How to start a business: The basics
2024-05-25 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-06-06 18:00 - 20:00 UTC
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

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2024-05-27 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

Ready, Steady, Grow: How to Expand Your Business
2024-05-28 10:00 - 12:00
This workshop will take place online via Zoom. Joining instructions will be shared with you once you have reserved your space.
Ready to accelerate your business growth but unsure where to begin?
Look no further than our Ready Steady Grow workshop focused on accelerating business growth. Led by experienced business advisers, this session is designed to help you identify your growth potential and create a roadmap for success.
Through collaborative discussions with like-minded businesses, you’ll gain new insights, tools and knowledge to help support your growth plans. You’ll also walk away with a network of fellow business owners to connect with for ongoing support.
Don’t miss this opportunity to take your business to new heights!

Unlocking Efficiency in Green Energy Supply Chains through Emerging Technologies
2024-05-28 11:00 - 12:00
Join this webinar to learn about how new and emerging technologies can unlock efficiencies in the green energy supply chain and how secure data sharing can reduce costs and optimise processes in the Energy sector.

Finding, keeping and looking after your staff
2024-05-28 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

Social media essentials: Facebook
2024-05-29 10:00 - 12:00
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

USA Offshore Wind Market Update - May 2024
2024-05-29 14:00 - 15:00
Join us to hear an update on the current state of play in the US offshore wind market.
Learn more about upcoming projects, proposed longer term developments and SDI’s future event calendar.

Cyber security for your small business
2024-05-29 15:00 - 16:00
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.

How to deliver low-cost, high impact marketing
2024-05-29 15:00 - 17:00
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

Creating an effective email marketing strategy
2024-05-30 10:00 - 12:00
Customers buy from businesses that they know, like and trust. Email marketing is powerful and affordable tool in your digital marketing toolkit to build these relationships.
Most businesses send monthly newsletters to stay in touch with their audience, but your results will improve with a structured plan and the best practices that will be explored in this webinar.
Whether you’re new to email marketing or you’re looking to optimise your email strategy, this webinar enable you to:

Adopt email marketing into your wider marketing strategy and gain insight into your target audience
Understand the key stages of an effective marketing strategy
Segment your audiences and to target and position your offering to them effectively
Create a value-driven and customer-focussed content for email marketing whilst measuring and testing it’s effectiveness
Identify the most suitable platforms and tools for email marketing campaigns, including different paid-for account levels
Optimise the different components of a successful email campaign
Use reporting and key metrics to make sure your campaigns are successful
Be compliant with legal requirements relating to email communications and use best practices for escaping the spam folder

Business Finance Viability
2024-05-30 10:00 - 12:00
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!

Create videos with YouTube
2024-05-31 11:00 - 12:00
With 2 billion users logging in every month, YouTube provides an exciting way of increasing your brand’s exposure through video.
This session will cover:

how to understand your brand and target audience’s behaviours
how to write, storyboard and film engaging videos
how to market your content to users and measure your success

You will also learn:

how to identify your niche
top tips for creating engaging content
ways to increase your video’s discoverability

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.

Social media essentials: LinkedIn
2024-06-03 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

How to create engaging content
2024-06-04 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.
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

Website development for your small business
2024-06-04 14:00 - 17:00
This webinar is suitable for business owners who are thinking about getting a website, or those who have just started to put one together.
Divided over three sessions, it will look at the principles and practices of developing a website for your business.
Topics covered include:

audience demographics
website domains
website structure
keywords
GDPR
analytics
website building
Google Ads

The breaks provided have been designed to coincide with a change in the webinar’s focus area within the subject of website development. You can attend all three sections using the same link, or choose the parts that suit your needs.

The Basics of Starting a Business
2024-06-04 16:00 - 18:00
This webinar 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 webinar, you will have the information required to start building an action plan and be confident about understanding the next steps.

Industry Decarbonisation Opportunities in France: Dunkirk at the forefront of industry decarbonation
2024-06-05 12:30 - 13:30
Ahead of the scoping mission to be organised by Scottish Development International, Neccus cluster and partners in September 2024 in Dunkirk, this webinar will present France’s flagship industry decarbonation projects and opportunities of collaboration for the Scottish supply chain, with a focus on Dunkirk, home of one of Europe’s most ambitious industry decarbonisation projects.
This session represents an opportunity to better understand France’s flagship projects and potential collaboration opportunities with presentations from key players including Arcelor Mittal, H2V, Air Liquide and Dunkerque LNG, aiming at meeting with key industry decarbonisation players in Dunkirk and identify collaboration opportunities.

An introduction to business websites
2024-06-05 14:00 - 16:00
This webinar will take you through all the steps required to design, build and host a business website. You will learn about:

The need to determine website objectives
The importance of knowing who your audience is and measuring results
Setting clear calls to action and creating engaging content
Creating your brand’s visual identity online, your site’s blueprint and how you can structure your site map
What’s involved in registering your domain, maintaining your site content, and options for hosting it

This webinar will also offer guidance on when and how to outsource your website development, covering topics such as choosing a suitable content management system, what to organise first and costing for the work.

