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

Finding, keeping and looking after your staff
2024-09-25 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-10-30 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-11-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-12-17 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-01-29 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-02-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-03-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-05-20 13:00 - 15:00 and 1 more date
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

Managing People for Growth
2024-10-30 09:30 - 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.

Tourism and heritage sector skills
2024-10-30 12:00 - 13:00
Join Diane Cunningham, Growth & Inward Investment Manager at Skills Development Scotland, and Lawrence Durden, Tourism Sector Manager, as they explore the challenges faced by the tourism and heritage sectors in talent attraction and retention.
Joining Diane and Lawrence are Catherine Cartmell, Historic Environment Scotland’s Skills Investment Plan Manager, Kat Brogan, Managing Director of Mercat Tours and Nicola Watt, Head of People at Buzzworks. They will provide industry insights and examples of best practice in recruitment and retention across their respective sectors.

Unlock the Benefits of Inclusive Recruitment
2024-11-27 12:00 - 13:00
Discover the benefits of inclusive recruitment through Skills Development Scotland’s Inclusive Recruitment Guide and how it can help to transform your recruitment strategy.
The webinar will explain the guide and demonstrate real-life examples of inclusive hiring practices.

Empower HR: Building a Winning Team
2024-11-28 14:00 - 16:00
Join our Business Gateway HR expert, Aileen McGowan, to find out why building and retaining a top-class team is so vital to growing businesses – and how you can make it happen!
This insightful session aims to support businesses in understanding the responsibilities of being an employer and how HR can help grow your business through finding, developing and retaining your team whilst ensuring compliance with legislation.
We’ll be covering…

Finding the right people for your business

From first impressions to advertising, selection, interview, and job offer.

Creating the best possible work environment by becoming an “Employer of Choice”

Crucial to retention, we’ll be looking at the purpose and values behind your business.

Developing your people

A look at career development, training, and potential support/funding available to help you.

Retaining your team

We’ll explore why working environment is a key trigger for people leaving jobs, not just pay and benefits.

Remaining Compliant

Find out how to stay on top of the ever-changing landscape of HR rules and regulations.

Sponsoring international workers
2025-02-26 12:00 - 13:00
This webinar is designed to support Scottish-based employers in navigating the practical aspects of the sponsor management system for hiring international staff.
It will give a practical insight into the UK sponsor management system, including:

how to use the system to manage employer roles
assign certificates of sponsorship
report changes to the Home Office

You will learn how to:

review and manage the sponsor licence summary
manage key personnel (authorising officer, key contact and level 1 and 2 users)
manage and increase your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocation
request a defined certificate of sponsorship
report changes to the organisation and sponsored population

Thorntons Employment Law Webinar - Disability Discrimination Overview
2025-04-24 09:30 - 10:30
In this session, Employment Partner Chris Phillips provides an overview of how the Equality Act protects disabled workers and impacts on their employers. He will bring us up to date with recent cases before looking forward to what we might expect under the Labour administration.
This webinar will cover:

How we define disability;
Claims under the 2010 Act;
Practical considerations and tips for employers; and
Case law developments

Who should attend?

HR Professionals
Business Owners
Managers

Thorntons Immigration Webinar - Immigration Update
2025-04-29 09:30 - 10:30
Immigration law and practice are constantly changing, and 2025 is going to be no exception. Keeping on top of changes to the law, Home Office guidance and immigration processes and procedures is vital for UK employers with an international workforce.
In addition to keeping pace with immigration compliance, employers also have to stay up to date with changes to UK employment law. This is especially important for sponsor licence holders, as complying with UK employment law is a key sponsor licence duty. Failure to comply with wider legal requirements placed on UK employers can lead to the loss of a licence, with far reaching consequences for businesses and their staff.
In this webinar, Thorntons Immigration Specialists, Jacqueline Moore, Louise Crichton and Rebecca Engel-Morton will be joined by Head of Employment, Noele McClelland to discuss key topics for UK employers in 2025.
This webinar will cover:

Immigration developments in Q1 of 2025
Changes to employment law
Changes to Home Office sponsorship guidance
Digitalisation of the UK border and the impact of eVisas on Right to Work checks

Business benefits of flexible working
2025-04-30 12:30 - 14:00
Work.Life. Highland in partnership with Business Gateway are delighted to welcome Flexibility Works to deliver this interactive workshop to promote the benefits of flexible working in your business.
Workshop Content:

A business case for flexible working
The current flex landscape in Scotland – supported by key data
Overview of the types of flexible working including flex in frontline roles
Case studies of flex in action in a range of sectors
Unpicking key employer challenges in relation to flex
Top tips to move the dial on flex in your organisation
Overview of the new flexible working legislation

Benefits of Attending

Helps local employers attract and retain a diverse talent pool, boosting workforce participation and driving regional economic growth.
By promoting flexible working, the workshop enhances employee work-life balance, leading to a healthier, more productive workforce for local businesses.
Employers gain up-to-date knowledge of flexible working legislation, ensuring they remain compliant and competitive in a changing market.

