Invest in Angus

How to build a digital marketing plan
2025-05-02 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
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

How to build your brand
2025-05-05 17:00 - 19:00
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

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2025-05-06 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-22 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

Is your charity thinking of merging?
2025-05-06 12:00 - 13:30
With financial pressures continuing to rise in 2025, many charities are asking: Should we join forces and merge with other charities to deliver our purpose – or even to survive?
To help you consider the potential benefits, challenges and alternatives to mergers, Lindsays is hosting a webinar titled: Is your charity thinking of merging?
Join us as we guide you through the key considerations, including:

Different legal routes and structures – from informal collaborations to full-scale mergers
Legal and regulatory considerations – including governance compatibility and required consents
What to assess in a potential merger partner – from property and pension liabilities to employment law and organisational culture

Against this backdrop – with charity mergers having nearly doubled in England and Wales last year, and many Scottish charities under financial strain – we’ll offer practical insights to help you make informed decisions.
This interactive session offers an opportunity for you to get involved and you are encouraged to submit questions in advance when you register.

An introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for small businesses
2025-05-06 18:00 - 20:00
You’ve heard of Artificial Intelligence, but do you know how it can help you as you run your business? This practical webinar will explore how AI can help improve your business marketing to be more efficient and cost-effective, through the automatic creation of content for all your digital platforms; as well as helping you better understand your customers and business opportunities.
This webinar will cover:

What is Artificial Intelligence
Current AI tools and systems to use right now (including ChatGPT and MidJourney)
Automating digital content for blogs and social media
Using AI for business strategy and customer profiling
The pros and cons of AI for small businesses

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

Social media essentials: LinkedIn
2025-05-07 10:00 - 12:00
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

Driving Success in Scotland's Hotel Market
2025-05-07 11:00 - 12:00
The hotel market has performed well across most parts of Scotland, particularly in the capital, Edinburgh, as well as Glasgow and Inverness.
And the increasing number of international investors now attracted to its robust performance is driving an exuberant transactions market, which is set to grow further this year.
While the outlook of having a strong pipeline of hotels remains positive, particularly in the luxury segment, the industry is facing a series of headwinds including a proposed Visitor Levy and an ongoing skills shortage, which are placing pressure on profits as well as Scotland’s ability to remain competitive as a tourist destination.
The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) is delighted to be partnering with HotelPartner, a trusted market leader in revenue management and distribution services for the hospitality and tourism industry, to explore the solutions available to Scottish hoteliers to ensure that the market can continue to thrive.
Whether you operate a luxury hotel or budget accommodation, boutique hotel or a youth hostel, this webinar will share accessible and actionable advice on tackling challenges such as the skills shortage, optimising performance and how best to utilise technology in your operations.

InspireHER: Break free from procrastination & perfectionism
2025-05-07 12:00 - 13:00
Do you find yourself waiting for the right time to get started? Maybe you are stuck endlessly reworking and second-guessing yourself? Whether you’re launching a business, growing an idea, or simply trying to move forward, procrastination and perfectionism can quietly sabotage your progress and confidence.
In this empowering and practical session, we’ll explore:

Why we procrastinate and what you can do to overcome it
How perfectionism plays a hidden role
Simple mindset shifts that help you take action
Tools to break the cycle and get unstuck
How to make progress with more ease

You’ll leave with a fresh perspective, proven techniques, and a renewed sense of motivation to take that next step in your business journey.

How to generate and increase sales
2025-05-07 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

Introduction to Canva
2025-05-07 17:00 - 19:00
Canva is an all-in-one online design tool that makes it simple to create graphics, edit photos/videos and write content.
In this webinar, you’ll learn how to navigate Canva with confidence, starting with a broad overview of what you can create and do with Canva including a live demonstration of the Canva Editor.
We’ll then explore how to:

Design professional printed marketing materials and edit photos with ease.
Create engaging social media content, including videos and images for posts and ads.
Write creative blog content and make stunning presentations.

