How to build a culture of inclusion
2023-12-06 12:00 - 13:30 UTC
1 billion people worldwide live with a disability and businesses must create inclusive spaces for those living with disabilities and long-term health conditions (many of which are invisible).
Disability Inclusion Consultant, Luis Canto E Castro, outlines how businesses can make their workplaces inclusive for all staff. He’ll also highlight ways they can improve how they engage with disabled clients/customers.
Through his lived experiences (being born with a neuromuscular disability requiring 24×7 care) and sharing personal experiences of exclusion and inclusion, he will cover topics like the Intersectionality of disability, allyship and provide tangible actions that can be taken towards including those who are often excluded.
This approach will also highlight that the principles and insights shared can be applied to all protected characteristics, including hidden disabilities.
Luis Canto E Castro is a Diversity & Inclusion Consultant at Mildon, a consultancy and advisory business. Luis works with businesses to devise diversity and inclusion strategies, re-engineer processes and systems to minimise the impact of bias and build a culture of inclusion.

HR – Recruiting, managing, and retaining staff
2023-12-14 13:00 - 15:00
One of the scariest things you can do as a business is take on staff – from hiring, interviewing, payroll, pensions, contracts, remote working and more, it is a minefield for the business owner.
This webinar will allow you to have the key information in your possession to take on staff and manage your team.
Topics covered:

Recruiting, managing, and retaining staff
Attracting and recruiting the best and right people for our business
Our obligations as employers
Managing people to stay with us
Moving on
Dismissal
Restructure/Redundancy

We will also look at:

How in the current climate you can manage staff and teams in a remote environment, considering their productivity, efficiency, and the issues of home working
How you can best manage staff to ensure productivity is kept and mental health is supported
The impact of companies who may be considering restructuring and therefore redundancy for the first time and how that can be managed

The conscious communicator: utilising the foundations of motivational intelligence to build people and relationships
2024-01-23 13:00 - 14:00
Motivational Intelligence (MQ) plays a crucial role in shaping our resilience and drive to succeed and find happiness, regardless of our circumstances.
It involves nurturing an attitude that embraces trust, gratitude, grit, service, kindness, and the strength to act and communicate with integrity.
Individuals possessing high MQ are sources of hope, inspiring excellence in others. When charged with inspiration, communication has the power to reignite the sense of self-worth in those who have forgotten their intrinsic value and worth.
Come along and hear insights on how you can bring this to life in your work and life.

Fair Work Workshop
2024-01-24 09:30 - 12:30
Fair Work is an investment in everyone, for everyone. It can improve productivity, innovation, organisational reputation and recruitment. It can also reduce staff turnover and help create inclusive workplaces with a richness of talent and a diversity of ideas.
For staff, Fair Work can increase financial security, physical health and psychological wellbeing. For businesses, it brings more engaged, committed and adaptable workers who spot challenges and opportunities, solve problems, offer insight and ideas for business improvement, and create value.
What’s the event about?
This is a fully funded programme which will help participating companies to:

Understand the benefits of fair work (for both the business and its staff)
Develop an action plan to embed or improve current people practices
Prioritise and take next steps to implementing an action plan

The type of projects and actions that could result from a fair work action plan include:

Improving people and fair work practices
Skills, leadership and management development
Creating a positive culture and values-based approach
Improving employee engagement and supporting performance management practices

People and HR – attraction, recruiting, managing and retaining team member
2024-01-30 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-02-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-03-28 13:00 - 15:00

Thorntons Webinar - Reducing Workforce Costs, Reorganisation and Redundancy
2024-01-31 09:30 - 10:30
Over the coming months, employers may encounter some challenges as they continue to navigate economic uncertainty inflationary pressures and higher costs. Many businesses are already feeling an increasing financial burden, and accordingly, some may want to undertake a review of their operating costs.
While many employers will want to do all they can to reduce costs in a way which preserves jobs, such as amending employment contracts, regrettably, others may have to look at restructuring and redundancies to manage costs.
Regardless of scale, employers contemplating redundancies must ensure they understand and follow the relevant legal framework. The effective management of any organisational restructure, whether by redundancy or other means, can minimise legal costs and ensure smooth transition. This webinar will cover the thorny issues of potential redundancies and restructures, with a focus on the potential legal pitfalls and how best to navigate these.
Our Employment Law specialists will host a one hour webinar and online Q&A to guide employers as they prepare to address the potential challenges ahead. As well as sharing legal guidance on these processes, we will also share practical tips that you can apply in your own organisation.
This webinar will cover:

Job preservation – ways to reduce workforce costs without resorting to redundancies
The redundancy process – the importance of getting it right!
Particular points to consider arising out of discrimination and the costs of getting it wrong
Tips for employers

Who should attend?

