Invest in Angus

#MadeOnAMobile
2025-10-20 10:00 - 12:30 UTC
Do you watch videos on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram or LinkedIn and wonder… should I be doing that too?
If you want to promote your business, share your story, or build your brand, video is a powerful way to connect. This two-part workshop will show you how to create authentic, engaging content, using just your phone.
Session 1: Filmmaking Foundations (Online via Zoom)
Start with the essentials that will shape everything you create:
Plan and structure your story
Compose compelling shots
Edit video clips with sound, titles and transitions, all on your mobile device
Video is the only format where your audience can hear your voice, see your face, and feel your passion, even when you’re not in the room.
Whether you use Apple or Android, you’ll leave with the confidence to shoot and edit creative content that truly connects.
This is a two part event. When you book the first session you are also booking session 2 on 23rd October at Arbroath Football Club from 10am – 4.30pm, where you’ll get hands-on experience with interview techniques and learn how to share your finished video across social media and the web, ensuring it reaches and resonates with the right audience.

Lunch and Learn: Why sleep is a performance tool, not a luxury
2025-10-20 12:00 - 12:30
In this practical session, health and performance coach Michelle Flynn will explore why sleep is critical to health, focus and resilience – especially for busy professionals.
You’ll learn how poor sleep affects performance, the common habits that quietly sabotage rest and simple, science-backed strategies to improve both the quality and quantity of your sleep.
The session is designed to leave you with realistic tools you can apply immediately to boost energy, productivity and wellbeing.
Topics covered in this session:

How quality sleep boosts focus, decision-making, resilience and energy levels in both business and life
How to spot and fix the hidden things that disrupt sleep
Practical strategies to improve both the quality and quantity of sleep – without complicated routines
Realistic changes small business owners can implement immediately to protect their health, avoid burnout and perform at their best

How to write funding applications
2025-10-20 12:00 - 14:00
Securing funding can be a game-changer — but writing a strong application takes more than just filling out forms.
This webinar will offer tools and insights to help improve your chances of a successful application, including:

Clarifying and communicating your funding need
Building a persuasive business case with clear objectives and costings
Understanding your funder’s priorities and tailoring your language
Presenting evidence that demonstrates impact and credibility
Avoiding common mistakes that lead to rejection
Structuring your application for clarity and relevance

THRIVE+ : Food & Drink Legislation and Labelling
2025-10-21 10:30 - 12:00
Session 1: Tuesday 21 October

Session 2: Tuesday 28 October
This event is part of a series of THRIVE+ skills development events delivered by experienced industry trainers.
This 2-session training webinar will be delivered by industry experts and will cover the following key topics:

Food labelling required on front and back of pack (including ingredient declaration, nutrition information)
Legislation vs guidance
Food safety act
Food safety management system (HACCP, TACCP and VACCP)
Food allergens
Health claims
Novel food list

This package is aimed at food and drink entrepeneurs throughout the UK and food industry professionals looking to expand their food legislation and labelling expertise (Technical, NPD, sales, marketing, food production).
There will be a Q&A section at the end of each session.

How to generate and increase sales
2025-10-21 13:00 - 17:00
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

Using Food Tourism to Power Scotland’s Culinary Identity
2025-10-22 10:00 - 11:00
Scotland’s food and drink are among its greatest assets. And when thoughtfully developed, they can become powerful drivers of economic growth, community pride, and environmental sustainability.
This webinar, based on Crafting Your Taste of Place by Erik Wolf, Executive Director, World Food Travel Association, will explore how food tourism can help your region stand out and thrive.
Tailored to Scotland’s producers, suppliers, and tourism stakeholders, the session offers practical guidance for turning local food culture into unforgettable visitor experiences that benefit businesses and communities alike.
Whether your area is already on the map or emerging, discover how to harness your culinary identity to its full potential.

Accounting for Limited Companies
2025-10-22 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar is designed to outline the key accounting and statutory reporting requirements for a limited company and explain the main differences between operating as a sole trader versus a limited company.
We’ll cover:

Advantages and disadvantages of setting up as a limited company
Company set-up
Accounting requirements
Record keeping and employing staff
Paying directors and shareholders
Corporation Tax
VAT
Software
Management accounts
Incorporation

By the end of the webinar you should have a solid basis of deciding if a limited company is the correct structure for your business, and have an understanding of what is involved in accounting for a limited company.

