Invest in Angus

Bookkeeping essentials
2025-08-20 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
This webinar is for those who are entering business for the first time or require an understanding of what is involved in financially managing a business, including basic bookkeeping, and creating a profit and loss account. You will also get an understanding of what expenses the business can claim and then how to fund your business. At the end of the session, you will receive a workbook on excel to help you manage and monitor costs and sales.
At the end of this session, you will be able to:

Implement basic bookkeeping skills across your business
Create a profit and loss account
Understand what expenses can and cannot be claimed
Use financial management to increase revenues and profits
Understand capital and revenue costs and how they are treated

Livestock IPM with Dr Claire Whittle
2025-08-20 10:30 - 14:30 | Guardswell Farm, Inchture, PH14 9QZ
Join the Soil Association at Guardswell Farm, Perthshire, with hosts Digby and Anna Lamotte for an engaging and practical workshop exploring what a Whole Farm approach to regenerative disease and pest management really looks like in practice. This session will focus on integrating animal health and welfare planning within a regenerative farming system.
We’re delighted to welcome Dr Claire Whittle – farmer, veterinary surgeon, and leading advocate for regenerative agriculture. Claire specialises in applying principles of ecosystem health on farms and will share insights on how regenerative practices can improve livestock resilience, reduce disease pressures, and enhance overall farm sustainability.
Through interactive discussion and practical examples, you’ll gain tools and strategies for building healthier systems from the soil up. This is an unmissable opportunity for farmers, land managers, and anyone interested in the future of sustainable livestock management.
Hot lunch included.
FREE and open to farmers, crofters, growers and land managers. Booking required.

Scaling lead generation and developing a clear value proposition
2025-08-20 13:00 - 15:00
How to grow your business by scaling your lead generation with Laura Burton

How to design a scalable online lead generation system
The key assets and tools you need to do the heavy lifting for you (yes, we’ll talk AI)
What to consider before you scale your leads (There might be another way to grow)

Developing a clear value proposition with Leisa Pickles

Discover the three essential ingredients of a killer value proposition
Learn how to reflect your customer’s exact needs using their own language to build connection and trust
Explore how to communicate your value clearly on social media to attract better-fit leads and generate more interest

SMAS Best Practice Visit to Scottish Leather Group
2025-08-21 09:00 - 11:30 | Scottish Leather Group, Turner Drive, Paisley, PA3 4EP
Join Scotland’s leading manufacturers on a journey of transformation through the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) Best Practice Visit Programme.
These exclusive visits are your chance to step inside pioneering businesses, see cutting-edge technologies in action, and walk away with ideas that can reshape your own operations.
Whether you’re looking to boost productivity, modernise legacy systems, or connect with like-minded peers—this is where progress begins.
As the UK’s leading leather manufacturer, Scottish Leather Group produces the world’s lowest carbon intensity leather, supplying prestigious global brands in aviation, automotive, rail, marine, and luxury goods.
With more than 500 years of heritage and a relentless focus on sustainability, circular manufacturing, and innovation, they are redefining what’s possible in modern manufacturing.
At this visit, you’ll see how Scottish Leather Group is:

Harnessing Vision Systems and AI to enhance quality control, reduce waste, and streamline production.
Modernising legacy processes while preserving craftsmanship and heritage.
Embedding sustainability at every stage, from circular manufacturing to carbon reduction.
Driving innovation through investment in digital transformation and workforce development.
Collaborating globally while staying rooted in Scottish excellence.

This is a chance to learn directly from a manufacturer that’s setting the standard for sustainable, tech-enabled production in a traditional industry. Discover Innovation in action.