Business owners
HR Professionals
Finance Directors
Senior Managers and those with people management responsibilities

Unlocking Talent: The 2024 Retention Revolution
2024-01-31 18:00 - 20:30 | Dundee & Angus College, Gardyne Campus, Dundee, DD5 1NY
Are you struggling to recruit and retain staff?
Do you want to explore strategies to upskill and retain your employees through funded training?
Join us to learn about the support available in your local region, empowering you to strategically recruit, skillfully retrain, and effectively retain top-tier talent. Collaborating with our professional partners, you will gain insight into each and every one of their fantastic offerings.
We will also be launching the new Tay Cities SME Skills Fund, a game-changing initiative designed to empower small-medium sized businesses in the region.
This fund is not just about financial support; it’s a strategic investment in your workforce, focusing on employee experience and training to drive business growth and enhance talent retention.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to revolutionise your approach to employee retention and skills development.
Who is this event for?
Business Owners & Managers who are responsible for HR & staff development from any industry, but particularly: Hospitality, Construction, Manufacturing and Care.
Why attend?

Support in the Region: Explore the range of support available from all our professional partners – Fife College, UHI Perth, University of Dundee, Abertay University, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Business Gateway, Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, Perthshire Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses.
Learn about Staff Training Available: Discover how investing in your workforce’s skills can be a game-changer for your business success.
Retention Strategies: Hear from experts and business owners on innovative approaches to employee engagement and development, fostering an environment where your team wants to stay and thrive.
Access to New Funding: Learn about the Tay Cities SME Skills Fund and how it can provide financial support for your business growth initiatives.

Managing People - Sustaining Employee Engagement
2024-02-07 10:00 - 12:00
Participants will learn how to create and maintain a happy, productive and engaged workforce.
As finding and employing new, valuable staff can be difficult, this session aims to help members of management and business owners review their current practices and implement new ones.
Doing so with hope of achieving employee engagement, satisfaction, loyalty and longevity, reducing employee turnover and the need for continuous recruiting.

A Guide to: Menopause Support in the Workplace
2024-02-08 10:00 - 11:30
Join our webinar and be part of this informative conversation to help empower your team with the tools needed to support them through their menopausal journey. Health Improvement Officer Sarah Thomson will be answering your questions on how to embed menopause support into your workplace.
Open to ALL employers, managers, or anyone passionate about supporting colleagues to feel their best at work. This webinar is your chance to gain a deeper understanding of how menopause impacts women in the workplace and how to create a more supportive and inclusive environment.

Open age inclusion awareness
2024-02-13 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-02-21 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-02-22 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-03-12 14:00 - 15:30
Age Scotland’s age inclusion awareness webinar is an hour-long introduction to the topic of age in the workplace. The purpose of the session is to:

raise awareness of ageism in the workplace and the potential consequences for organisations and individuals
explore what you can do as an individual to co-create an age inclusive working environment

It will provide you with some research data and ideas for developing your knowledge, skills and understanding further.
The webinar will be followed by an up to 30 minutes Q&A session with the speaker.

February Open Age Inclusion for Managers Workshop
2024-02-15 09:30 - 12:30
Age Scotland’s Age Inclusion for Managers workshop is a 3-hour interactive virtual workshop which will provide an opportunity to learn about Age Inclusion and to develop skills around managing difficult conversations.
The purpose of the workshops is to:
• raise awareness of ageism in the workplace and the potential consequences for organisations and individuals
• explore what you can do as an individual to co-create an age inclusive working environment
• develop skills in handling challenging workplace conversations around age
The workshop will provide you with some research data and ideas for developing your knowledge, skills and understanding further. There will be time for questions at the end of the session.