Social media marketing update: October 2025
2025-10-22 12:00 - 13:00
Boost your social media skills with our free October update!
This online event is ideal for social media managers, small business owners, and marketing professionals looking to stay ahead of the latest trends.
What to expect:

Top trends and insights: Explore the latest social media trends, B2B and B2C strategies, and tools that are shaping the industry in 2025.
Live demonstrations and best practice examples: See real-life case studies and demonstrations from leading brands, showing you what’s working now.
Expert-led sessions: Gain actionable insights from Alison Battisby, social media expert and founder of Avocado Social.

How to build a digital marketing plan
2025-10-22 14:00 - 16:00
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

Social media essentials: Instagram
2025-10-22 18:00 - 20:00
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

Thorntons Webinar - Data Records, Retention & Secure Disposal
2025-10-23 09:30 - 10:30
The ICO’s recent £18000 penalty against Birthlink, a Scottish charity, in relation to destruction of a large volume of personal records highlighted the importance of ensuring compliance with the basic principles of good data governance, clear retention timeframes and secure disposal.
It serves as a reminder that a personal data breach is broadly interpreted and includes destroying personal data when it ought not to have been. Organisations must have in place clear processes and procedures to manage records and personal data in them to avoid personal data breaches as well as the human impact mismanagement can have.
Join Morgan O’Neill and Loretta Maxfield to explore the requirements and benefits associated with record keeping, retention and secure disposal methods and a practical outlook of how organisations may wish to implement these.

Employing staff, introducing a manager and building your team
2025-10-23 10:00 - 16:00 | Bowmuir Farm Holidays, Bowmuir Farm, Biggar, ML11 8LX
Join Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme for a talk from Core Community Group members Tom and Sarah Parker as they share their real-world experience of successfully introducing a new manager into their business. Discover what worked, what they learned, and how they made the transition seamless for their staff and customers.
Whether you’re considering hiring your first manager or looking to strengthen your leadership structure, this session offers practical tips on how to employ the right people and build a strong, capable team.

Lunch and Learn: Understanding your pension ahead of Budget day
2025-10-23 12:00 - 12:30
Understand your pension now – be ready for Budget day.
The Autumn Budget often reshapes pensions, tax and investments. Knowing exactly what you have today means you can prepare calmly, without reacting irrationally to headlines or fear.
Topics covered in this session:

How pensions really work
How much you will need for a comfortable retirement
The smartest ways to save using a limited company
The role of cash flow modelling in long-term planning

How to start a business: The basics
2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00
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

Guided by HR: Drop-In Sessions on the Employment Rights Bill
2025-10-24 10:00 - 16:00
The UK Government released its official roadmap for implementing the Employment Rights Bill, these are the biggest set of workplace reforms in decades.
Do you know what’s changing, when it’s happening, and how it could affect your business? Or would you just like an informal chat about your people challenges?
Book a relaxed one-to-one session with our HR adviser and chat through what the upcoming changes could mean for your business, including:

Day 1 Rights: what it means for unfair dismissal, parental leave and probation
Zero Hours Contracts: new rules and obligations for employers
The Fair Work Agency: their remit and how they’ll enforce compliance
Practical HR impacts: policies, contracts, handbooks and compliance checks
Your questions: any people-related issues you’re facing right now

Why come along?

Understand the reforms in plain English
Get tailored, practical advice for your business
Stay compliant and protect your workforce
Opportunity to raise your own HR or people-related concerns

Building soil monitoring into policy
2025-10-24 10:30 - 12:00
Part of the “Envisioning the future of soil health monitoring” series for AI 4 Soil Health (AI4SH), hosted by Soil Association.
What data do policymakers need to protect soils, and how will the new EU Soil Monitoring Law help deliver it? How can projects like AI4SH support member states in turning the Soil Monitoring Law into effective monitoring systems on the ground? What lessons can we learn from Denmark’s approach to integrating soil monitoring into its national environmental monitoring programme?
Sign up to this free webinar to join leading experts to discuss these topics and learn more about how soil science is being used to develop European policies.
In this webinar we are joined by AI 4 Soil Health project partners and policy experts to discuss the opportunities and challenges of implementing the new Soil Monitoring Law across Europe. The panel will explore how robust soil data can bridge the gap between science and policy, what practical steps are needed to embed monitoring into national programmes, and how collaborative projects can accelerate progress towards healthier soils across the EU.

Lunch and Learn: How to get the best out of working with a journalist
2025-10-24 12:00 - 12:30
In this 30-minute session led by Fiona Scott, you’ll learn what makes journalists happy, what you shouldn’t do when interacting with a journalist and why third-party validation from journalists is more important than ever.
Topics covered in this session:

What journalists are not looking for
What they are looking for
How getting validation from an independent third party can have a positive impact on your small business

Social media essentials: Facebook
2025-10-27 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

UNITE Digital Health Scottish Matchmaking Event
2025-10-27 10:00 - 14:00 | Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, 50 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6HQ
This free in-person event aims to foster collaborative project opportunities by connecting Scottish stakeholders with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working in digital health.
It provides an opportunity to showcase digital health projects with the potential to be developed under the UNITE initiative and to identify suitable Scottish partners for collaboration.
In addition to supporting UNITE-specific opportunities, the event will also encourage broader knowledge exchange and cross-sector collaboration within Scotland’s digital and health ecosystems, helping to spark connections that may lead to future initiatives.

