Invest in Angus

Before you sign that lease: What every retail business must check
2026-02-19 11:00 - 12:00 UTC
Signing a retail lease is a major commitment, and the terms you agree to can affect your business long after you move in. Knowing what to check before you sign helps avoid hidden costs and restrictive obligations.
Join our free webinar, Before You Sign That Lease: What Every Retail Business Must Check, with LegalVision’s Paul Loccisano.
Key takeaways:

Understanding lease boundaries and repair obligations
When a break clause can protect your flexibility
How rent reviews and ongoing costs work

Unlocking global growth | Lunch and Learn
2026-02-19 12:00 - 12:30
The UK continues to expand its network of free trade agreements (FTAs), creating new opportunities for businesses that know how to take advantage of them.
In this Lunch and Learn, John Austin-Sheridan from the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) will explain what the UK’s FTAs mean in practice for growing businesses, and how you can start using them more effectively.
With a particular focus on India, this session will explore the commercial opportunities the agreement will unlock when it comes into effect later this year, and how UK businesses can prepare now to benefit.
The webinar will also introduce DBT’s export services, outlining the practical support available to help businesses enter new markets, reduce barriers to trade and scale internationally.
This session is ideal for businesses that are already exporting, as well as those considering international growth for the first time.
Topics covered in this session:

The UK’s free trade agreements and what they mean for your business
The India trade agreement and the opportunities it will create when it comes into effect this year
How DBT’s export services can support your international growth

Social media essentials: TikTok and Instagram Reels
2026-02-19 12:00 - 14:00
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

Consortium Creation and Planning
2026-02-19 14:00 - 15:30
Consortium bidding offers numerous benefits for small businesses, social enterprises, supported businesses and third sector type organisations including increased access to larger contracts, reduced individual risk, and enhanced market reach. By pooling resources and expertise, small businesses can compete for projects they might not be able to undertake alone.
Many SMEs, social enterprises and supported businesses are capable of providing the goods and services required in tenders, but don’t feel ready to respond to the bid, so they miss out on opportunities to grow. You can overcome these hurdles by collaborating with other businesses. By working together as a consortium co-operative, businesses increase their capacity and their skills range, to be able to bid for contracts previously out with your reach.
During this course you will learn:

What a ‘Consortium’ is
Key features of this business model
Structure of collaborative working
Benefits of a co-operative bid and collaborative working
Why there is a need for consortium bidding
Next steps – how to create an incorporated consortium company
Include examples or case studies of successful consortium bids
FAQ

How to become investment-ready | Lunch and Learn
2026-02-20 12:00 - 12:30
In this session, Nigel Farren will equip start-up and small business owners with the essential knowledge they need to secure investment.
The webinar will guide you through a comprehensive readiness journey, from understanding your business strengths and weaknesses to mastering the art of pitching.
Topics covered in this session:

What information investors need to make decisions
How to identify weaknesses in your business and how to fix them
Mastering the art of pitching

Business Structures: What is best suitable to your Agritourism Business?
2026-02-20 12:00 - 13:00
Business structures. What is the best way to structure your agritourism, farm retail and farming businesses? One business or two or more?
Learn about advantages and disadvantages for tax planning, business rates, family succession and other factors with this one hour webinar hosted by Ian Craig and Alan Glen, Azets. There will be the chance to ask questions.

How to write funding applications
2026-02-23 10:00 - 12:00
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

Your Business MOT - Drop-In Sessions
2026-02-23 10:00 - 15:00 | Business Gateway Arbroath, Unit 9 Harbour Visitor Centre, Arbroath, DD11 1PS
If you’ve just launched a full-time venture or you’re growing a side hustle, our free Business MOT drop-in sessions are here to help.
Pop in for a relaxed, one-to-one chat with our expert advisers. We’ll take a look at what’s working well, spot any gaps, and guide you towards the right support to help you grow. It’s simple, practical, and tailored to you, so you can move forward with confidence.
Drop in for a free business check-up, because every start-up deserves a strong start.

Bookkeeping essentials
2026-02-24 10:00 - 12:00
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

You will also receive a workbook on excel to help you manage and monitor costs and sales.

