Fair Work Workshop
2024-03-19 09:30 - 12:30 UTC
Fair Work is an investment in everyone, for everyone. It can improve productivity, innovation, organisational reputation and recruitment. It can also reduce staff turnover and help create inclusive workplaces with a richness of talent and a diversity of ideas.
For staff, Fair Work can increase financial security, physical health and psychological wellbeing. For businesses, it brings more engaged, committed and adaptable workers who spot challenges and opportunities, solve problems, offer insight and ideas for business improvement, and create value.
What’s the event about?
This is a fully funded workshop which will help participating companies to:

Understand the benefits of fair work (for both the business and its staff)
Develop an action plan to embed or improve current people practices
Prioritise and take next steps to implementing an action plan

This type of actions that could result from a fair work action plan include:

Improving people and fair work practices
Skills, leadership and management development
Creating a positive culture and values-based approach
Improving employee engagement and supporting performance management practices

What’s Involved?

Complete the Fair Work Employer Support Tool and familarise yourself with fair work and benchmark your company on where you are on your fair work journey.
Join your three-hour workshop to explore the key concepts of the five dimensions of fair work, along with some practical solutions to embed and improve this in your organisation and begin to develop your action plan.

The programme is for Scottish SMEs. You’re particularly suitable if you:

Are you business leader or individual who wants to understand more about Fair Work and the support available.
Have the autonomy and influence to implement an action plan

Scotland's Marine Tourism Conference 2024
2024-03-19 09:30 - 16:00 | The Waterside, Ardrossan Road, West Kilbride, KA23 9NG
Part of the national Scottish Tourism Month Programme and proudly sponsored by North Ayrshire Council, this is not just Sail Scotland members, everyone related to the industry is welcome to come together, learn, and network with others.
The event is for everyone with an interest in the marine tourism sector; whether it’s the delivery, skills, supply chain, marketing or development.
This year, the event will be focusing on:

the strategic importance of marine tourism and sustainable and responsible consumer behaviour
the importance of continued investment in marketing, infrastructure, and product development
opportunities and things to think about now
how everyone can collaborate to grow marine tourism further

The programme is still being finalised but it will include input from:

Fiona Hyslop MSP – Minister for Transport
Gavin McDonagh – Chairman of Sail Scotland and MD of Holt Leisure Group
Rob Dickson – Director of Industry and Destination Development, VisitScotland
Joshua Ryan-Saha – Director of Traveltech for Scotland Daniel Steel – CEO, Sail Scotland
Sinead Sheridan – Marine Planning and Policy Officer for NatureScot

Please remember that tickets are limited, and this event has often sold out in the past.
So, please book early and come along to join the debate and hear from our line-up of expert speakers, with more to be announced soon!

Inclusive recruitment training
2024-03-19 10:00 - 11:30
Widen your tech talent pool with inclusive recruitment.
The industry is facing a considerable tech/cyber skills gap. Workplace inclusion is no longer a “nice to have” and is now critical to attract and secure the best talent. Embedding inclusive recruitment practices ensures you are tapping into a wider talent pool, fostering diversity of people, experiences, and innovation.
Join ScotlandIS for free online training about inclusive recruitment practices specifically designed for small and medium sized enterprises.
What will you learn?

increase your understanding of what inclusive recruitment is within the Scottish tech ecosystem
learn about current best practices throughout the recruitment process and know how to apply them within your organisation
develop skills to review your own recruitment processes and identify short-term and long-term actions
where to find resource and guidance to continue your learning

Who should attend?

this training is designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises with a requirement for digital technology skills
ideal for professionals in a management or leadership position, working in Human Resources or involved in the recruitment process

When is it?
This training will be hosted online and split across two sessions to allow time for self-reflection.  Participants should attend both sessions:
Session 1: Tuesday 19 March 10am – 11.30am
Session 2: Tuesday 26 March 10am – 11.30am

Build your brand and promotional graphics
2024-03-19 11:00 - 13:00
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

The business benefits of running a sustainable business
2024-03-19 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

Responsible Tourism for a Sustainable Future
2024-03-19 15:00 - 16:00
In an exciting new partnership, VisitScotland are working with The Travel Corporation (TTC) and the Travel Foundation, to host a free “Responsible Tourism for a Sustainable Future” webinar.
The one-hour webinar on Tuesday 19 March will offer Scottish tourism businesses an insight into what global tour operators are looking for when choosing a business to work with in Scotland and advice on futureproofing your products and services.
The session will include guest speakers, case studies, free tools available to help businesses with their climate action planning, as well as advice on creating bookable experiences for tour operators – a key booking channel for international visitors.
The Travel Corporation is a global operator whose brands include Contiki, Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Brendan Vacations and Trafalgar. As well as sharing the latest consumer trends, the Travel Corporation will also outline the opportunities to support its development of MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experiences and its collective mission to reduce emissions in its tour programmes globally.
As part of our ongoing work to support the industry on its journey to low carbon, the “Responsible Tourism for a Sustainable Future” webinar will include information about the free tools and resources available to help Scottish tourism businesses meet their net zero targets including our Climate Action Planning guide.

