Invest in Angus

GlobalScot: Scaling Innovation briefing (Timeslot 2)
2024-03-05 16:00 - 17:00 UTC
Following the announcement of our new strategy for economic transformation, our mission leads are keen to share our approach with the GlobalScot network directly.
Join this session to hear from mission lead Derek Shaw on Scaling Innovation.
The Scaling Innovation mission will focus on industries where Scotland has the potential to scale internationally, as set out in the National Innovation strategy.
We want to do more to fully harness our world class innovation capability and infrastructure to convert and scale innovation into growth. A doubling of scale-up businesses in Scotland over the next 10 years would add 675 new scale-ups into our economy, creating 75,000 new jobs and an additional £14 billion in turnover.
GlobalScots and the network will play a key role in helping to deliver this strategy and this session will provide more detail about this mission, give you an opportunity to ask questions, comment and consider how you can help.
Please note there will be two briefing sessions for each of the three missions to accommodate different world time zones.

Unlocking the potential of Accessible Tourism
2024-03-05 11:30 - 12:30
In this introduction to accessible and inclusive tourism, hear from VisitScotland’s Inclusive Tourism Manager about the value of accessible tourism market, the barriers that some consumers face and how best to attract these extremely loyal customers.
The session will also include information about Accessibility Guides, what are they and why are they important to this market. Insights on this will be provided by Carrie-Ann Lightley, Head of Marketing at AccessAble, an accessibility guide specialist.
We will also hear from Pippa Stacey an award-winning writer, speaker, and charity sector communication consultant about her experience of travelling and living her best life alongside chronic illness.
Both Carrie-Ann and Pippa have been named in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list multiple times.
Packed with practical advice and top tips to implement in your business, guidance on a range of helpful resources, and key insights into this valuable market this workshop is not to be missed.

Boost your productivity with AI
2024-03-05 11:00 - 12:00
This Google Digital Garage session introduces learners to cutting-edge AI tools that are already available from Google and others, to show some of the smartest ways digital-age workers can use them to save time at work and on tasks.
In this session, you will learn:

an introduction to generative AI and how it works
how to use AI-powered tools and techniques to save you time
an overview to crafting effective prompts

This session is run using YouTube and is 45 minutes long.
The course assumes no prior knowledge or experience so there is no pre-reading necessary.
There will be the opportunity to ask questions during the session.

Do I Speak Giraffe
2024-03-05 10:00 - 12:30
We all have our own unique communication styles. In this workshop you will discover and explore your dominant your dominant communication style while gaining insight into others.
You will also leave with practical tips and tricks on how to adjust your language and behaviour, enhancing your assertive communication for the best results.
Whether in business, your personal life, or navigating the art of people, this workshop equips you with valuable skills.
This workshop is ideal for people who wish to:

Engage in effective client communication
Connect with potential customers
Persuasively articulate business concepts
Enhance networking skills with confidence
Cultivate proficiency in interpersonal communication
Strengthen both professional and personal relationships

Video production for social media
2024-03-05 10:00 - 12:00
Video captures people’s attention online and is important for getting your message across, while engaging with your target audience.
Learn how to:

Choose what type of video to create to suit your business objectives
Plan, shoot, edit, and upload video without special kit or expertise.
Get to know the various digital platforms that can be utilised to view and share video content.
See what editing apps are available and how to add music and subtitles.

Instagram for Business
2024-03-05 10:00 - 12:00
An introduction to Instagram for businesses to show how to it can be a useful tool to market your business.
We’ll look at how to segment the global social media audience into the audience you are trying to target, discuss what social media platforms will work for your audience, and how to create engaging visual content which will spark interaction with your brand.

Community Wealth Building – Spending and Procurement
2024-03-05 10:00 - 11:00
Ready to continue your learning with Co-operative Development Scotland’s (CDS) Community Wealth Building programme?
This is the first of four webinars that explore how inclusive business models can contribute to the four key pillars of CWB: spending and procurement, workforce, land and property and finance.
Delivered by support partners of CDS (including the Federation of Small Businesses, Sustainable Procurement, the Centre for Local Economic Strategies and the Supplier Development Programme) this webinar will explore how you can maximise community benefits through procurement and commissioning, developing good enterprises, fair work and shorter supply chains by commissioning Inclusive Business models. There will also be a chance to ask your questions to the expert panel.
Please note, to attend this webinar you must have already attended the CDS workshop Inclusive Business Models – Identifying the Opportunities for Plural Ownership.

