How to start a business: The basics
2025-08-27 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-06 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-23 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-10-04 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-11-08 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-20 18:00 - 20:00, 2025-12-06 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
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

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2025-09-03 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-29 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-11-19 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

StartSMART: navigating the first steps in business
2025-09-24 12:00 - 13:00
Thinking about starting your own business? Join us for an inspiring and honest panel discussion with three business owners who have navigated the highs and lows of starting-up and running a business.
In this panel webinar, we’ll explore:

What it’s really like to run a business
The everyday challenges SMEs face—from staffing to logistics
How customer expectations are shifting and how businesses are adapting
Real-world insights on scaling, planning for the future, and accessing funding
What support Scotland needs to become a more SME-friendly nation.
You’ll also hear what advice they’d give to anyone starting up today.

Whether you’re just beginning to explore self-employment or ready to take the first step, this session will give you practical insights, relatable stories, and the motivation to get started.

Lunch and Learn: How to create a digital product from idea to prototype
2025-10-01 12:00 - 12:30
Do you have an idea for an app, a service or another digital product, but don’t know where to begin?
In this Lunch and Learn, Marco Strillozzi will lay out a straightforward, practical process you can follow to move from concept to prototype – and you don’t need to be a tech expert!
He’ll show you how to define your target audience, differentiate yourself from competitors and use modern no-code/low-code tools to build testable prototypes that you can publish online.
You’ll also learn how to use freelancers and tech partners to fill gaps and accelerate your journey.
Topics covered in this session:

A simple roadmap to prototyping your idea
A list of tools and platforms to get you started
How to promote and validate your prototype with real users

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

Young person’s guide to starting a business
2025-10-14 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar will provide you with information, direction and support on a range of topics, including:

Planning (before you start, & once you are up and running)

The personal benefits of working for yourself

How to make sure your idea is viable and sustainable

How to research your market and market your business

How to identify who your customers are

Staffing

Funding

How to register and set up – sole trader or a limited company

Business For Good
2025-11-20 10:00 - 11:30
This 90-minute interactive online session is your chance to explore how Inclusive Democratic Business Models are shaping the future of the Scottish economy — and how you can be part of it.
This session will be led by GrowBiz Enterprise Facilitator Jenny Lyall who heads up the Social Enterprise Network in Kinross. Jenny will also be joined by other GrowBiz team members across the country who all have a passion for this type of business model. Do please come along and meet the team where you will be made most welcome.
During the our time together you’ll:

Learn from experts about practical ways to put people and planet at the heart of your business.
Hear inspiring stories from Scottish social entrepreneurs who are already making it work.
Join the conversation in small facilitated breakout rooms — connect with peers, share experiences, and spark new ideas.
Discover opportunities to grow your rural business with purpose and resilience.

You’ll leave with fresh inspiration, actionable insights, and new connections that can help you build or grow a business that truly matters — to you, your community, and Scotland’s future.
Reserve your place now and be part of shaping a more purposeful business landscape in Scotland.