How to turn leads into clients | Lunch and Learn
2026-02-24 12:00 - 12:30
Most sales are won in the follow-up, yet it’s often the step that gets missed.
In this practical Lunch and Learn session, sales expert Leisa Pickles will walk you through a simple seven-step framework to help you stay organised, build stronger relationships and convert more leads into paying clients.
You’ll discover what makes follow-up effective, how to adapt your approach for different types of leads and which tools and templates can save you time.
Perfect for small business owners who want a structured, confidence-boosting approach to follow-up that actually works!
Topics covered in this session:

What makes follow-up effective
A practical seven-step follow-up framework
How to tailor your outreach for different lead types
Ways to improve your conversion rates
Simple tools and templates you can put in place
Analyse and optimise your follow-up process

Ditching the spreadsheet: When and how to switch to cloud accounting
2026-02-24 14:00 - 15:00
Still managing your accounts in spreadsheets? It’s worth knowing that as your business grows, manual bookkeeping can quickly become time-consuming, error-prone and stressful.
Join this free Tech Hub webinar to discover when it’s time to move on from manual processes and how cloud accounting can transform the way you manage your finances.
We’ll explore practical ways to simplify your admin, stay compliant and reduce manual work – all while gaining better visibility and control over your business performance.
What you’ll learn:

Recognising the signs: How to tell when spreadsheets are holding your business back
Making the switch: What to look for in cloud accounting software and how to get started smoothly
Simplifying financial admin: Tips to manage digital records efficiently and cut down on repetitive tasks
The future of finance: Discover Sage Copilot, an AI-powered tool designed to streamline workflows and support smarter, faster decision-making

Whether you’re a sole trader, a small business owner or an accountant supporting clients, this session will help you take the next step towards a simpler, smarter way to manage your finances.

How to start a business: The basics
2026-02-24 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

Where trees meet bees: Agroforestry for pollinators
2026-02-24 19:00 - 20:00
Join this free Soil Association webinar exploring the potential of agroforestry as a pollinator friendly farming practice.

Environmental science community webinar: UKRI investment approach
2026-02-25 09:00 - 10:00
Following the spending review, which provided a record four-year settlement, UK Research and Innovation is changing the way some of its investment is directed. This is to align with national priorities and contribute to economic growth across the UK.
The webinar is an opportunity for the environmental science community to hear from NERC leadership about what these changes mean. Professor Louise Heathwaite, NERC Executive Chair, will provide an overview. This will be followed by a question and answer panel featuring Rupert Lewis (Deputy Executive Chair, NERC) and Kate Hamer (Director of Strategy and Performance, NERC).

Business expenses – What can I claim?
2026-02-25 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar focuses on the main areas of spend that many businesses might incur, and provides a detailed and HMRC backed overview of what can and should be claimed.
This webinar will cover:

What constitutes a business expense
The HMRC rules around business expenses
What you can claim and more importantly what you cannot when submitting an accurate tax return
The main expenses that are claimable, what can be claimed and how they should be calculated

Heat Seminar 2026
2026-02-25 12:00 - 16:00 | Scottish Renewables’ Office, 24 St Vincent Place, Glasgow, G1 2EU
A quiet revolution is reshaping Scotland’s energy future: the shift from a market-led energy system to one that is strategically planned. Post-2030, the electrification of heat and transport will be pivotal in transforming the electricity system. But despite ongoing developments with strategic planning and transmission networks, decarbonising heat remains the missing piece of the puzzle.
There is an urgent need to address the lack of strategic planning for low-carbon heat, resolve the growing disparity between gas and electricity prices and determine what’s needed from government to enable the large-scale adoption of low-carbon heat – all critical steps in building a secure, affordable, clean energy system.
This event will bring together leading experts, policymakers and key decision-makers to examine the role of heat in an electrified system, tackle the difficult questions and discuss the urgent policy interventions needed to significantly increase the deployment of low-carbon heat.
Secure your place today and be part of the conversation that will shape the next decade of heat decarbonisation.

A whole farm approach to system change: Going organic
2026-02-25 12:30 - 14:00
Join us for a practical look at how one farm approached the organic conversion process and what support is available.
Rachel Ives transitioned her farm five years ago from an intensive arable system to organic livestock and rotational grazing.
Hear how reducing inputs has helped soil health and nature thrive, and how moving to a holistic system has reduced the need for livestock treatment.
If you are interested in organic conversion or curious about how organic principles could be implemented on your farm to reduce inputs and help nature thrive, join us for a practical look at how one farm approached the conversion process and what support is available.
FREE and open to farmers, crofters, growers and land managers.