Lunch and Learn: Five ways to get customers without spending money
2025-10-27 12:00 - 12:30
Ready to get noticed by the tools you already use, land high-value deals without ad spend and turn your Instagram into a 24/7 sales engine?
In this high-impact webinar with entrepreneur Timothy Armoo, you’ll uncover unconventional, proven strategies for getting in front of the right audiences without spending money.
Topics covered in this session:

How to get featured by the software tools you use daily
How to hijack viral posts and land huge deals
The secret to turning your Instagram highlights into an always-on sales funnel
How to partner with leaders in your industry without paying them

Social media essentials: LinkedIn
2025-10-27 14:00 - 16:00
No longer just an online CV, LinkedIn can be an incredibly powerful – and profitable – business tool.
During this webinar, you will:

Learn how to create a LinkedIn strategy to boost your business reputation via marketing and brand promotion initiatives
Learn the difference between personal and company profiles and how to optimise them for both maximum visibility and brand awareness
Understand that content is king on LinkedIn, and we’ll show you how to plan and produce captivating content that enriches your brand

EOI - Learning Journey: Visit to Amazon Fulfilment Centre, Dublin
2025-10-28 09:00 - 17:00
Join this visit to Amazon’s fulfilment centre in Dublin and learn more about the eCommerce market in the Republic of If you’re a Scottish-based SME looking to expand your reach into the Republic of Ireland, this learning journey is for you.
With expert-led sessions and a behind-the-scenes tour of Amazon’s Dublin fulfilment centre, this two-day event is a unique opportunity to learn how to sell effectively across Ireland and the EU.
Over the course of the event, you’ll:

Learn practical strategies to boost your eCommerce sales in Ireland and the EU
Network with industry experts and fellow ambitious Scottish SMEs
Get actionable insights tailored to your business needs

Through a series of tailored sessions and workshops, you’ll learn:

ECommerce regulations and logistics in the Republic of Ireland and the EU
Strategies for using Amazon and other online marketplaces
Insights on cross-border trade, customs, and VAT compliance
How SMEs can use technology and streamlined processes to deliver products quickly and efficiently across Ireland and Europe

Well-Being for Small Businesses
2025-10-28 11:00 - 12:30
Join us for this engaging session tailored for rural Scottish small business owners, where we’ll explore ways to enhance well-being and build resilience. This session will be presented by GrowBiz Mentoring Coordinator Shareon Gordon who also runs her own business in health and wellbeing.
We’ll dive into:

Identifying Limiting Beliefs: Understand what’s holding you back and how to overcome it.
Supporting Yourself: Discover practical strategies to sustain your well-being, even when things don’t go as planned, and learn how to reset when needed.
The Wheel of Life: Gain insights into your current balance across key areas of life and business.
Setting Goals: Craft three wishes and a guiding “star” to support you in your business, then conclude with a powerful declaration of intent to see you through the up and coming winter months.

You will walk away with clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose which will support you for the rest of the year and beyond.

Lunch and Learn: Cutting through information overload with AI
2025-10-28 12:00 - 12:30
In this Lunch and Learn Q&A, Dropbox’s Andy Wilson will demonstrate how small businesses can cut through information overload and make AI work for them.
Many AI tools offer generic intelligence, but the real advantage comes from solutions that understand a business’s own content and workflows. AI that understands a team’s work can help them take action faster, make better decisions and work with confidence.
Andy will also explain how Dropbox Dash can make it easier to find relevant information quickly, connect pieces of content across a team and turn existing knowledge into actionable insights, all without starting from scratch.
Topics covered in this session:

How small businesses can leverage AI in ways that are specific to their workflows and content
How AI can accelerate execution and support confident decision-making
How Dropbox Dash enables teams to search naturally, surface relevant information instantly, and build on existing content to get work done faster

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2025-10-29 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