We’ll finish this beginner’s guide to Canva by looking at some clever strategies for improving how you market your business with your new suite of creative marketing materials.
As a result of attending this webinar, you will gain practical knowledge of the basics of Canva and learn how to save time when marketing your business online. We’ll be focusing on the free features of Canva for this webinar but some paid ‘Canva Pro’ features will be demonstrated also.
Before you sign up for this webinar, please make sure you have created a free Canva account that you are signed into. We will be doing three live demonstrations, giving you an opportunity to practice your new creative skills.

Young person’s guide to starting a business
2025-05-08 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar will provide you with information, direction and support on a range of topics, including:

Planning (before you start, & once you are up and running)

The personal benefits of working for yourself

How to make sure your idea is viable and sustainable

How to research your market and market your business

How to identify who your customers are

Staffing

Funding

How to register and set up – sole trader or a limited company

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: choose a tourism experience booking system
2025-05-08 14:00 - 14:30
Discover how an online booking system can transform your operations from streamlining processes to maximising bookings – make sure it’s one of the most important tools in your marketing arsenal.
This webinar is aimed at tourism experiences (tours, visitor attractions and activity providers) only.

How to start a business: The basics
2025-05-08 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

Bookkeeping essentials
2025-05-09 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-05-19 10:00 - 12:00
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

Scottish Agritourism Month Roadshow: Dunlop Dairy
2025-05-09 12:00 - 14:30 | Dunlop Dairy, Dunlop Road, Stewarton, KA3 5LP
This meeting is part of a series of events hosted during Scottish Agritourism month and in the lead-up to Scottish Agritourism turning five years old on June 1st 2025. Everyone with an interest in agritourism is welcome to attend.
We’ll be shining a light on the development of agritourism both in the local area and nationally, sharing Scotland-wide success stories and sector challenges, and opening up discussion with others who play a part in supporting rural and agritourism. You will also hear from Dunlop Dairy about how they’ve developed their business – a traditional Ayrshire cheesemaker, with a range of farmhouse cheeses sold in their Cheese Shop and Tearoom.
You can expect a sector update from Scottish Agritourism on the work we are doing, along with agencies from the national strategy board, to grow and develop agritourism in Scotland in line with national targets. We’ll be celebrating five years of Scottish Agritourism – lunch will be provided and yes, there will be cake!

Belonging at work: How to create inclusive, connected workplaces that empower your people to thrive
2025-05-12 14:00 - 15:00
Did you know? Two-thirds of UK employees feel disconnected at work and almost a quarter of workers (23%) agreed that feeling lonely at work has affected their mental health*, impacting engagement, wellbeing and retention.
Join us for this insightful webinar during Mental Health Awareness Week. Aimed at HR professionals, people managers and wellbeing champions, you’ll gain practical advice and tips for creating inclusive, connected workplaces that empower your people to thrive.
*Sources: Reward Gateway survey 2023 and Mental Health UK 2022.
What you’ll learn:

The importance of workplace connection for mental health and overall wellbeing.
How to create an inclusive culture that strengthens employee engagement and retention.
Ways to build a strong sense of community at work to help employees create meaningful connections and reduce loneliness.

How to create engaging content
2025-05-12 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

Generative and agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the future of work
2025-05-13 10:00 - 11:00
This online session will focus on the accessibility and real-world relevance of generative and agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI). It will highlight concrete use cases, emerging patterns of adoption, and strategic questions SMEs should be asking now to prepare for what comes next.
Dr Marcel Lukas, Vice Dean Executive Education and Senior Lecturer in Banking and Finance at the University of St Andrews, will lead the session. Drawing on his research in financial technology, behavioural economics, and policy engagement, Dr Lukas will examine how generative AI is not only transforming operational efficiency but also enabling new forms of creativity, customer engagement, and business model innovation.
This will consider both the immediate practical applications and the broader organisational and workforce implications, including skills development, ethical considerations, and regulatory awareness.
Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the potential benefits and limitations of generative and agentic AI, and with ideas on how to engage with these technologies in a responsible and sustainable way.