Social media essentials: TikTok and Instagram Reels
2025-08-21 10:00 - 12:00
TikTok and Instagram Reels aren’t just for dance trends and lip-synching videos, they can also be a fantastic opportunity to engage with your customers and increase the reach of your business online. Learn how to create bitesize video content for more effective business communication on two of the most popular social platforms.
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

How your customer can tell you what you could do better
2025-08-21 11:00 - 12:30
This session will be delivered by GrowBiz Chief Operating Officer, Karen Nichol who has a background in business development, planning and marketing.
Karen will show you how collecting both numbers and stories from your customers can unlock powerful insights. You’ll discover how to use that feedback to elevate your offering—boosting loyalty, satisfaction, and ultimately, sales. Whether you run a product-based or service-based business, this session is packed with practical learning you won’t want to miss.
Join this session and you’ll walk away with:

Simple ways to ask customers for meaningful feedback
Tools to collect both data and rich customer stories
Tips to identify what customers really value (and what they don’t)
Strategies to use feedback to improve your offering and increase sales
Confidence to build feedback into your everyday customer journey

Join us to explore how small shifts in how you ask—and listen—can lead to big wins. One thoughtful question could spark your next breakthrough.

How to generate and increase sales
2025-08-25 13:00 - 15:00
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

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.

Finding, keeping and looking after your staff
2025-08-26 10:00 - 12:00
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

CAN DO Offshore Wind Innovation Showcase - Aberdeen
2025-08-26 10:00 - 16:00 | Net Zero Technology Centre, 20 Queen's Road, Aberdeen, AB15 4ZT
The CAN DO Offshore Wind Innovation Feasibility Challenge Call provides funding for companies looking to develop cutting-edge solutions to strengthen Scotland’s offshore wind supply chain.
To date, more than £1 million has been awarded to 22 companies. This event – one of two, in Glasgow and Aberdeen – will showcase their groundbreaking work so far.
As well as discovering the latest innovations in offshore wind, you’ll have the opportunity to:

Network with industry leaders, innovators, and developers
Explore new technologies and collaborative opportunities

Presenting Companies

Rovtech Solutions – Development of the VALOR™ Tether Management System.
Build the Reef Ltd – Building subsea protection structures to implement Artificial Reef Subsea Cable & Anchorage Protection.
Fennex Ltd – Developing AI-driven solutions to optimize offshore wind operations based on weather conditions.
SeaThor – Conducting a feasibility study for deploying CableSpring, a dynamic cable buoyancy module system.
TTI Marine Renewables Ltd – Developing their “Integrated Strain Sensor” designed to monitor the through-life health of mooring ropes deployed in Offshore Floating Wind Arrays.
GEG Holdings Ltd – Repurposing tanker jetties for use as deep-water berths supporting floating offshore wind.
Titan Energies Limited – Adapting proven oil & gas technology for offshore wind by redesigning drilling techniques and integrating them with existing wind mooring systems.
First Marine Solutions Limited – Exploring feasibility for a novel mooring integrity monitor for floating offshore wind platforms.

This event will be most beneficial for:

Scottish engineering and manufacturing companies
Offshore wind developers and supply chain professionals
Innovators, technologists, academics, and entrepreneurs
Anyone passionate about Scotland’s clean energy future

Event Highlights

Live presentations from funded innovators
Networking sessions with key stakeholders
Insights into Scotland’s offshore wind infrastructure, market opportunities, and innovation landscape

Spaces are limited – register now to secure your place.

Google Analytics – Understand how your website performs
2025-08-26 14:00 - 16:00
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that helps you understand how your website is performing. It helps answer lots of questions, including:

Which marketing channels drive traffic to your site?
What pages are users looking at the most?
What impact does mobile have on your potential customers?

During this webinar, we’ll help you understand how Google Analytics is set up and give you an overview of key reports. We’ll also look at other web analytics tools to help you online.