GlobalScot: Scaling Innovation briefing (Timeslot 1)
2024-03-05 08:00 - 09:00

Build an effective strategy to grow your business
2024-03-04 14:00 - 16:00
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

How Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help your business marketing
2024-03-04 10:00 - 12:00
You’ve heard of Artificial Intelligence, but do you know how it can help you as you run your business? This brand new practical webinar will explore how AI can help revolutionise your business marketing to be more efficient and cost-effective, through the automatic creation of content for all your digital platforms; as well as helping you better understand your customers and business opportunities.
This webinar will include:

What is Artificial Intelligence
Current AI tools and systems to use right now (including ChatGPT and Dall-E 2)
Automating Digital Content for Blogs and Social Media
Using AI for business strategy and customer profiling
The pros and cons of AI for small businesses

This webinar will help you understand how you can integrate AI into your existing marketing, looking at the potential consequences (good and bad) of Artificial Intelligence, and its impact on small businesses and their customers.

GlobalScot: Energy Transition Briefing (Timeslot 2)
2024-03-04 08:00 - 09:00
Following the announcement of our new strategy for economic transformation, our mission leads are keen to share this approach with the GlobalScot network directly.
Join this session to hear from mission lead Suzanne Sosna on Energy Transition.
This mission aims to accelerate technological innovation, supply chain capability and investment in manufacturing facilities and key infrastructure, with the potential to double the number of companies operating across green energy sectors. Our goal is to ensure that the maximum economic benefit is derived from opportunities presented by the energy transition.
GlobalScots and the network will play a key role in helping to deliver this strategy and this session will provide more detail about this mission, give you an opportunity to ask questions, to comment and consider how you can help.
Please note there will be two briefing sessions for each of the three missions to accommodate different world time zones.

Sustainable Business Practices For Independent Retailers
2024-02-29 18:00 - 20:00 | The Meffan, 20 West High Street, Forfar, DD8 1BB
Join us for an insightful workshop looking at the challenges facing businesses today, as we offer a selection of considerations and provocations designed to inspire business owners to reimagine their long-term goals.
This will involve a business health check with a 5 point plan

Customer Engagement and Retention – A New Era
Driving Sales and Footfall – Marketing for Success
Overall Business Proposition – Developing a USP
Financial Health Check – Controlling Costs
Business Modelling – Creating Competitive Advantage

Engage in discussions at each of these points, followed by a comprehensive wrap-up at the end of the session. We’ll also ensure every participant leaves with actionable next steps and a commitment to their business’s growth.
This interactive event guarantees valuable insights through the business health check, with real-time feedback provided by Kimberley. It’s also an excellent opportunity for networking and gaining insights into other businesses’ operations.
Attendees will have the chance to schedule a one-hour, one-on-one online meeting with Kimberley Guthrie to receive personalised guidance and advice on their business’s development.

GlobalScot Briefing Session: Capital Investment to Drive Productivity (Timeslot 2)
2024-02-29 16:00 - 17:00
Following the announcement of Scottish Enterprise’s new strategy for economic transformation, our mission leads are keen to share this approach directly with the GlobalScot network. Join this session to hear from mission lead Elaine Morrison on Driving Capital Investment for Productivity.
Driving up levels of capital investment is critical to driving up productivity, leading to higher value jobs and improved standards of living. If Scottish productivity matched the OECD top quartile today, the Scottish economy would be £35 billion better off, with annual average wages growing by between £2,000 and £5,500 annually. We want to do more to attract new capital investment into Scotland and to work with our partners to support more companies to invest in their future growth potential.
GlobalScots and the network will play a key role in helping to deliver this strategy and this session will provide more detail about this mission, give you an opportunity to ask questions, comment and consider how you can help.
Please note there will be two briefing sessions for each of the three missions to accommodate different world time zones.

Social media strategy
2024-02-29 14:30 - 15:30
Join this session to learn how you can build a social media strategy into your business plan.
In this session you will learn:

how social media can help you reach new customers online
the building blocks of a simple social media strategy
tools that can help you save time when creating social posts

This session is run using YouTube and is 60 minutes long.
The course assumes no prior knowledge or experience so there is no pre-reading necessary.
There will be opportunity to ask questions during the session.