How to Write Outstanding Tenders - The Invitation to Tender (ITT) Stage
2026-02-25 13:30 - 15:00
Understanding what a buyer is looking for and creating a response to show how you are the best candidate for the job can be tricky.
At this training, you will learn what skills are needed for your business to write a good tender response and stand out from your competitors. One of SDP’s expert trainers will also explain how to analyse the tender documents and how to find hidden clues in the tender documents to help you develop a well-round response.
Overview of what you will learn:

What work can be done pre-tender to make the process of creating a bid less stressful?
How can use Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) and Public Contracts Scotland-Tender (PCS-T) to submit tenders?
What work needs to go into preparing for the ITT before the tender documents are released.
Which skills do you need to have in your bid team to write winning bids?
What good looks like in a bid response

At the end of the session, there will be an interactive Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask any burning questions you may have. As well as have the chance to hear what other SME businesses in Scotland have to say.
This event is suitable for Level 2 (Intermediate), for people who know about bidding but need to develop specific knowledge and skills.

The Race to Security
2026-02-25 14:00 - 15:00
Learn what you need to do to boost your cyber resilience from EY Cyber Security Practice Leader Rick Hemsley.
Understand the global megatrends shaping Scotland’s future economy and hear from industry and Scottish Enterprise experts on the actions you can take to help future proof your business.
It’s never been more important to ensure your cyber security measures are strong enough to protect your organisation. Led by EY Cyber Security Practice Leader, Rick Hemsley, this webinar will focus on what you need to do to boost your cyber resilience.
Global trends can often disrupt markets and destroy business models. But they can also quickly open up new opportunities for adaptive countries and companies.
This webinar series focuses on how businesses can anticipate future change and take action to grasp new opportunities and become more resilient in the face of business risks.
This webinar will focus on the ‘race for security’, where geopolitical tensions, cyber threats and resource scarcity are leading to growing economic nationalism and fundamental shifts in global trade takes place.

How to strengthen online security and protect your business in 2026
2026-02-26 12:00 - 13:00
Small businesses across Scotland are increasingly targeted by cyber criminals, often facing phishing scams, ransomware, data breaches, and online fraud. With limited time, budgets, and in-house expertise, the impact of an attack can be serious – but there are practical steps that can make a real difference.
This panel discussion will explore the most common cyber threats facing small businesses today and share clear, cost-effective actions owners and teams can take away. Our experts will focus on building strong cyber hygiene, helping staff spot and avoid scams, and understanding whether your systems and suppliers are secure enough.
You’ll also hear what to do if the worst happens, learn about affordable tools and trusted resources that can help strengthen your digital defences, and gain practical insight into preparing your business for the years ahead.

Biochar: Taking commercial British apple production to Net Zero
2026-02-26 13:00 - 14:00
Find out more about Biochar as a solution to ‘end of orchard life’ wood and understand why LCA shines a light on packaging materials.
Commercial apple is a low emission crop but there are challenges at end of orchard life and in terms of the lifecycle carbon analysis (LCA) of the crop production. This Innovate UK funded project considered these and other challenges with actionable results for all growers.
Learn more about Biochar as a solution to end of orchard life wood and understand why the LCA shines a light on packaging materials.

Make the Most of the Scottish Thistle Awards
2026-02-26 14:00 - 14:30
Join us just before entries open for the 2026 Scottish Thistle Awards and discover what makes these awards different from any other in the industry.
Learn how to showcase your excellence, what judges are really looking for, and how winning can bring real benefits to your business.

Training your own AI: How to build custom AI tools for daily tasks
2026-02-26 14:00 - 15:00
Today’s businesses are surrounded by AI tools, but many people are unsure how to use them in a practical, meaningful way.
Off-the-shelf AI agents like Microsoft Copilot, Gemini and Claude can dramatically improve productivity, efficiency and creativity when they’re set up with the right use cases, prompts and guidance.
Join this free Tech Hub webinar to explore how your small business can configure AI assistants to support its everyday work, without needing technical skills or complex systems.
You’ll hear about common small business scenarios and how you can tailor popular AI tools to your workflows, tone of voice and goals, from handling customer questions to supporting marketing, planning and admin tasks.
This session focuses on real world examples and clear explanations, helping you understand what’s possible today and how to apply it responsibly in your own business.
What you’ll learn