Making Tax Digital Explained: Businesses With Over £50k Turnover
2025-08-26 16:00 - 17:30
Whether you’re a sole trader, landlord, or small business owner, this friendly, no-nonsense session will get you up to speed.
If your combined income from self-employment and property is £50,000 or more, you’ll be required to follow the new rules from April 2026. We’ll cut through the confusion, explain what’s changing, and show you how to stay compliant without the stress.
This session will be presented by GrowBiz Finance Manager, Kirsteen Hardie.
By the end of the session, you’ll be able to:

Understand who MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment applies to and when it starts
Know exactly what you’ll need to submit to HMRC – and how often
See how cloud accounting can save time and make things easier
Get tips on choosing the right digital tools for your business
Feel confident about taking your next steps toward compliance

This session is a must to small businesses that meet this level of turnover – so please do come along to find out more.
GrowBiz provides enterprise support to businesses, social and micro-enterprises and the self-employed across rural and island Scotland. Please only book a space if you are based in rural Scotland.

How to start a business: The basics
2025-08-27 10:00 - 12:00
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

The future of retail: trends, challenges & opportunities
2025-08-27 12:00 - 13:30
This session will delve into the challenges, opportunities, and innovations shaping the sector today—from shifting consumer behaviours and sustainability goals to digital transformation and policy support.
Joining Host Hugh Lightbody, our panellists will share practical insights and strategic perspectives in response to key questions such as:

What are the biggest challenges currently facing the Scottish retail sector?
How are you adapting your business to face these challenges?
How has consumer behaviour in Scotland evolved over the past year, and what trends are you paying attention to?
What steps can businesses take to build resilience against economic pressures such as inflation and energy costs?
Looking ahead, what does a successful and sustainable Scottish retail landscape look like in 2030

Our panellists are:

Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Deputy Head, Scottish Retail Consortium
Emily Still, Gull’s Grocery
Alex Feechan, Findra Clothing

Following the panel, attendees are invited to stay on for an informal online networking session. This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow retailers, share ideas, and continue the conversation in a relaxed and collaborative setting.
Join us to share your experience, inspire others, and help shape a thriving future for Scottish retail.

The simplicity strategy for STEM edupreneurs
2025-08-27 13:00 - 13:30
You’ve got STEM expertise and big ideas. But instead of launching, you’re stuck overthinking, overbuilding and overwhelmed.
This free 30-minute session is designed for STEM teachers and professionals who want to cut through the noise and finally move from ideas to income.
Learn simplicity-first strategy with Katerina Thomas:

Discover why complexity slows down every STEM edupreneur and how to overcome it
Learn the Simplicity-first strategy in three clear steps that cut overwhelm and build momentum
Practice a fast-win exercise that shows how simple your first launch can be

Growing your online network to attract new customers
2025-08-27 13:00 - 15:00
Developing a network of potential partners and customers with Alison Battisby

Learn how to create a compelling LinkedIn profile that builds trust, highlights your value proposition and attracts potential partners, clients and investors
Discover proven techniques for identifying and connecting with the right people to grow your business network
Understand how to use posts, articles and comments to generate meaningful conversations that can lead to opportunities

Selling products outside of your existing network with Carol Carson

Explore online sales channels to get your products in front of new buyers
Tapping into collaborations, referrals and affiliates and reaching new customers
Using social media to find buyers and reach customers beyond your current followers

Social media essentials: Instagram
2025-08-27 14:00 - 16:00
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

Social media essentials: Facebook
2025-08-27 18:00 - 20:00
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

ANGUSalive’s ‘On Stage’ Launch
2025-08-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Webster Memorial Theatre, 64 High Street, Arbroath, DD11 1AW
Join us for an exclusive event at The Webster Memorial Theatre in Arbroath, as we launch our latest ‘On Stage’ brochure, outlining the programme of upcoming performances across ANGUSalive venues.
Discover how your business can take centre stage with us, learn how we can support each other when performances come to town, and connect with other local businesses.
We hope you can join us to find out more about our plans, hear some top tips from businesses who have benefited from past performances, and enjoy a tour of the theatre.
Refreshments will be provided.

