Invest in Angus

Cyber Security for your small business
2024-08-29 14:00 - 15:00, 2024-09-30 11:00 - 12:00 UTC
To attend this webinar, there are no prerequisites or prior experience needed. It is aimed at start-up businesses and those who are interested in creating a start-up.
It would also be beneficial for more established businesses who are looking at security as a business differentiator and learn how it can be used to win new business.
Your host Jim Wright will introduce security, how it can benefit businesses and allow you to seize opportunities while minimising risk. Jim will also discuss common frameworks and fundamental principles that business leaders should be aware of from the start of their business venture.
By the end of this webinar, attendees will:
1) Understand security risks
2) Understand the benefits of security
3) Have an awareness of threat actors
4) Have an awareness of threat vectors
5) Have an awareness of the services that can be offered to support start-ups
6) Understand the regulatory environment in which they work
7) Understand the common frameworks relating to security

Maximising Trade Show Success
2024-08-29 14:00 - 16:00 | Strathmore Rugby Club, Inchmacoble Park, Forfar, DD8 1RL
Are you looking to exhibit at trade shows in the UK or overseas? This workshop will teach you proven strategies to maximise your participation through pre-event, on-site, and post-event tactics. These tips will help you capitalise on your participation, meet your target audience, and stand out from competitors.
With over 25 years of experience in PR and marketing, our expert speaker Mandy Queen has created successful campaigns for more than 40 trade shows, including top events like Cosmoprof, Paperworld, and Seafood Expo.
In this workshop, Mandy will explain how to attract the right people, engage with them effectively at the event, and maintain momentum afterwards.
Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your trade show success. Book your place now.

From Vision to Reality: Understanding the Business Model Canvas
2024-08-29 18:00 - 20:00
In the session, you will be guided through each segment of the canvas, from identifying your key partners and resources to understanding who your customers are and the value your business will bring to them. You’ll also gain practical insights into what will cost and make money.
The Business Model Canvas is an effective tool at all stages of business development. It can be used as a pre-stage to writing a formal business plan, essential for any funding applications. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your existing business model, this webinar will provide the strategies you need for success. Don’t miss this opportunity to transform your business idea into a viable, scalable venture.

Managing People for Growth - Hybrid
2024-09-03 09:00 - 16:00 | Stirling University Innovation Park, Scion House, Stirling, FK9 4LA
Our workshops cover several key areas that can help you develop the skills of your people managers. You’ll learn how to:

Identify the skills and approaches managers require to perform their roles successfully both now and in the future
Implement fair and progressive work practices through an understanding of key drivers that can develop new ways of working (for example, the fair work framework, productivity and benefits of employee engagement)
Understand the importance of effectively maximising and improving existing staff skills, while identifying the style and attributes of an effective manager

Areas our workshops will focus on:
1. The role of a manager
2. Empowering teams and individuals
3. Communication, influencing and collaboration
4. Coaching and delegation
5. Managing individual performance
6. Creating a culture of innovation

The Basics of Starting a Business
2024-09-03 18:00 - 20:00
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.

Business Support – Drop In Sessions
2024-09-09 13:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-07 13:00 - 16:00 | Brechin Library, 10 St. Ninians Square, Brechin, DD9 7AD
The Business Gateway team will be at Brechin 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.

Developing Standard Work Methods
2024-09-11 09:00 - 12:00 | ETZ Ltd, 53 Blenheim Place, Aberdeen, AB25 2DY
Join our Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) on 11 September 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 five – Developing Standard Work Methods
Our fifth session of the series will focus on supporting your business with standard operating procedures. You will learn:

How to develop a standard working approach
Solutions to potential challenges when implementing standard working practices
Practical tips and tools to rollout Standard Work

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.