Business Finance Viability
2024-03-19 16:00 - 18:00
Led by experienced advisers, this webinar takes the fear out of finances, providing practical tools and guidance to help you confidently manage your business’s budgeting and forecasting. You’ll learn how to identify the hidden costs of running your business, including the cost of hiring staff, maintaining stock levels, and other crucial expenses.
Through a series of engaging exercises, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your business’s financial viability, helping you make informed decisions about its future growth and success. Whether you’re a new entrepreneur or have been in business for a couple of years, this webinar is tailored to your needs, providing you with the knowledge and skills to take your business to the next level.
Don’t let financial worries hold you back from realizing your business’s full potential. Sign up for the Business Finance Viability webinar today and discover how to confidently manage your business’s financial health!

How to protect and manage your intellectual property
2024-03-20 10:00 - 12:00
You have invested time, energy, and money into your project, however, have you protected the innovation?
Following this webinar, you will understand how to manage your intellectual property (IP) or how to start the process of registering it.
Topics covered include:

What are intellectual assets (IA)?
What is intellectual property (IP)?
How to use IP (in the real world)
Where to get more insight and information

Participants will leave with:

An understanding that all businesses create IA/IP
A framework of knowledge about IP
A little more knowledge about the diverse types of IP
An insight into how to identify, protect and exploit IP/IA
Context of why IP/IA matters
Links to useful learning resources

Quit stalling and build your brand
2024-03-20 12:00 - 13:00
Join this webinar to explore the current range of low-cost digital technologies that can help you build your business and your brand.

How to write and develop your business plan
2024-03-20 14:00 - 16:00
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

Unlock SPA Framework Opportunities Learn How to Bid For Our Frameworks
2024-03-21 09:30 - 12:30 | Scottish Procurement Alliance, 6 Deer Park Avenue, Livingston, EH54 8AF
This session will provide prospective bidders with the necessary knowledge of procurement practices, documentation, the scoring mechanism and other crucial elements of the application process.
There are several framework opportunities that will be available in the coming weeks and months. Attending this session will provide businesses looking to apply the fundamental knowledge that could land them a great opportunity to work with over 120 public sector organisations in Scotland.

Introduction to SPA
Upcoming frameworks
Open vs restricted procurement
Overview of the suite of tender documents
Scoring mechanism
Top tips for success
Q&A

The invitation is open to businesses of all sizes with an interest in applying for one of our framework opportunities.
Upcoming framework opportunities:

Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9)
Design, Supply and Installation of Permanent and Temporary Modular Buildings (MB3)
Public Buildings Construction and Infrastructure(PB4)
Roofing Systems and Associated Works (RS5)

The low-cost guide to marketing your business
2024-03-21 14:00 - 16:00
When budgets are tight, it can be difficult to find the funds for marketing. This webinar will offer marketing tips and advice that you can then use across your business – without bursting the bank!
We will look at:

How marketing extends way beyond what most businesses consider it to be and how it provides opportunities for businesses to make transformational change with little or minimal extra spend
Identifying marketing priorities and using these to reshape your business.
The marketing mix as a tool for reviewing how your business plans and delivers its marketing activity
How your marketing activity is delivered successfully and effectively in your business
A series of top tips including the importance of understanding your customers, the core components of a brand, the value of strong and consistent branding, the value of a clear focus and the power of creativity
The many options available with traditional Advertising and Promotion as a way a company communicates what it does and what it can offer customers, but also looking how this has changed in a world where marketing has moved online
The foundations of effective marketing in a digital age, looking at how your business can grasp new ways of marketing such as social media, web, and digital PR

Understanding machine learning
2024-03-21 15:00 - 16:00
This session teaches the foundations of how machine learning models learn and work, the components of designing a problem for machine learning to solve and a basic understanding of the resources and tools needed for a business to invest in machine learning. Aimed at small business leaders / owners or anyone looking to get a better understanding on the subject.
In this session, you will learn:

how different machine learning models work
the essentials for preparing data for a machine learning project
options for implementing machine learning for a business

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 the opportunity to ask questions during the session.
Please note, these training sessions are only available in the UK.

Boost your productivity with AI
2024-03-21 16:30 - 17:30
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.
Please note, these training sessions are only available in the UK.