Lunch and Learn: The state of small business marketing in the UK
2025-08-28 12:00 - 12:30
Running a small business in 2025 is no small feat. Between rising costs, shifting customer expectations and the constant buzz around AI, it’s hard to know where to focus your marketing – or if what you’re doing is even working.
In this Lunch and Learn session, we’ll share some of the latest trends shaping small business marketing in the UK – including how businesses like yours are approaching email, trying out AI tools and navigating the impact of inflation and global trade.
You’ll hear new findings from Constant Contact’s 2025 State of Small Business Marketing report, along with practical takeaways and ideas to help you plan your next steps.
Whether you’re hands-on with your marketing or just trying to keep up, this session is designed to give you a clearer picture of what’s working, what’s not, and where small businesses are headed next.
Topics covered in this session:

How UK small businesses are adapting their marketing strategies in 2025
Actionable ideas and strategies to improve your marketing
Practical ways to navigate current challenges

How to create engaging content
2025-08-28 14:00 - 16:00
Producing quality content is an excellent way of helping your customers develop a meaningful relationship with your brand, services and products. In this webinar we will show you how to source and develop a variety of content for your website and social channels.
This session is ideal for businesses that already have a business website or use social media and now want to take it a step further, and develop the skills to show your audience that you are a trusted operator in your field.
We will help you:

Understand what kind of content your customers are looking for
Source, write and deliver that content
Amplify your brand and message and boost engagement online

What creative professionals need to know about AI
2025-08-29 10:00 - 16:00 | V&A Museum, 3 Greenmarket, Dundee, DD1 4QB
Everyone’s talking about Artificial Intelligence – but what does it mean for you as an artist or creative?
AI is already having an impact on the creative industries. We think every creative professional should have the opportunity to learn and explore AI tools in a creative and safe environment.
Is it possible to use AI tools in an ethical way? And how can you protect your own work from being exploited.
We’ll explore the ethical issues of using AI, covering topics like intellectual property, environmental impact, and possible misuse.
What we’ll cover:

Discover how Artificial Intelligence apps work
Learn about the most popular and powerful Generative AI tools used by creative professionals: including DALL·E, Midjourney, Copilot, and Gemini
Get advice about protecting your work, and understanding what artists can do to avoid being exploited or replaced by this technology
Discuss ethical issues surrounding AI art, like intellectual property, safety, and the environment

This course is aimed at AI beginners – You don’t need to be a technical expert to take part. We’ve written the course to be jargon-free and easy to understand.
This course is for people working in the culture sector as creative professionals.
This includes visual artists, illustrators, designers, makers and crafters, photographers, filmmakers, performers, writers, and digital creatives such as animators or game designers.
The course is also for educators and facilitators delivering creative workshops or learning programmes. Curators and producers involved in creative projects or exhibitions would also benefit.
You’ll find it useful if your role involves a significant amount of creative work, even if you’d not call yourself an artist. For example marketing professionals, social media managers, and digital content creators.

Lunch and Learn: Spotting opportunity in disruption
2025-08-29 12:00 - 12:30
When the pandemic made Gail Irvine’s core business model unsustainable, she didn’t scale down – she redesigned.
In this 30-minute session, Gail shares the real story behind that reinvention and offers practical strategies any small business can use to pivot, simplify and scale, even with limited resources.
This session is ideal for founders, community interest companies (CICs) and business owners navigating change, uncertainty or growth.
Topics covered in this session:

How to spot opportunity in disruption: Learn how to read the market and pivot strategically without starting from scratch.
A clear path to reinvention: How to tidy up your offer, simplify your day-to-day and grow – even without a big team.
Tools and tactics to work smarter, not harder: Get practical ideas to automate admin, increase visibility and boost income without a big budget.