Managing People for Growth
2024-09-11 09:00 - 16:00
Our workshops cover several key areas that can help you develop the skills of your people managers.
You’ll learn how to:
Identify the skills and approaches managers require to perform their roles successfully both now and in the future.
Implement fair and progressive work practices through an understanding of key drivers that can develop new ways of working (for example, the fair work framework, productivity and benefits of employee engagement).
Understand the importance of effectively maximising and improving existing staff skills, while identifying the style and attributes of an effective manager.

Positioning Your Business to Win
2024-09-11 13:30 - 17:30 | Montrose Port, South Quay, Montrose, DD10 9SL
The exclusive “Positioning Your Business to Win” workshop series continues on 11th September at Montrose Port Authority in collaboration with Angus Council.
This 1/2 day workshop is aimed at helping businesses position themselves in the market to increase their visibility and to make them feel more comfortable when engaging with customers.
During the 1/2 day workshop you will discover strategies to:
▪️Identify and target your ideal customers
▪️Analyse why your customers buy from you
▪️Understand what it is your customers want
Plus over lunch, network with fellow business owners to expand your network.
Workshop Details:
Location: Montrose Port
Cost: £50 per person (includes lunch)
Time: 1:30 pm
Limited spaces available. Reserve your spot now!
For enquiries and reservations, please contact peterwaggott@verticalmotives.com

Ready, Steady, Grow: How to Expand Your Business
2024-09-11 16:00 - 18:00, 2024-10-16 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!

Climate springboard
2024-09-12 09:30 - 11:30
Climate Springboard is a free online workshop programme available to any Scottish small and medium enterprise. Learn about the net zero landscape for Scottish businesses including upcoming regulation and supply chain requirements. Hear insights into business support and funding opportunities and learn simple low-cost actions to reduce your carbon emissions easily.
The three fortnightly workshops consist of:

an overview of the Scottish net zero landscape
the tools to calculate a carbon footprint and develop a strategy in-house
simple step guidance to take action
the opportunity to meet and learn from like-minded businesses

Focused on simplifying an overwhelming challenge, Climate Springboard was created from a unique partnership between the Royal Bank of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh. It is delivered online by The Edinburgh Climate Change Institute.
This is the first of three workshops. The second and third sessions will take place on 26 September and 10 October 2024.

Selling Your Business Masterclass
2024-09-12 10:00 - 12:00
Have you considered a succession plan for your business? It’s never too early to start thinking about your options. Employee ownership is quickly becoming the preferred exit route for business owners.
Aimed at business owners who are considering an exit from their company, this session will give attendees the opportunity to hear from school, dancewear and club uniform suppliers, Smiths of Greenock. Speakers from the company will explain considerations they undertook when choosing employee ownership and how things have worked out as a result.
Ralph Leishman from 4-consulting will also talk through all ownership succession options before focussing on employee ownership and how to ensure the employee buyout is a smooth process.

Business Support – Drop In Sessions
2024-09-16 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.

Managing People for Growth - Hybrid
2024-09-17 09:30 - 16:00 | Park Inn by Radisson Aberdeen, 1 Justice Mill Lane, Aberdeen, AB11 6EQ

An introduction to business strategy
2024-09-17 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-10-08 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

The Employee Ownership Transition: A Deep Dive
2024-09-19 10:00 - 12:30
Are you considering employee ownership as a succession plan for your business? Join us on our deep dive into the process of selling to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Aimed at business owners considering employee ownership as a succession option, this interactive online workshop will cover topics that are fundamental to every employee ownership transition.
The workshop will include a presentation and a breakout session.
The presentation will cover:

How a transaction or sale of shares to an EOT works
Valuation, purchase price and repayments
Seller protections and the role of the exiting owners
Governance structure of the business post transition
The role of the board and the trust and their relationship with each other
Employee engagement and employee incentives (bonuses and share schemes)

The breakout sessions will be on:

The transition process and legal implementation – led by Louise Fisher, Baxendale Employee Ownership
The importance of employee engagement – led by Hannah Welch, Baxendale Employee Ownership

Timings:
10:00 Introductions – Glen Dott, Scottish Enterprise
10:10 Presentation – Louise Fisher and Hannah Welch, Baxendale Employee Ownership
11:10 Facilitated breakout sessions (attendees participate in each session)
12:00 Q&A and learning outcomes
12:30 Close
Attend this interactive workshop to learn more about the EOT process when considering a transition to employee ownership.