What AI agents can and can’t do: Setting realistic expectations for off-the-shelf tools
High-impact use cases: Practical examples for productivity, efficiency and creativity
Configuring your AI assistant: How to guide tools like Copilot, Gemini and Claude to work for you
Prompting and guardrails: Teaching AI your context, tone and boundaries
Using AI responsibly: Accuracy, privacy and human oversight

Social media essentials: LinkedIn
2026-02-26 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

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2026-02-27 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

Turn Every Customer Visit into a 5-Star Review
2026-02-27 10:00 - 15:30 | The Stag, 140-144 Castle Street, Forfar, DD8 3HX
Great customer service is essential for any business. Whether you’re in tourism, hospitality, retail, leisure or professional services, how customers feel at each stage of their journey directly affects loyalty, reputation and repeat business. And with online reviews shaping decisions more than ever, consistent and confident service is vital.
This workshop is for Angus businesses that work directly with customers, clients or visitors. We’ll cover first impressions, why customers return, how to build a consistent customer journey, the role of social media, how to handle complaints and negative feedback, and the core skills needed to deliver excellent service every time.
What we’ll cover:

Nailing First Impressions
Why Customers Return
Customer Needs vs Expectations
Designing a Smooth Customer Journey
The Power of Social Media
Handling Complaints and Reviews
Skills for Excellent Customer Service

Ideal if you want to improve customer interactions, turn reviews into opportunities and build a more consistent service approach.

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 2: Off page optimisation & technical considerations
2026-02-27 14:00 - 16:00
Join us as we take a further, more detailed look at how the Google search engines indexes and ranks websites based on a number of external (off-page) and technical factors. Implementing this learning will increase your chances of customers discovering your business through Google – the world’s leading research tool.
We will cover:

How to block or control what websites are allowed to ‘index’
The importance of a fast loading mobile website
How security and usability influence Google
What “off-page” optimisation means, and tactics to generate back-links
The importance of Local SEO, and why a “Google Business Profile” is vital

Google Analytics – Understand how your website performs
2026-03-02 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.

Floating Offshore Wind Conference 2026
2026-03-03 09:00 - 17:00 | One America Square, London, EC3N 2LB
The Floating Offshore Wind Conference: Technical Advances & Commercial Success is back by popular demand with critical updates in 2026.
Collaborate with key players such as developers, regulators, policymakers, engineers, technical leaders, supply chain officers, stakeholder managers, investors, insurers, consenters and more as they share unmissable insights from the front line on technological advancements to scale-up the floating wind industry.
Compare notes and gain practical takeaways from both structured and unstructured networking, plus join us the night before or after the conference at our informal get-together.

Tay Country Tourism Conference
2026-03-03 09:30 - 15:00 | Apex City Quay Hotel, 1 West Victoria Dock Road, Dundee, DD1 3JP
Join tourism and hospitality professionals from across Tayside and Fife for the Tay Country Tourism Conference 2026 taking place on Tuesday 3 March at the Apex City Quay Hotel in Dundee.
This is a key event designed to inspire collaboration, share insights, and drive sustainable growth across our regional tourism industry.
Programme:
08:30 Registration & Refreshments
09:30 Welcome: Caroline Warburton, Destination Development Director, VisitScotland and Alistair Heather, host for the day
09:45 ‘Capitalising on the Transformation Economy – Scotland’s Competitive Advantage’ Vicki Miller, CEO, VisitScotland
10:00 ‘The Visitor Economy – the Icelandic Way’. Jóhannes Þór Skúlason, Managing Director, Icelandic Travel Industry Association
10:25 In Conversation with Vicki Miller and Jóhannes Þór Skúlason – Alistair Heather
10:45 Short presentations from businesses across the region
11:10 Networking & Refreshments
11:30 Short presentations from businesses across the region – continued
12:30 Lunch
13:30 ‘Scotland’s Theatre in the Hills’. Dougie Cameron, Interim CEO, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
13:45 ‘Preparing your tourism business for the age of AI’. Sam Weston, Head of AI & Marketing, 80 Days
14:15 ‘Inclusive Tourism: A Lived Experience Perspective’. Carrie-Ann Lightley, Writer, Speaker and Content Creator
14:40 Final Speaker to be announced
14:50 Closing Remarks
15:00 Conference Close
You’ll also hear from innovative local businesses making a meaningful impact and enjoy valuable networking opportunities to connect with peers from across the region.
Whether you’re new to the tourism sector or an established operator, this is your chance to connect, learn, and shape the future of Tay Country tourism.