Writing for social media
2024-06-05 16:30 - 17:30
Engaging copy can help you say more with less when posting on your social media channels.
If you manage a social media channel for your business and you’re looking at ways to sharpen your copy, join this session on writing for social media. Learn ways to develop a written tone of voice and tips for creating copy for limited space online.
In this session you will learn:

how to define your brand across your social media channels
tips for writing for social media and responding to customer comments
tools you can use for content marketing

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.

Photography for digital marketing
2024-06-06 10:00 - 12:00
During this webinar you will:

Discover the basic ‘dos and don’ts’ of taking your own pictures, editing them and uploading them onto digital platforms
See some real-life examples of posts that demonstrate good, bad and indifferent use for businesses

How to generate and increase sales
2024-06-06 13:30 - 15:30
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

Bookkeeping essentials
2024-06-07 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

An introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for small businesses
2024-06-10 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Understanding Process Improvement Training
2024-06-11 09:00 - 12:00 | ETZ Ltd, 53 Blenheim Place, Aberdeen, AB25 2DY
Join our Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) on 11 June 2024, from 9:30am to 12:00 noon, for a free Lean Breakfast Workshop at W-Zero-1 collaboration space at ETZ, Aberdeen, which will provide you with the tools to support you through the Fit 4 Offshore Renewables (F4OR) programme’s Process Excellence requirements.
The series is designed to help you develop your own continuous improvement strategies, to apply process improvements, improve workplace organisation and much more. Each workshop will also begin and end with a 30-minute networking opportunity.
Workshop two – Understanding Process Improvement Training
The second session in our series will focus on supporting your business with process improvements. You will learn:

The flow of departments within a company
The importance of gathering data to prioritise improvement actions
Practical tips and tools to identify waste and how to challenge it

Our event is open to all manufacturers and producers – large, small and sector wide – who wish to improve business efficiency and begin their F4OR accreditation. It’s aimed at business leaders and managers who are looking to introduce a culture of change within the business and who wish to engage the workforce to look for opportunities to do things better and deliver process improvements that can benefit your business.

Growth Leadership - Taster Session
2024-06-11 10:00 - 11:00
Are you a leader of a business with planned growth aspirations, a leader looking to build on previous leadership development over the next two to three years, or the leader of a business that’s in the early stages of growth?
If so, the Growth Leadership programme could be for you. You can join our taster session to get an overview of the programme. This will help you ensure it’s the right leadership development programme for you.
You’ll also get the opportunity to ask the team questions about the programme. Growth Leadership is aimed at leaders whose businesses have planned growth aspiration, as well as experienced leaders wishing to build on previous leadership development participation.

Essential Leadership - Taster & Information Session
2024-06-12 09:30 - 10:30
Are you a new business leader, someone who aims to move to a leadership role in the next two to three years, or the leader of a business that’s in the early stages of growth?
If so, the Essential Leadership programme could be for you.
You can join our taster session, which will give an overview of the programme. This will help yo ensure it’s the right leadership development programme for you. You’ll also get the opportunity to ask the team questions about the programme.
Whats involved in the programme?

Pre-programme onboarding – diagnostics (including 360) will be undertaken with each participant prior to the structured learning sessions. During the feedback session the diagnostic results will be discussed, and you’ll identify and agree on actions to take forward.
Five half-day workshops – this programme of workshops is delivered over approximately three months. These facilitated sessions are where the like-minded individuals come together to learn, and to share issues and solutions. You will support, challenge, and inspire each other.
Four hours of coaching – with a dedicated qualified coach to further develop you as a leader. The focus can be on business or personal development.
A half-day forward action planning session – you’ll review what you have learned, track your progress to date and plan the next steps, with the support of your sponsor.

How much does the full programme cost?
There is a cost to the programme, which has been significantly subsidised by Scottish Enterprise – cost payable per delegate is £700 plus VAT.

Inch Cape Supply Chain Expo
2024-06-12 12:00 - 2024-06-13 12:30 | Forth Ports Leith Cruise Terminal, Ocean Drive, Edinburgh, EH6 6JJ
After more than 12 years in development, the project is assembling its Tier 1 contractors ready to start full construction. The Inch Cape team is keen to ensure UK companies are well-placed to bid for contracts with their Tier 1s and would like to welcome the local supply chain to a face-to-face event held over two days in June 2024.
A number of the project’s Tier 1s will be exhibiting over two days and there will be opportunities to hear from them directly, book one-to-ones and meet with others in the offshore wind supply chain. There will also be the chance to find out the latest on the project and have a tour of the port at Leith, for those keen to see how it’s being developed.
This event is organised by NOF and supported by Forth & Tay Offshore Cluster (FTO).
The event is recommended for existing and potential suppliers to the offshore wind sector, particularly those with a local presence or facilities. While attendees can come on either of the days, Day One will focus on wind turbine generators and the wider project and Day Two on the electrical transmission system.

Precision Medicine Opportunities in the USA
2024-06-12 15:00 - 16:00
This webinar is delivered in partnership with healthcare market specialists, AVIA, and will empower companies involved in Precision Medicine & Data-Driven Healthcare to increase market awareness and improve understanding of health systems, potential customers and investors in this $25 billion marketplace.

An introduction to business strategy
2024-06-12 15:00 - 17:00
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