The basics of trading on eBay, Etsy and Amazon Marketplaces
2024-02-29 14:00 - 16:00
As a consumer, you’ve almost certainly purchased online from one of the global marketplaces such as eBay, Etsy or Amazon, so why wouldn’t your customers do the same and buy from you?
We will cover:

Why to sell via a Marketplace, your own website, or both
Choosing the right Marketplace – looking specificly at eBay, Etsy and Amazon

Understanding Profit Margins and how Marketplace fees affect them

An overview of some of the rules and regulations enforced by these platforms
Trading internationally – what’s possible?

You’ll leave with a better understanding of how online marketplaces can help you reach your target audience, which marketplace is best for you, and how to get started selling quickly and easily.

Facebook for business
2024-02-29 10:00 - 12:00
Get to grips with Facebook – the world’s most popular social networking platform.
In this webinar you will:

Learn how to get the most out of Facebook and how it could fit into your business’s digital marketing strategy.
Better understand the algorithm behind Facebook, and how to create great content that achieves a bigger reach and impact.
Learn from the stats and data you can get from the system and discover who your most interested customers/clients are.
Understand the power of Facebook advertising, and other selling options available to you.
Discover other business opportunities presented by Facebook, including how to promote and sell products and services.
Be introduced to ‘Business Suite’ – a free Facebook dashboard to manage all your business activity.

SCOTO - Scottish Community Tourism National Gathering & Learning Exchange
2024-02-29 09:00 - 2024-03-01 17:00 | Cairndale Hotel, English Street, Dumfries, DG1 2DF
Welcome to the much-anticipated return of the Scottish National Community Tourism Gathering!

Following the resounding success of last year’s event, hailed as the ‘friendliest’ conference by many attendees, we’re thrilled to announce that this year’s gathering is heading to the “Queen of the South”, Dumfries.
Meet us at the Cairndale Hotel, Dumfries where we’ll celebrate SCOTO Network’s mission to build skills, connections and confidence in people working in community-led tourism.
The theme of the conference this year is ‘Press Pause’ – we want communities to take time out to consider what is working, what isn’t working and how things could be done better/differently to ensure tourism helps make your community an even better place to live, work and visit.
Your participation is not just an event attendance but an opportunity to share insights, experiences and innovative ideas that can contribute and empower the SCOTO Network.
Whether you’re a community tourism activist or simply interested in knowing more about community led tourism in Scotland, this gathering is perfect for you.
Connect with like-minded individuals from across Scotland, share ideas, and discover new ways to develop and promote responsible tourism, which brings real benefits back into the host community.
See the event programme.

Made in Scotland, Sold to the World Exporter Roadshow
2024-02-29 09:00 - 13:00 | 200 Conference & Events, 200 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5SG
Hosted by the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade with Insider, this in person and online event will demystify the challenges and highlight the benefits of selling your products and services internationally.
Whatever your level of exporting experience, this event will offer free advice and support to help your business expand overseas.
From world-class capability in food and drink production to innovation in financial technology and life sciences, Scottish businesses are selling to many countries and regions around the world.
At this event, you will hear from exporters, trade experts and UK Government representatives who will discuss how you can navigate your export journey and the global opportunities that are out there.
Our expert panellists will help answer the most important questions you may have about expanding into new markets, including:

How do I analyse international demand for my products and services?
How do I identify suitable markets and how do I reach them?
What regulations and legislation on exporting are there?
What investment is required to export and what finance is available for businesses?
How does shipping products work?
What market opportunities are available and how are trade barriers overcome?
What support is out there?

The event is free to attend and places are limited, so request your place to attend now.

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.

GlobalScot Briefing Session: Capital Investment to Drive Productivity (Timeslot 1)
2024-02-29 08:00 - 09:00

TikTok and Instagram Reels for business
2024-02-28 18:00 - 20:00
You might view TikTok as a stream of dance trends and lip-synching videos, but it can also be a fantastic place to engage with your customers and increase the reach of your business online. Explore how to create bitesize vertical video content and how to use this new format for more effective business communication.
We will cover:

How to optimise your TikTok and Instagram accounts for the best results with video.
How to discover the latest trends on each platform and leverage this to create popular videos for your business.
Ideas for creating content to entertain, inspire or educate your audience (with lots of examples from a variety of relevant TikTok and Reels accounts).
How to increase engagement and reach by paying attention to your videos’ structure, duration, titles and understanding hashtags and algorithms.
The best kit, apps and workflow to create bitesize vertical videos for both platforms.