How to go global without the headaches
2025-10-29 12:00 - 12:30
Thinking about international expansion, or just curious about what it takes?
We know this can often feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. This session, led by our expert speaker Mike Wilson, is designed to help founders and small business owners explore new markets with confidence and without the stress and complexity that often comes with it.
From testing demand to managing cross-border payments and logistics, Mike will break down the practical steps to understand what’s involved in expanding internationally and how to do it efficiently.
You’ll also learn how Airwallex helps SMEs expand faster by simplifying cross-border payments, helping you set up quickly in new markets and offering better FX rates through multi-currency accounts and local payouts – all in one platform.
Topics covered in this session:

How to explore new markets with minimal upfront investment
Managing multiple currencies and payments seamlessly
Ket logistics, compliance, and partner considerations
How Airwallex simplifies global operations for SMEs

Building a business set-up that's ready for AI
2025-10-29 12:00 - 12:30
Running a small business means wearing many hats, but managing your tech shouldn’t be the one that takes up your time. In this online event, we’ll dive into the world of building a resilient, AI-ready technology “stack”.
In this half-hour session, experts from Dell and Intel will show you how the latest tools can simplify device management, boost productivity and give you peace of mind.
You’ll discover how Dell Pro Premium and Intel vPro® make setting up, securing and running devices effortless, and see how features like Autopilot and Lunar Lake can cut down admin and help your team stay connected.
Whether you’re ordering your first business laptops or scaling a growing team, this webinar will give you practical tips to save time, reduce stress and make technology work harder for you.
Join us for a focused chat and walk away with actionable steps to reimagine the way you work.

Tay Country Travel Trade Ready: Insights & Action
2025-10-29 13:30 - 18:30
Welcome to Tay Country Travel Trade Ready: Insights & Action event!
Come join us at Malmaison on October 29, 2025 at 13:30pm for an opportunity to gain valuable insights and take actionable steps to enhance your travel trade readiness.
Thank you to everyone who recently completed our survey on how your business is currently engaging with the travel trade, the opportunities you’re looking to explore, and the challenges we can support you with. Your feedback is shaping how we move forward together.
This free-to-attend event is designed to provide practical insights, inspiration, and networking opportunities to help your business strengthen its trade relationships and grow international reach. Spaces are limited, so early registration is encouraged.
Outline Agenda
13:30 – 14:00 | Arrival & Networking
Refreshments and informal networking
14:00 – 14:10 | Welcome from Tay Country – Jemma
Introduction & key insights from our recent business survey
14:10 – 14:25 | International Markets – VisitScotland – Lynette McLennan
Opportunities, demand shifts, and how to engage with markets
14:25 – 14:35 | What Happens at Trade Shows – Yvonne Wagoun
Maximising opportunities and preparing effectively
14:35 – 14:45 | Responsible & Sustainable Tourism – VisitScotland – Lynette McLennan
What businesses should be considering now – Quick wins for businesses
14:45 – 14:55 | How an Operator Works – Guest Operator
Insights into what makes businesses “bookable”
14:55 – 15:00 | Package Travel Regulations – VisitScotland / Travlaw – Lynette McLennan
Essentials, do’s & don’ts, and upcoming changes
15:00 – 15:05 | Group Travel Toolkit Launch – Tay Country – Jemma
Overview of the new toolkit
15:05 – 15:20 | Pricing & Commission – Yvonne Wagoun
Commission-ready pricing and operator expectations
15:20 – 15:55 | Practical Takeaway Workshop
Guided exercise: businesses choose one priority action (e.g., adjust pricing with commission, add a sustainability element, or prepare for a trade show)

Speakers circulate to provide tips and answer questions
Each business leaves with a short action to implement straight away

15:55 – 16:00 | Wrap-up & Next Steps
16:00 – 18.30 | Drinks Reception & Dundee Experience Preview

Lunch and Learn: How to use AI in marketing ethically and responsibly
2025-10-30 12:00 - 12:30
Want to create high-quality content faster without losing your brand’s voice or accuracy?
Join expert marketer Martin Wilde for a fast, hands-on session for organisations on using AI across your marketing and comms.
From website content and email marketing to social posts and promotional materials, learn how to ideate, draft, localise and repurpose quickly without the risk of creating generic content, losing accuracy and your unique tone of voice.
Leave with a pre-publish checklist, challenge prompts and a process that keeps content accurate.
Topics covered in this session:

A practical, end-to-end workflow, from idea to publication, with clear approval steps that protect accuracy, tone and reduce bias
A copy-and-paste prompt pack to ideate, outline, draft and publish repurpose across web, email and social
Ethical guardrails and quick tests (cite-or-strike, five-second clarity, bias scan)

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: creating added value experiences
2025-10-30 14:00 - 14:30
Explore how thoughtful enhancements can generate greater returns through travel distribution.
Unpack what added value really means, highlight ways to elevate your existing product, and show how to present experiences that appeal to partners and high-yield visitors.
