‍Making Scotland’s Future Conference
2023-06-22 08:30 - 17:00 UTC | Royal Bank of Scotland, 175 Glasgow Road, Edinburgh, EH12 9SB
The conference, previously known as the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) National Manufacturing Conference, will arm manufacturing sector and supply chain businesses with the ambition, vision, knowledge, tools and networks to increase productivity and maintain future competitiveness.
The day will include topical panel sessions, interactive case study led workshops, and provide lots of opportunities to network – as well as dedicated space for interactive exhibitors.
The Making Scotland’s Future Conference 2023 is primarily for leaders from manufacturing businesses in Scotland.

How to write and develop your business plan
2023-06-22 09:30 - 11:30, 2023-07-13 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

Embracing Circular Economy: Transforming Waste Into Wealth
2023-06-22 12:30 - 15:00 | Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, 37 City Quay, Dundee, DD1 3JA
Join us for an engaging conversation on how the circular economy can support businesses in achieving their net-zero goals. Hosted by Circular Tayside and the Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, we invite you to enjoy a cup of tea, some lunch, and gain valuable insights into sustainable business practices.
We are delighted to host an event regarding Circular economy which plays a vital role in helping businesses to achieve Carbon net Zero.
This event is designed to talk about strategies that promotes sustainable business practices and transition to Circular economy from linear economy. With finite resources available it is very important for businesses to start following Circular economy to make our environment a better place for our future generation.
At this event you will get the opportunity to meet and connect with people who are passionate about sustainable development.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the Circular Economy event and contribute to shaping a more sustainable business by adopting to Circular economy.

Developing Your Start Up Action Plan
2023-06-22 18:00 - 21:00 | Arbroath Football Club, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, DD11 1QJ
This workshop will give you the information needed to build a start up action plan. The plan will enable you to consider which actions are relevant to your plan, start building a set of SMART Goals, give thought to business skills development and provide a clear path for steps to launch your business.
You will also learn about the key considerations when starting a business and what steps you will need to take from legal, financial and strategic standpoints.
By the end of the workshop, you will have the information required to start building an action plan and be confident about understanding the next steps.

The essentials of bookkeeping and what expenses you can claim
2023-06-26 10:00 - 12:00, 2023-07-04 14:00 - 16:00
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

Building a digital marketing B2B funnel
2023-06-27 10:00 - 11:00
In this webinar we will explore the key components of an effective B2B digital marketing funnel including the importance of developing in-depth customer understanding, how effective marketing content can act as both the gravity and the glue of an effective funnel and look at some of the technology we can use to connect up the whole system.

The business benefits of running a sustainable business
2023-06-27 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

How to generate and increase sales
2023-06-27 19:00 - 21:00
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

From Armed Force to Workforce
2023-06-29 10:30 - 11:30
With many businesses struggling to recruit quality, skilled staff ex-service personnel offer a significant opportunity to help fill the gaps.
Nicola Smith, Development Officer for SCQF, will highlight the amazing range of transferable skills that ex-service personnel bring to the workplace.
Discover the wealth of valuable skills, experience, and qualifications that veterans and service leavers can offer – many of which are not always immediately apparent to employers outside the armed forces.
Nicola will also provide valuable insights into the game-changing “Military Skills Discovery Tool.” This tool recognizes and translates the skills, experience, and qualifications gained during service into language that is easily understood by learning institutions and employers outside the armed forces. It supports ex-military personnel in gaining employment or pursuing further education, while also helping serving personnel understand their skills and qualifications to plan their careers effectively.
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and unlock the potential of ex-service personnel as part of your workforce.

HR – Recruiting, managing, and retaining staff
2023-06-29 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

Go Network: Social proof your business
2023-06-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, 37 City Quay, Dundee, DD1 3JA
This networking event will show Tayside businesses how to social proof their business!
Utilise positive feedback from your customers to build trust and credibility for your business. With the rise of digital marketing, social proofing is now a critical aspect of online marketing.
Learn to use your public reviews page to receive more frequent feedback from your customers and learn how this can complement your website to drive traffic and increase sales.
Stand out from the crowd with ‘verified’ reviews and build trust with your customers. You’ll also understand how to lean on Trustpilot’s credibility to convert browsers into customers!
This is also a fantastic opportunity to build your support network with other local businesses, limited spaces are available so book now!

Email marketing for business
2023-07-03 09:00 - 11:00
Connecting with your audience through effective email marketing campaigns is a great way to improve your marketing strategy and boost sales. In this webinar, we’ll explore what makes an email campaign effective and ensure you are able to:

Segment your audiences and target them effectively
Create a quality marketing email and measure its effectiveness
Identify the most suitable platforms and tools for email marketing campaigns, including different paid-for account levels
Identify the different components of a successful email campaign, including design, HTML v text and other formats
Use reporting and key metrics to make sure your campaigns are successful
Be compliant with legal requirements relating to email communications

Build your brand and promotional graphics
2023-07-03 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

Producing engaging online content
2023-07-04 10:00 - 12:00
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. 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.
This session 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