Belonging at work: How to create inclusive, connected workplaces that empower your people to thrive
2025-05-12 14:00 - 15:00
Did you know? Two-thirds of UK employees feel disconnected at work and almost a quarter of workers (23%) agreed that feeling lonely at work has affected their mental health*, impacting engagement, wellbeing and retention.
Join us for this insightful webinar during Mental Health Awareness Week. Aimed at HR professionals, people managers and wellbeing champions, you’ll gain practical advice and tips for creating inclusive, connected workplaces that empower your people to thrive.
*Sources: Reward Gateway survey 2023 and Mental Health UK 2022.
What you’ll learn:

The importance of workplace connection for mental health and overall wellbeing.
How to create an inclusive culture that strengthens employee engagement and retention.
Ways to build a strong sense of community at work to help employees create meaningful connections and reduce loneliness.

Making Flexibility Work in Shift-Based Roles
2025-06-11 11:00 - 12:00
How small businesses can design smarter shifts, attract the right people, and retain them.
Join Timewise for a free, expert-led webinar exploring how flexibility can thrive in shift-based and frontline roles.
We’ll share practical examples from real organisations, tips for designing more attractive and sustainable shift patterns, and insights into why flexible work is a growing priority for recruitment and retention.
You’ll also hear about our fully funded training course, Beyond the Clock: Building Flexibility into Every Role, and how to apply.

Employment Law Webinar - Managing Employee Performance
2025-06-12 09:30 - 10:30
Join our specialist employment law experts for this webinar where they will discuss managing employees’ performance.
Get some top tips on how your organisation can:

Identify performance issues and address these at an early stage
Avoid potential pitfalls, including potential discrimination claims where a medical condition may be impacting on performance
Take an employee through a successful performance management process

Who should attend?

HR Professionals
Business Owners
Managers

SAAB Gender Commission
2025-06-12 10:00 - 11:00
Learn about the Scottish Apprenticeship Advisory Board (SAAB) Gender Commission and tools / resources to support inclusive recruitment. Ensuring people have fair access to opportunities and not held back by barriers / gender stereotypes.
Learning Outcomes:

An overview of the SAAB Gender Commission
Tools and resources that employers and providers can use to support inclusive recruitment
An employer’s perspective

Living Wage Scotland: Guidance on Accreditation for Employers
2025-06-12 10:30 - 11:30
Join the movement! As part of the Fair Work Festival 2025, join this short, online webinar to learn more about the growing movement of more than 3900 accredited Living Wage employers in Scotland.
A presentation will outline the criteria and process for becoming an accredited Living Wage employer and will include information on expanding this to Living Hours and/or Living Pension accreditation, followed by opportunities for Q&A with our expert officers.

Skills Development Scotland – Apprenticeships in Scotland and wider SDS support
2025-06-12 13:00 - 14:00
Information on support from Skills Development Scotland.
A run-through of Apprenticeships in Scotland, how investment in training supports employee development and organisational success.
A look at tools to support workforce development, identifying skills gaps and accessing upskilling/reskilling opportunities.

Implementing a four day work week
2025-06-12 15:30 - 16:30
As more organisations across Scotland explore new ways of working, the four day working week is gaining traction as a practical solution for improving productivity and wellbeing.
Join Peer Works online to hear from James Reeves of the 4 Day Week Foundation and Neil Sullivan of Boxfish about the opportunities and challenges of implementing a four day working week.
What you’ll learn:

The goals and business case behind the 4 Day Week Campaign
How Boxfish implemented a four-day working week and what they learned
Common challenges and how to overcome them
Tangible benefits for employees and organisations
Practical steps to begin your own transition

Why Great Ideas Fail Without Great Teams - And How to Fix It
2025-06-24 10:00 - 11:00
Why do great ideas fail? Because innovation lives or dies with the team behind it.
Join this webinar to learn what sets high-performing innovation teams apart. You’ll leave with practical, research-backed insights on how to:

Unlock the power of diverse teams
Lead with emotional intelligence
Avoid hidden traps that undermine collaboration

Led by Professor Anna Brattström from the University of St Andrews Business School, the session draws on the latest research and real-world examples to explore the unique challenges innovation teams face. You’ll get clear, actionable strategies to help your team work more effectively.

HR 1-2-1
2025-06-27 10:00 - 16:00
Whether you’re looking to hire your first employee, looking to review your workplace policies or dealing with complex employee issues – no challenge is too big or too small.
Once you have booked your space online, one of our team will be in touch to discuss an appointment time with you and send you further information. These sessions can take place online via Zoom or alternatively, face to face in our Dundee Business Gateway Office.

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.

Navigating the New Skilled Worker Salary Rules
2025-09-17 13:00 - 14:00
Hosted by Scotland’s Migration Service, this free webinar will help employers in Scotland understand the changes made to the Skilled Worker visa route in July 2025.
You will hear from legal experts on how these changes affect recruitment and how your organisation can continue to access skilled international talent.
This session will offer practical, legally informed guidance on:

Sponsoring international workers under the new Skilled Worker visa rules
Understanding the revised list of eligible occupations
Meeting new salary thresholds
Adapting your workforce strategy in response to UK-wide policy changes

Thorntons Webinar - Employment Law
2025-09-23 09:30 - 10:30
Join Debbie and Amy to discuss the tricky issue of assessing employment status and why it’s important. The webinar will include:

The differences between self-employment, worker and employment status (employment rights, tax position and right to bring employment claims)
Why it’s important to identify the correct employment status, particularly the importance of ensuring that an individual is genuinely self-employed
The key areas to take into account when assessing employment status

This webinar will be useful for business owners, those responsible for employing staff and those either engaging or considering engaging self-employed consultants/contractors.