Closing the Gender Pay Divide: Strategies for Success
2024-02-20 10:00 - 11:00
Our online session is for employers who want to understand the root causes of the gender pay gap and how they can relate to their business.
The webinar will include:

A presentation on gender inequality in the workplace including key considerations for SMEs
How to identify inequalities in your business, and
How to use this information to take targeted action.
A showcase of self-assessment tools available for SMEs.
Q&A

The webinar will support employers’ capacity to take action to tackle key gender inequalities that may occur in their organisation, enabling them to harness the business benefits of improved employment practice.
The content of the webinar will include references to current research and best practice, with reference to reports from recognised industry specialists, along with illustrative examples of what successful companies are doing in this space.

Closing the Gender Pay Gap: Steps You Can Take
2024-02-27 10:00 - 11:30
The workshop will begin with a brief outline of gender inequality in the workplace. This will include:
– Understanding what inequality looks like
– Identifying where to focus your time and resources
– Roles within the business
– How to track success
It will also discuss Close the Gap’s work with IoD Scotland on the role that directors and leaders play within the gender pay gap issue.
The webinar will support employers’ capacity to take practical and impactful steps to tackle key gender inequalities in their organisation and advised of the business benefits that come with improved employment practice.
The content of the workshop will include discussion of real-life case studies of what successful companies are doing correctly.

Thorntons Employment Law Academy - Disability & Reasonable Adjustments
2024-02-29 09:00 - 12:00
Employers are legally obliged to take steps to minimise difficulties or disadvantages which may arise in the workplace for those with a disability. These steps are known as reasonable adjustments. It is crucial that employers are aware of their responsibilities towards employees and job applicants who require reasonable adjustments.
This workshop aims to provide attendees with the necessary knowledge to manage reasonable adjustment requests and ensure that employees with disabilities are treated fairly. Not only will this help all employees to feel supported and well-equipped to do their jobs, it will also reduce the risk of discrimination and other tribunal claims.
In this half day workshop, Employment Law specialist Noele McClelland will look at issues such as:
The duty of care as an employer.
Examples of reasonable adjustments.
Responding to a request for reasonable adjustments during recruitment and employment.
The risks of failing to make reasonable adjustments.
Best practice and creating a disability positive environment.
Who should attend?
HR professionals
Business owners
Managers and those with people management responsibilities
This is a half day workshop. Qualifies as 3 hours CIPD.
The costs of each workshop is £125+VAT per person, which includes all papers.

Fair Work Workshop
2024-03-06 09:30 - 12:30, 2024-03-19 09:30 - 12:30
Fair Work is an investment in everyone, for everyone. It can improve productivity, innovation, organisational reputation and recruitment. It can also reduce staff turnover and help create inclusive workplaces with a richness of talent and a diversity of ideas.
For staff, Fair Work can increase financial security, physical health and psychological wellbeing. For businesses, it brings more engaged, committed and adaptable workers who spot challenges and opportunities, solve problems, offer insight and ideas for business improvement, and create value.
What’s the event about?
This is a fully funded workshop which will help participating companies to:

Understand the benefits of fair work (for both the business and its staff)
Develop an action plan to embed or improve current people practices
Prioritise and take next steps to implementing an action plan

This type of actions that could result from a fair work action plan include:

Improving people and fair work practices
Skills, leadership and management development
Creating a positive culture and values-based approach
Improving employee engagement and supporting performance management practices

What’s Involved?

Complete the Fair Work Employer Support Tool and familarise yourself with fair work and benchmark your company on where you are on your fair work journey.
Join your three-hour workshop to explore the key concepts of the five dimensions of fair work, along with some practical solutions to embed and improve this in your organisation and begin to develop your action plan.

The programme is for Scottish SMEs. You’re particularly suitable if you:

Are you business leader or individual who wants to understand more about Fair Work and the support available.
Have the autonomy and influence to implement an action plan

A Guide To: Happy and Inclusive Workplaces
2024-03-07 10:00 - 12:00
Inclusive workplaces can be attractive to current and future employees, regardless of their diverse backgrounds.
Cultivating an inclusive work culture isn’t just a legal obligation—it’s essential for retaining talent, enhancing employee satisfaction, fostering success, and promoting overall well-being.
Join us for a webinar where you’ll gain insights into the essence of inclusion and its distinction from diversity. Learn why nurturing an inclusive workforce is paramount to your organisation’s success and explore the legal frameworks and policies that underpin workplace inclusivity.
Following our Q&A, Phillippa will share information on the additional support and resources available for you to make positive changes.