How to transition to net zero
2023-07-04 12:00 - 13:00
Navigating the path to achieving net zero and implementing sustainability practices can seem like a daunting task, especially for small businesses. This webinar, led by our panelists, is designed to guide business owners on their journey to Net Zero emissions, and will offer practical insights and actionable strategies to make a meaningful impact in their work.
The session will cover:

The benefits to everyone in achieving net zero emissions
How to make sense of all the information that exists and how to get started
What support is available to businesses looking to take the first step
How small businesses can effectively integrate renewable energy sources into their operations
What practices businesses can implement to effectively measure and track their progress in reducing their carbon footprint

Developing your Start-Up Action Plan
2023-07-04 18:00 - 20:00

Keep your business safe online
2023-07-05 10:00 - 12:00
Join us to find out how criminals are targeting small businesses online, the risks you face, and what you can do to minimise your exposure to online crime.
This webinar includes a number of live demos, covering the following areas:

What are the main online threats to your business?
The 5 pillars of prevention (Backup, Malware prevention, Securing your hardware, Passwords & Phishing attacks)
Simple and practical measures you can implement to protect yourself and your business
Best practice recovery steps for your business if the worst should happen

As a result of attending this webinar, you will gain a deeper understanding of the digital threats facing your business and what you need to do to secure your website, social media and company data from cyber criminals.

Become a CPD-certified Green Champion
2023-07-06 10:00 - 12:30
Rising energy costs, the climate emergency and increasing consumer pressure continue to impact businesses and challenge the way they manage their environmental performance.
The good news is Business Energy Scotland’s Green Champions training course has already helped over 4,000 professionals from organisations across Scotland to prepare for this challenge.
And this is your chance to join them. This webinar will pack the entire Green Champions foundation modules into one session and provide you with the skills and knowledge needed to grow a green, profitable business.

Online Sales: Improve, develop & make more money
2023-07-06 14:00 - 16:00
What’s the best way to sell your products online? The key to improving your online business is measuring its effectiveness – you can then take steps to optimise its performance. Should you be using your own eCommerce store or Amazon, neither or both? This webinar will help you decide.
We will cover:

Factors to consider when selling online.
What eCommerce options exist, and the benefits of each
Differences in available eCommerce platforms
Benefits of automation
Key items to optimise performance

An Introduction to Business Modelling
2023-07-07 10:00 - 12:00
Most of us have started writing a business plan. Far fewer of us have ever completed one and if you have, it’s likely it was out of day extremely quickly. What you need is a tool that allows you to iterate and adapt as your plans change.
For this 60 minute Zoom session, join me as I explore the Business Model Canvas, a one-page ‘road map’ of your business. Examining the 9 key areas of a business model to examine the best practices for your business, you’ll come away with a sense of where small, medium and large changes could be made to your business model to improve the way you operate for maximum profitability and rapid growth.

How to start a business: The basics
2023-07-10 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

Business Finance Viability
2023-07-11 09:30 - 11:30
Led by experienced advisers, this workshop 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 workshop is tailored to your needs, providing you with the knowledge and skills to take your business to the next level.

Build a customer focused business
2023-07-11 10:00 - 12:00
Did you know that a returning customer will typically spend more than two thirds more with your business than a brand new one?
Did you know that retaining just 5% of your customer base can give an increase of over 20% in profits for your business?
Having an effective strategy in place for your business to deliver great customer service is critical for your business.
We will cover:

Why good customer service is critical for business growth
What are the essentials of delivering great customer service and how should this be delivered?
How to effectively manage different types of customers and their expectations
How, why, and when you should measure the service a business delivers
How to use the service provided to promote a business and enable growth

The low-cost guide to marketing your business
2023-07-11 19:00 - 21:00
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

Hydrogen in Scotland
2023-07-12 10:00 - 11:00
In this webinar, the authors of Scottish Enterprise’s recently published Green Hydrogen Production Site Identification and Opportunities report will discuss their key findings, and their implications for your business and the wider Scottish hydrogen economy.

Google Analytics – Understand how your website performs
2023-07-12 10:00 - 12:00
Google Analytics (Universal and GA4) 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.

e-Commerce with Shopify
2023-07-13 09:00 - 11:00
Shopify is a powerful all-in-one e-Commerce website builder that makes setting up an online store simple and straightforward. In this webinar, we will explore Shopify’s features and pull together the building blocks for your first e-Commerce website.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

Understand the essential features that a website needs to have to sell physical and digital products online
Understand what Shopify is and how to use the features it offers to build a secure and powerful e-Commerce website
Use the Shopify page builder and work with free themes to get the design and style of your website on-brand
Understand how to manage orders and deliver great customer service
Understand how to launch your new e-Commerce website and ensure all essential building blocks are in place using a pre-launch checklist

Kickstart your Marketing
2023-07-13 18:00 - 20:00
The workshop will cover the basic principles of marketing, including target audience identification, competitor analysis, value proposition, and the development of marketing strategies.
The workshop will also explore the importance of measuring the success of marketing strategies and how adhering to good business practice can positively influence Customer Generated Content.
Overall, this workshop is ideal for businesses – new and existing – who want to gain a solid understanding of the basics. By the end of the workshop, you should have the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and execute an effective marketing strategy for your business.