How to start a business: The basics
2024-03-21 18:00 - 20:00
Whatever your reasons may be for considering being your own boss, Business Gateway is here to support you and help you decide if this is the right path for you. Helping you consider your plans from exploring your potential customers to looking at the key activities and costs involved.
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

Managing the growth of your small business
2024-03-22 14:00 - 15:00
Starting a venture is one thing, growing it is another. Scaling effectively can be one of the most challenging aspects, with mis-managed growth often leading to downfall after so much time, effort and money has been invested. So if you are a business owner that has started to see growth, this webinar will help you to gain more creative, time and financial freedom as your venture transitions to offer greater reach and impact.
Overview:
This session will look at the principles of growth and:

the distinction between self-employment and business ownership
identifying and implementing optimal systems for record-keeping, decision-making, monitoring and evaluation
devising a range of risk-management processes to better manage business functions and the people involved
how to hire to enable and enhance expansion
improving workflow and project management
licensing, franchising, acquiring another venture

The basics of trading on eBay, Etsy and Amazon Marketplaces
2024-03-25 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Productivity and Retention Benefits that flexible working can bring
2024-03-25 10:00 - 12:00
This interactive, online masterclass will explore the transformative benefits of flexible working, from boosting employee productivity and wellbeing to addressing the challenges of candidate shortages. Through real-world examples and practical insights, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of how flexible working can serve as a strategic tool in your recruitment efforts.
Our expert facilitators, from Flexibility Works, Nikki Slowey and Lisa Gallagher, will guide you through interactive discussions and actionable strategies, including:

Discovering the diverse forms of flexible working and how they can be seamlessly integrated across different job types and sectors to attract top talent.
Unveiling the latest trends and insights into the flexible working landscape in Scotland and beyond, providing you with a competitive advantage in recruitment.
Exploring practical tips and strategies for piloting, implementing, or reviewing flexible work arrangements to suit both your company and your employees’ needs, including our acclaimed Flexibility Works 7-step framework.
Delving into inspiring case studies and success stories from organizations that have successfully embraced flexible working, highlighting their impact on recruitment and retention efforts.
Takeaway resources, including the Flexibility Works ‘Business Case for Flex,’ flexible recruitment guides, and guidance around how to measure the impact of flexible working in your business.

Facebook for business
2024-03-25 14:00 - 16:00
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.

Hydrogen Expert Support - Networking Conference
2024-03-26 09:30 - 14:00 | Energy Transition Zone, Hareness Road, Aberdeen, AB12 3LE
Scottish Enterprise invite the participants of the Hydrogen Expert Support programme to the Energy Transition Zone hub in Aberdeen for a day of networking and collaboration.
We’re encouraging the included companies to learn from one other and find collaborative opportunities within their operations.
Together we can boost the capabilities of Scottish companies within this sector both domestically and internationally.

TikTok and Instagram Reels for business
2024-03-26 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Google Profile Optimisation & Organic Growth Strategies
2024-03-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Montrose Library, 214 High Street, Montrose, DD10 8PJ
This unique, informative and insightful masterclass with Niki Hutcheson our expert in all elements of enhancing a business using online tools and tricks will leave you with information and a plan to take your business to the next level.
The best thing about what you will learn in this masterclass is that to take your business to the next level can be done with a small or even no cost.
Organic marketing is marketing that costs nothing or very little. When it comes to growing a small business, there are lots of things you can do to generate results without spending money. During the masterclass, you will learn how to set up your Google Business Profile for success and grow an audience completely organically (without paying for ads). We will cover the key things your Google Business Profile must include, as well as how to keep it up to date AND the top methods that are working in 2024 to grow an audience organically online.

Selling Online - The Key to Success
2024-03-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Arbroath Football Club, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, DD11 1QJ
Are you considering selling your products or services online but feeling uncertain about where to begin?
Fear not, help is on hand! Join Business Gateway and three fantastic ecommerce experts to explore the potential for expanding your business online.

Zishan Ashraf, Senior Merchant Success Manager EMEA at Shopify Plus, will delve into the platform’s capabilities, including how their using data from buying habits to enhance the customer journey.
Daniel Rosie, from DLR Media, specialises in empowering brands to thrive online. He’ll share invaluable insights, from initial considerations and launch strategies to sustaining your online presence. Attendees will leave with a comprehensive checklist to guide their ecommerce journey.
Daniel McCabe from Trust Pilot 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. Attendees can also schedule personalised 1-2-1 sessions with Daniel, providing tailored guidance on ecommerce strategies specific to their business needs. These sessions are scheduled for March 9, 2024.