GlobalScot: Energy Transition Briefing (Timeslot 1)
2024-02-28 16:00 - 17:00

People and HR – attraction, recruiting, managing and retaining team member
2024-02-28 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

Build your brand and promotional graphics
2024-02-28 09:30 - 11:30
This webinar will define what a brand is (and is not) and explain how it is more than just creating a logo. We will explore how a business can use their brand to show its identity, purpose, personality, message, and values in order to stand out from competitors, build a loyal customer base and make more sales.
This session will:

Provide you with a clear understanding of the difference between brands and branding
Help you understand what a brand is
Show you why branding is important
Look at your brand strategy, brand identity and action
Help you learn how to develop your brand’s positioning, character, and purpose to differentiate your business from its competitors
Demonstrate how to set up a brand kit and style guide to ensure consistency across websites, social media, business cards, posters etc.
Teach you how to create simple promotional graphics using a variety of tools including Canva
Highlight a variety of free tools including Google Drive, Hubspot and Mailchimp that can save time and simplify marketing tasks

How to build a digital marketing plan
2024-02-27 18:00 - 20:00
This webinar will guide you through the steps needed to create an effective digital marketing strategy, ensuring you focus on the right tactics to meet your business objectives and goals.
We will cover:

The importance of planning your digital marketing activities
Building your plan around a simple framework
Conducting a situational analysis (and understanding Customers and Competitors)
Developing your brand and tone of voice
Planning your Content strategy
Prioritising digital channels
Evaluating your Digital Marketing efforts

The business benefits of running a sustainable business
2024-02-27 14:00 - 16:00
It’s becoming increasingly important to customers to source their products from companies who have strong green credentials. This webinar will show how by becoming more sustainable you can increase sales and profits.
We will look at:
Understanding the problem
What is sustainability and why it is important
Innovation
Profiting from being a green business
Embracing a purpose beyond profit
The sustainability triple bottom line
Developing your own green charter
Examples of those practicing this way of growth with remarkable success
Top tips for going green

Selling Online – The Key to Success
2024-02-27 10:00 - 12:00 | Montrose Library, 214 High Street, Montrose, DD10 8PJ
Are you thinking of selling your products/services online and not sure where to start?
Fear not, help is on hand! Join ourselves and experts from the ecommerce industry to hear more about the opportunities available to grow your business online.
We’ll have Zishan Ashraf, Senior Merchant Success Manager EMEA at Shopify Plus on hand to tell us more about the platform and how their using data from buying habits to enhance the customer journey. We’ll also be joined by Daniel Rosie of DLR Media who is supporting brands across the region to thrive online. Daniel will share with us his top tips on getting started, from the initial considerations and launch to keeping your presence going. Businesses will walk away with a checklist of things to consider and research which will help you in your ecommerce journey.
Finally, we have Daniel McCabe from Trust Pilot who will demonstrate how to take your business reviews to the next level.
During the event there will be networking opportunities for you to meet link minded businesses from across Tayside helping grow your connections.
This event is open to businesses who are looking to grow their businesses online. At the event attendees will have the opportunity to book a 1-2-1 session with Daniel giving them the opportunity to discuss specific queries relating to ecommerce and their business. These 1-2-1 sessions will take place on 12 March 2024.

Instagram for business
2024-02-27 10:00 - 12:00
Thinking about using Instagram to communicate with existing and potential customers? Want to showcase your products or services using it? During this webinar we will cover:

Getting the setup right and benefitting from the available business tools.
Best practice profiles, and some strategies to help your business stand out from the crowd.
The types of audience you can reach via this platform and the factors and analytics such as cost and timing of posting images and how that can maximise impact.
The various types of content you can post to Instagram, from regular posts to Stories and Reels.

Delivering profit to drive growth
2024-02-27 10:00 - 12:00
The course covers financial analysis, strategic decision-making, resource allocation, and the role of innovation and scalability in leveraging profit for long-term success.
This course explores the relationship between a company’s profitability and its potential for growth. Participants will learn how to optimise profits and strategically reinvest them to foster sustainable growth. The course covers financial analysis, strategic decision-making, resource allocation, and the role of innovation and scalability in leveraging profit for long-term success.
The course will cover

Getting to know your financials
Controlling Growth
Improving decision making
Opportunities
Cash is king
Controlling Change
Pricing strategies for maximum profit
Measuring profit

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.