March Open Age Inclusion Workshop
2024-03-13 13:00 - 16:00

Inclusive recruitment training
2024-03-19 10:00 - 11:30
Widen your tech talent pool with inclusive recruitment.
The industry is facing a considerable tech/cyber skills gap. Workplace inclusion is no longer a “nice to have” and is now critical to attract and secure the best talent. Embedding inclusive recruitment practices ensures you are tapping into a wider talent pool, fostering diversity of people, experiences, and innovation.
Join ScotlandIS for free online training about inclusive recruitment practices specifically designed for small and medium sized enterprises.
What will you learn?

increase your understanding of what inclusive recruitment is within the Scottish tech ecosystem
learn about current best practices throughout the recruitment process and know how to apply them within your organisation
develop skills to review your own recruitment processes and identify short-term and long-term actions
where to find resource and guidance to continue your learning

Who should attend?

this training is designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises with a requirement for digital technology skills
ideal for professionals in a management or leadership position, working in Human Resources or involved in the recruitment process

When is it?
This training will be hosted online and split across two sessions to allow time for self-reflection.  Participants should attend both sessions:
Session 1: Tuesday 19 March 10am – 11.30am
Session 2: Tuesday 26 March 10am – 11.30am

Productivity and Retention Benefits that flexible working can bring
2024-03-25 10:00 - 12:00
This interactive, online masterclass will explore the transformative benefits of flexible working, from boosting employee productivity and wellbeing to addressing the challenges of candidate shortages. Through real-world examples and practical insights, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of how flexible working can serve as a strategic tool in your recruitment efforts.
Our expert facilitators, from Flexibility Works, Nikki Slowey and Lisa Gallagher, will guide you through interactive discussions and actionable strategies, including:

Discovering the diverse forms of flexible working and how they can be seamlessly integrated across different job types and sectors to attract top talent.
Unveiling the latest trends and insights into the flexible working landscape in Scotland and beyond, providing you with a competitive advantage in recruitment.
Exploring practical tips and strategies for piloting, implementing, or reviewing flexible work arrangements to suit both your company and your employees’ needs, including our acclaimed Flexibility Works 7-step framework.
Delving into inspiring case studies and success stories from organizations that have successfully embraced flexible working, highlighting their impact on recruitment and retention efforts.
Takeaway resources, including the Flexibility Works ‘Business Case for Flex,’ flexible recruitment guides, and guidance around how to measure the impact of flexible working in your business.

People and HR: Finding, keeping and looking after your staff
2024-04-25 13:00 - 15:00

Finding, keeping and looking after your staff
2024-05-28 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-06-26 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-07-25 13:00 - 15:00
One of the most daunting challenges a business can face is the process of hiring employees, interviewing, payroll, pensions, contracts, remote working and more, it is a minefield for the business owner.
This webinar will allow you to have the key information in your possession to take on staff and look after your team.
We’ll cover:

Finding, keeping and looking after your staff
Attracting and recruiting the best people for your business
Your obligations as employers
How to retain staff members
Moving on
Dismissal
Restructure/Redundancy

We will also look at:

How in the current climate you can manage staff and teams in a remote environment, considering their productivity, efficiency, and the issues of home working
How you can best manage staff to ensure productivity is kept and mental health is supported
The impact of companies who may be considering restructuring and therefore redundancy for the first time and how that can be managed

Supporting employees with a visual impairment workshop
2024-06-18 12:30 - 13:30
Join this webinar on an inclusive workplace environment for employees with visual impairments. In this session, you’ll explore the experiences and challenges faced by people with visual impairments in the workplace, and how employers and colleagues can provide meaningful support.
Through discussions led by experts in the field, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the various types of visual impairments and their impact on daily work tasks. The session will also address common misconceptions and barriers faced by visually impaired individuals, and provide practical strategies for creating accessible workplaces and accommodating diverse needs.
Whether you’re an HR professional, manager, colleague, or simply interested in promoting inclusivity, this webinar will equip you with valuable knowledge and actionable steps to better support employees with visual impairments, ultimately creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