Cultivating Success: Personal Branding & Marketing Motivation
2024-03-26 14:00 - 16:00 | The Meffan, 20 West High Street, Forfar, DD8 1BB
This unique, informative and insightful masterclass with Niki Hutcheson our expert in all elements of enhancing your personal brand and reigniting your marketing mojo will leave your motivated to take your marketing to the next level.
Niki will take you through what you can do when you don’t feel motivated to market yourself or your business? During these two sessions we will uncover how to find your marketing mojo, as well as 26 things you can do to optimise your personal brand online. Marketing often becomes enjoyable when it starts generating tangible results and that’s what you will be able to achieve after attending these sessions.

Clean Heat 2024
2024-03-27 09:00 - 19:00 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Glasgow Central, 36 Cambridge Street, Glasgow, G2 3HN
Scottish Enterprise invites you to join us on 27 March for Clean Heat 2024 in Glasgow.
Throughout the day we’ll hear from a range of experts, including Local Authorities, providing an overview of their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies highlighting the scale of the Clean Heat opportunity in Scotland. We will also spotlight Scottish companies on the range of capability they can bring to the clean heat supply chain, the importance of innovation, and investing in the supply chain. Finally, we will hear from private investors and what they look for when investing in a clean heat project.
We are delighted to welcome Mr Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, to open our event. We also have a number of confirmed speakers including Prof. Matthew Hannon, Professor of Sustainable Energy and Business Policy at the University of Strathclyde, as well as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fife Local Authorities and the Scottish National Investment Bank. We will also have Eddy Adams facilitating the day, a public policy advisor, consultant and writer, specialising in urban policy and social innovation.
The day will finish off with a drinks reception and further opportunities for networking.
Our event will bring together 200 attendees and exhibitors. Those present will have plenty of opportunities to make new contacts and network with a range of organisations.

Navigating the Business Landscape
2024-03-27 11:00 - 12:00
In this webinar, we will bring together 3 successful women in business to share insights, discuss the challenges currently facing women-led businesses and importantly, chat about tips to build confidence, celebrate success, address barriers, and explore the importance of community.
The session will explore:

Whether Scotland is a good place to be a woman in business
What the biggest barriers are for women who may be thinking about starting up their business
How to encourage other businesses to tackle challenges such as the current economic climate
What role mentorship and networking play in supporting the advancement of women in business
How employers can inspire the next generation (males and females) for the future

The panelists are:

Sarah Johnson (Host), Director of IndigoLeap
Lynne Kennedy MBE, Founder of Business Women Connections
Fiona McArthur, Owner of Fetcha Chocolates

Delivering profit to drive growth
2024-03-28 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

Funding my Business Plans: An Interactive Session
2024-03-28 10:00 - 12:00 | Arbroath Football Club, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, DD11 1QJ
Join us for an exclusive Q&A style event, Funding my Business Plans: An Interactive Session hosted by Business Advisers George Ellis and Scott Geddes We’re delighted to welcome Rekha Welsh from DSL Business Finance as our special guest, offering valuable insights into funding options for start-up businesses.
This event provides a great opportunity for start-up businesses to engage with expert Rekha. Business Gateway’s George and Scott will facilitate the session, ensuring a dynamic and informative Q&A about funding options for launching your business.
Tailored for start-up businesses actively seeking funding opportunities to kickstart their entrepreneurial journey, this event promises to be a valuable resource that you cannot afford to miss.
The floor will be open for questions from attendees, to ensure that all funding-related inquiries are addressed. Whether you have specific questions or need guidance, this is your opportunity to gain valuable insights into the world of start-up funding.

Cyber security for your small business
2024-03-28 11:00 - 12:00
Around 83% of small and medium-sized businesses are not financially prepared to recover from a cyber attack – which could mean going out of business.
This event aims to introduce start-ups and new businesses to the risks they face and provide top tips on how to avoid some common threats, protect their organisation and enable them to win new business and gain stakeholder support.
Your host Jim Wright will introduce security, how it can benefit businesses and allow them to seize opportunities while minimising risk. Jim will also discuss common frameworks and fundamental principles that business leaders should know from the start of their business venture.
By the end of this webinar, attendees will:

understand security risks
understand the benefits of security
have an awareness of threat actors
have an awareness of threat vectors
have an awareness of the services that can be offered to support start-ups
understand the regulatory environment in which they work
understand the common frameworks relating to security

Jim Wright is the founder and principal consultant of Principle Defence, a Hertfordshire-based security and data protection consultancy and training provider. Jim has over 17 years of experience in security having served in the British Army before moving into the private sector.

People and HR – attraction, recruiting, managing and retaining team member
2024-03-28 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
