK & Europe, will show you how to harness the potential of TikTok shop.
It’s designed for small businesses that sell goods and products and will help you learn how to open a shop and grow revenue through shoppable content on TikTok Shop. It will particularly benefit your business if you sell products across FMCG, Home and Living, Electronics, or Beauty and Fashion.
During the session, you’ll learn:

Practical steps to set up your TikTok Shop and start selling quickly
How to create shoppable videos, LIVE shopping, and use the affiliate programme
Tips for optimising your TikTok Shop for maximum visibility, engagement and sales

Whether you’re new to TikTok Shop or looking to scale your existing presence, this session will give you the insights and tools to succeed.

Lunch and Learn: Building a food business with creativity and confidence
2025-10-09 12:00 - 12:30
Join us for an inspiring session in which Dee Omole, CEO of Dee’s Basement, explores why your story is just as powerful as your product.
Discover how to keep your creative spark alive while navigating the demands of running a business, and learn how to recognise and grow opportunities that truly let your brand shine.
Whether you’re building your brand or looking to refresh your vision, this webinar offers practical insights to fuel both passion and purpose.
Topics covered in this session:

Why your story matters as much as your product
How to keep your creativity alive while running a business
How to spot and nurture opportunities that help your brand shine

Lunch and Learn: Why changing the high-street narrative is vital for success
2025-10-10 12:00 - 12:30
In this webinar, Laura Harris from HighStreetPositives will explore why changing the narrative about our high streets is vital for business success, investment and local engagement.
Using survey insights and real-life examples, she’ll show you how to build pride in your place, share local good news, collaborate with fellow enterprises and highlight the high street as a community hub – all to strengthen both your business and your town.
Topics covered in this session:

Why narrative matters – understand how perceptions influence local engagement and your business, with insights from HSP surveys
Building pride in place – practical steps for small businesses to foster community spirit and collaborate with other local enterprises
Making high streets experiential, convenient and community-focused – actionable ways to attract and retain customers while contributing to a vibrant, valued local high street

Lunch and Learn: Leaning into adversities to make your brand stronger
2025-10-14 12:00 - 12:30
Many businesses don’t survive “shock events” (global pandemics, heavy flooding, recessions and so on). So what helps those that do survive them to keep going?
In this Lunch and Learn, Adrian Ashton will share insight into how he’s managed to keep his business afloat in the face of ongoing crises that would’ve forced most other businesses to wind up. And he’ll explain how to apply these lessons to any enterprise.
Topics covered in this session:

How not to lose clients when dealing with challenges
How to approach recreating your business model
How you can use crises to help strengthen your brand

How to go global without the headaches
2025-10-29 12:00 - 12:30
Thinking about international expansion, or just curious about what it takes?
We know this can often feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. This session, led by our expert speaker Mike Wilson, is designed to help founders and small business owners explore new markets with confidence and without the stress and complexity that often comes with it.
From testing demand to managing cross-border payments and logistics, Mike will break down the practical steps to understand what’s involved in expanding internationally and how to do it efficiently.
You’ll also learn how Airwallex helps SMEs expand faster by simplifying cross-border payments, helping you set up quickly in new markets and offering better FX rates through multi-currency accounts and local payouts – all in one platform.
Topics covered in this session:

How to explore new markets with minimal upfront investment
Managing multiple currencies and payments seamlessly
Ket logistics, compliance, and partner considerations
How Airwallex simplifies global operations for SMEs

Navigating the 2025 festive season: Strategies for small businesses
2025-10-30 14:00 - 14:30
The festive season is a crucial time for small businesses. In this session, Constant Contact’s Dave Charest will share some of the latest trends, challenges and actionable strategies from his organisation’s most recent survey, The Small Business Holiday Outlook 2025.
You’ll hear more about the festive season being a make-or-break time for small businesses in that it generates a substantial portion of their yearly revenue.
Whether you’re hands-on with your marketing or just trying to keep up, this session is designed to give you the most valuable insights and practical tips to help your business thrive through the busy season.
Topics covered in this session:

Why the festive season is absolutely vital
How social media and discounts drive sales
The economic challenges and consumer behaviour that affects business and shopping habits

Lunch and Learn: How to franchise your business
2025-10-31 12:00 - 12:30
Franchising is one of the fastest ways to scale in the UK–- but only if your business is ready.
In this webinar, business growth consultant Julie Clabby will tell you how to turn your successful business into a franchise model that works.
Topics covered in this session:

What franchising really is and how it works
Why you need a proven pilot business, not just an idea
How to make sure your numbers stack up for both you and your franchisees
Why documenting your systems is crucial to success
How to map territories so every franchisee makes the most of their potential

Lunch and Learn: How to save cash and carbon
2025-11-03 12:00 - 12:30
Join us for a practical session with small business energy expert Jon Perks on how to save your business cash and carbon from the outset.
The energy market today is fast-moving and finding the right tariff isn’t just about cutting costs – it’s about gaining a real competitive advantage.
In this Lunch and Learn, Jon will explain how to choose the most suitable energy tariff for your small business.
You’ll learn how to interpret your energy consumption (with the help of your smart meter) to make small, simple changes that add up to big savings on both cash and carbon.
You’ll leave with actionable tips on saving time, reducing your bills and shrinking your carbon footprint – all while keeping your business ahead of the curve through the power of data.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn how smarter energy choices can help your business save cash and carbon, and grow.
Topics covered in this session:

How to pick the right tariff for your business: Why having the right tariff and shifting consumption can save the earth – in more ways than one
Your energy insights: How to use data from your smart meter to quickly identify where you can cut costs and reduce your carbon footprint, without taking up valuable time
Actionable tips to save cash and carbon: Walk away with practical, easy-to-implement tips that will help your business save money and time, and stay competitive in today’s market

Expanding Your Market: Progressing from Direct Sales into Retail or Wholesale
2025-11-06 11:00 - 12:30
GrowBiz Enterprise Facilitator Daniel Muir will guide you through the key steps, considerations, and benefits of expanding your sales channels. Daniel has a background in supply chain management and understands the challenges small businesses face when trying to scale. He’ll share practical insights to help you figure out the best way to grow—whether that’s expanding into wholesale, retail, or both.
During the session we’ll explore together:

Retail opportunities – how to position your product for retailers, what motivates them, and how to handle margin expectations while maintaining profitable growth.

Wholesale strategies – how working with wholesalers can increase your reach, reduce logistics challenges, and simplify operations, and what you need to have in place to work with wholesalers.

Practical considerations – from packaging, barcoding, and pallets to stock management and production capacity.

By the end, you’ll see how scaling through retail or wholesale can help you expand beyond your local geography, save time and delivery costs, and drive higher volumes, sales, and revenues.
Finally, we hope you’ll walk away with the clarity and the confidence to take your next step.