How to build your brand
2025-08-29 12:00 - 14:00
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

Video production for digital marketing
2025-09-01 09:30 - 11:30
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

SMAS best practice visit to MacIntyre Chocolate Systems
2025-09-01 10:00 - 13:00 | MacIntyre Chocolate Systems, Kirkton Industrial Estate, Arbroath, DD11 3RD
To celebrate the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) turning 20, we’re hosting a series of best practice visits (BPVs) throughout 2025. You can now sign up to participate in our upcoming visit to MacIntyre Chocolate Systems.
This visit will highlight how organisational culture can support the use of innovation as a key business tool to help safeguard the future of your business and directly contribute to its bottom line.
Part of the Probat group, MacIntyre Chocolate Systems is a worldwide supplier of chocolate manufacturing and processing equipment. Formed in 1974, the company has historical roots in Scotland that can be traced back to the 1800s. With around 98% of its products exported and a customer base stretching across 116 countries, this organisation is a truly global business.
Under the direction of Managing Director Joe Gorman, MacIntyre Chocolate Systems changed its operations by shifting the workplace culture to better engage with and empower its staff. This allowed the organisation to tap into its workers’ wealth of product knowledge and high-level engineering skill, to create a boundless capability for innovation which is now part of the organisation’s DNA and a key differentiator in the markets they serve.
During this visit, Joe Gorman will talk us through the organisation’s history and cultural revolution, then explain how using innovation as a business tool linked to the financial bottom line has placed the company at the very top of its sector. There will also be a Q&A session, so please come with your questions ready as this is very much an audience participation event.
You’ll also be able to visit the shop floor and see the business processes in operation, which should answer some questions and perhaps provoke a few more. You’ll have a chance to ask any final questions after the tour.

Lunch and Learn: How to value your business before raising investment
2025-09-01 12:00 - 12:30
Struggling to determine the right valuation for your business when seeking investment?
Setting the correct valuation is critical – price it too high and you may scare off investors; price it too low and you could regret it for years.
In this Lunch and Learn, funding expert Paul Grant shares a proven approach to confidently setting your company’s valuation for investors. Many entrepreneurs lack confidence in valuing their business and end up making poor agreements or missing out on investment opportunities.
Fortunately, there’s a straightforward method to value even early-stage companies effectively, so you can present a compelling case to investors.
During this session, Paul will explore three key methods you can adopt to value your company and give yourself the best possible chance of securing investment.
Topics covered in this session:

How business angels assess early-stage businesses
How to set a credible valuation for your company
Tactics to boost your start-up’s valuation

AI: The power, the productivity, the profit
2025-09-01 18:30 - 19:30
Using agentic AI to run parts of your business when you are tied up.
The host is Sam Onigbanjo, who has over 20 years marketing and coaching experience. He is CEO of AI Academy for Beginners and he publishes regular articles on AI for the SME community. He’s also an alumni of Said Business School, University of Oxford.
Key takeaways from this session:

How to use faceless marketing from the comfort of your home (and keep your privacy)
How agentic AI can help you start, grow and save money
How you can go push products and services global with AI

An introduction to business strategy
2025-09-02 10:00 - 12:00
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

Lunch and Learn: Joining supply chains and mastering public contract bids
2025-09-02 12:00 - 12:30
Are you a business owner looking to expand your reach, diversify your revenue streams and secure stable contracts?
This webinar is designed to demystify two powerful avenues for growth: integrating into existing supply chains and successfully bidding for public contracts. In today’s dynamic market, collaborating and engaging with the public sector can be hugely beneficial for businesses of all sizes.
We’ll explore the tangible benefits of becoming a valuable link in a supply chain and provide practical insights into the often-complex world of government procurement.
Topics covered in this session:

Advantages of joining supply chains: Discover how joining supply chains can increase sales, lower running costs, provide access to new markets and boost your business’s credibility and stability. We’ll discuss different types of supply chain relationships and how to identify the right fit for your organisation.
Navigating public procurement: Gain a clear understanding of the public contracting environment, including common types of contracts, where to find opportunities and the essential steps involved in the bidding process. We’ll explain acronyms and look at the common pitfalls, so you can approach public tenders with confidence.
Essential requirements for successful public bids: Learn about the crucial documents, certifications and compliance standards typically required to bid for public contracts in the UK. We’ll cover everything from financial solvency and technical capacity to sustainability criteria and ethical considerations, making sure you’re well-prepared to submit a winning proposal.