An introduction to business strategy
2025-05-13 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

Tendering for Success
2025-05-13 13:00 - 15:30
Whether you’re thinking about going for your first tender or have already been through the process but would like to enhance your tendering skills this session is for you.
We’ll be joined by experts in the field of tendering to talk you through the process, common pitfalls, what to look out for and how to prepare your business to be ready for future opportunities for growth.

How to deliver low-cost, high impact marketing
2025-05-15 10:00 - 12:00
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

Scottish Agritourism Month Roadshow: Logie Newton Lodges
2025-05-16 08:00 - 10:00 | Logie Newton Farm, Huntly, AB54 6BB
This meeting is part of a series of events hosted during Scottish Agritourism month and in the lead-up to Scottish Agritourism turning five years old on June 1st 2025. Everyone with an interest in agritourism is welcome to attend.
We’ll be shining a light on the development of agritourism both in the local area and nationally, sharing Scotland-wide success stories and sector challenges, and opening up discussion with others who play a part in supporting rural and agritourism. You will also hear from Logie Newton Lodges about how they’ve developed their business – a luxury self-catering site, with two recently opened lodges available to book.
You can expect a sector update from Scottish Agritourism on the work we are doing, along with agencies from the national strategy board, to grow and develop agritourism in Scotland in line with national targets. We’ll be celebrating five years of Scottish Agritourism – bacon rolls, teas and coffees will be provided by Scottish Agritourism member Thorney Bank Farm Shop, and yes, there will be cake!

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 1: On page optimisation
2025-05-16 10:00 - 12:00
Join us to look at how Google and other search engines decide the order in which they list their search results. We will show you how to maximise your chances of appearing towards the top of the search rankings, ensuring you understand what key words and phrases your potential customers are using when searching online, and how to optimise your website as a result.
We will cover:

How search engines work, and the ‘on-page’ factors used to rank your site
Understanding customer search behaviour
Keyword research tools and how to benefit from them
Optimising your website content for search engines

Finding, keeping and looking after your staff
2025-05-20 13:00 - 15:00
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

Google Analytics – Understand how your website performs
2025-05-21 10:00 - 12:00
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.

InspireHER: Overcoming self-sabotage
2025-05-21 12:00 - 13:00
Self-sabotage can show up as procrastination, perfectionism, isolation, avoidance, and shying away from opportunities that could bring success or change.
In this eye-opening session, we’ll explore:

What self-sabotage really is (and why we all do it)
How fear and limiting beliefs fuel these patterns
Practical ways to shift your mindset and behaviours
Steps to stop getting in your own way and to build momentum

You can expect honest reflection, potential lightbulb moments, and tools you can use straight away to move forward with purpose and clarity.

Scottish Agritourism Month Roadshow: Castlecraig Farm
2025-05-22 12:00 - 14:30 | Castlecraig Farms, IV19 1QS
This meeting is part of a series of events hosted during Scottish Agritourism month and in the lead-up to Scottish Agritourism turning five years old on June 1st 2025. Everyone with an interest in agritourism is welcome to attend.
We’ll be shining a light on the development of agritourism both in the local area and nationally, sharing Scotland-wide success stories and sector challenges, and opening up discussion with others who play a part in supporting rural and agritourism.
One key challenge for businesses is making sure they have the right insurance in place – so we’re especially pleased to have Howden Insurance as our event sponsor. Their support helps make this event possible, and their Farm & Estate team understands the unique needs of agritourism businesses.
You will also hear from Castlecraig Farm about how they’ve developed their business – luxury farm cabins on the coast of the Moray Firth.
You can expect a sector update from Scottish Agritourism on the work we are doing, along with agencies from the national strategy board, to grow and develop agritourism in Scotland in line with national targets. We’ll be celebrating five years of Scottish Agritourism – lunch will be provided and yes, there will be cake!

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: start working with online travel agents
2025-05-22 14:00 - 14:30
Discover how an online travel agent (OTA) can increase bookings and profitability without detracting from direct bookings. Get practical tips on how to create an OTA listing and how to manage your relationship with an OTA.
For tourism experiences (tours, visitor attractions and activity providers) that want to use OTAs for the first time.