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2024-09-19 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-10-15 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

Business Support – Drop In Sessions
2024-09-23 13:00 - 16:00 | Kirriemuir Library, 28 Reform Street, Kirriemuir, DD8 4BS
The Business Gateway team will be at Kirriemuir 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.

Disability Inclusion Framework
2024-09-24 12:30 - 13:30
The Disability Inclusion Framework is a unique template created by Purple Tuesday to support organisations in taking a snapshot of core activities. It provides an “at a glance” review of any gaps which can help with any decisions on next steps to take. The framework focuses on three pillars which are:

place: the built and digital environment
people: your organisation’s employees and customers
policy and process: how your organisation operates

This interactive session will show you how you should use the framework to gather information and identify your current or existing disability inclusion practices and set your plans for future developments.

How to generate and increase sales
2024-09-26 10:00 - 12:00
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

Introduction to Safe and Local Suppliers Approval (SALSA)
2024-09-26 13:00 - 16:30 | Arbroath Football Club, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, DD11 1QJ
The Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA) scheme ensures that small and micro businesses in the food industry meet robust and comprehensive standards.
This masterclass provides participants with an introduction to and understanding of SALSA requirements, processes, and the benefits of certification. Our expert speakers will cover everything you need to know, including preparation tips and strategies for a successful audit.
This interactive session also features a Q&A with our speakers, as well as group discussions and problem-solving exercises.

Tourism Experiences: Boost your Bookings
2024-10-03 11:00 - 12:30
Join VisitScotland as we delve into the cutting-edge technology behind online booking and distribution in the first of our new series of digital skills webinars.
Whether you’re a visitor attraction, an activity provider, or a tour company, this webinar is tailor-made for you.
Taking place on 3 October, at 11am, this free session will delve into what modern online booking solutions can offer your business, from seamless reservations to business personalisation.
Hear about some game-changing functionality that can have a positive impact on the customer booking process and learn why strategic distribution is the key to filling empty slots, unfilled tours and driving growth.
We’ll look at effective distribution channels that maximise your reach and revenue. From collaborating with travel trade partners to leveraging Online Travel Agents (OTAs) and harnessing the power of Google Things To Do.
This webinar is not to be missed, packed full of support, insights and practical tips that you can implement within your business.

Opportunities in the Development of Green Hydrogen Projects in Mexico
2024-10-03 16:00 - 17:00
This webinar will present the existing opportunities for the development of green projects in the Mexican market for Scottish companies.

Planning for Maintenance and Asset Management
2024-10-09 09:00 - 12:00 | ETZ Ltd, 53 Blenheim Place, Aberdeen, AB25 2DY
Join our Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) on 9 October 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 six – Planning for Maintenance and Asset Management
Our final workshop will focus on supporting your business with planned maintenance and asset management. You will learn:

How to maximise effectiveness of each asset
About structured approaches to improving equipment condition and performance
Practical tips to build operator knowledge and ownership of equipment

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.

Christmas visual merchandising: Make your business sparkle this Christmas
2024-10-10 18:00 - 20:00 | The Craws Nest, 67 Ravensby Park Gardens, Carnoustie, DD7 7NY
Join us for an insightful event to help you maximize your business potential this Christmas season. Our expert will share proven strategies for creating eye-catching displays using cost-effective yet powerful props and design techniques. You’ll learn how to transform your retail space into a festive, engaging environment that draws in customers and drives sales.
Following the presentation there will be a Q&A session, giving you the opportunity to address the topics covered and ask specific questions.
This event can be followed up with online one to one sessions for individuals interested in getting further personal support.
Book now to improve your festive merchandising skills and ensure your business stands out this Christmas!
