How to deliver low-cost, high impact marketing
2024-10-28 13:00 - 15:00 UTC
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

Transforming Our Towns: How Digitisation is Driving Local Economic Growth
2024-10-29 10:00 - 11:30
In today’s fast-paced world, digitisation is not just a buzzword—it’s the driving force behind economic growth, efficiency, and scalability. Our local economy is experiencing a remarkable transformation, fueled by digital advancements that are reshaping industries, creating jobs, and fostering a new era of prosperity.
Event Highlights

Explore Cutting-Edge Digital Solutions: Discover how local businesses are harnessing the power of digitisation to streamline operations, reduce costs, and boost productivity. From advanced automation to AI-driven analytics, see firsthand the tools that are revolutionising our economic landscape.
Success Stories: Learn from industry leaders and trailblazers who have successfully implemented digital strategies, driving growth in towns and business improvement districts. These real-world exemplars will demonstrate how embracing digital innovation has led to tangible results, from increased revenue to expanded market reach.
Economic Efficiency in Action: Hear how digitisation is enabling businesses to achieve more with less. By reducing waste, optimising resources, and improving decision-making processes, businesses and communities in our towns are not only becoming more efficient but also more resilient in the face of challenges.
Scaling New Heights: Explore the role of digitisation in enabling businesses to scale rapidly and sustainably. Understand how digital platforms and infrastructure are empowering local enterprises to expand beyond borders, tapping into new markets and opportunities with ease.

Why Attend?

Inspire Growth: Whether you’re a town or business improvement district manager, a business owner, entrepreneur, or policy maker, this showcase will equip you with insights and inspiration to leverage digitisation for economic success.
Connect with Innovators: Connect with thought leaders, industry experts, and peers who are at the forefront of digital transformation. Build partnerships and collaborations that could drive your own digital transformation journey.
Stay Ahead of the Curve: In a rapidly evolving digital economy, staying informed is key. This event is your chance to stay ahead of trends, understand emerging technologies, and prepare for the future.

Be a part of the digital revolution. Join us for a showcase that not only celebrates the power of digitisation but also sets the stage for the continued growth and success of our local economies across Scotland’s towns and places.
Don’t miss out—register today and be at the forefront of economic innovation!
This event promises to be a pivotal moment for our community, highlighting the ways in which digitisation is not only transforming businesses but also driving broader economic benefits. Be there to witness the future unfold!

Accessible and Inclusive Agritourism
2024-10-29 13:30 - 14:30
Join Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme for an informative event focused on accessibility and inclusion within the agritourism sector. We are delighted to welcome Moira Henderson, The Rings, to talk about her experience setting up and developing a successful accessible agritourism business.
Whether you are just starting out or running an established business, you will benefit from hearing from Moira who brings a wealth of experience in this area and who will be ready to answer all your questions.
Moira grew up on the West coast of Scotland married David in 1980 and they moved to Fife. They have four adult children & seven grandchildren. David lectured at Elmwood Agricultural College, and Moira was a Registered General Nurse. They bought the family farm in 1988, setting up the partnership of Firm of M.C. Henderson. The business was mostly sheep and crops but later expanded to include egg production and retail. The farm had two holiday caravans which Moira used to supplement David’s income and keep the small 90 acres going for many years, however when these came to the end of their “life” the family was keen to develop holiday accommodation which would meet the needs of those with disabilities.
This farm diversification began as a simple idea to provide a cottage with a ceiling track hoist but resulted in the completion of The Rings cottage in 2016. In 2018, Moira was awarded an MBE for services to Accessible Tourism in Fife.
The Rings now includes a uniquely divideable cottage with 8 fully accessible bedrooms with ensuite wetrooms. The cottage is fully inclusive of those with access needs providing hoists, profiling beds and equipment such as shower chairs; but you don’t have to break a leg to come and stay, they don’t discriminate against you if you don’t have a disability!

How to build a digital marketing plan
2024-10-29 14:00 - 16:00
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

Cyber Security for your small business
2024-10-29 15:00 - 16:00
To attend this webinar, there are no prerequisites or prior experience needed. It is aimed at start-up businesses and those who are interested in creating a start-up.
It would also be beneficial for more established businesses who are looking at security as a business differentiator and learn how it can be used to win new business.
Your host Jim Wright will introduce security, how it can benefit businesses and allow you to seize opportunities while minimising risk. Jim will also discuss common frameworks and fundamental principles that business leaders should be aware of from the start of their business venture.
By the end of this webinar, attendees will:
1) Understand security risks
2) Understand the benefits of security
3) Have an awareness of threat actors
4) Have an awareness of threat vectors
5) Have an awareness of the services that can be offered to support start-ups
6) Understand the regulatory environment in which they work
7) Understand the common frameworks relating to security

Managing People for Growth
2024-10-30 09:30 - 16:00
Our workshops cover several key areas that can help you develop the skills of your people managers.
You’ll learn how to:

Identify the skills and approaches managers require to perform their roles successfully both now and in the future.
Implement fair and progressive work practices through an understanding of key drivers that can develop new ways of working (for example, the fair work framework, productivity and benefits of employee engagement).
Understand the importance of effectively maximising and improving existing staff skills, while identifying the style and attributes of an effective manager.

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 2: Off page optimisation & technical considerations
2024-10-30 10:00 - 12:00
Join us as we take a further, more detailed look at how the Google search engines indexes and ranks websites based on a number of external (off-page) and technical factors. Implementing this learning will increase your chances of customers discovering your business through Google – the world’s leading research tool.
We will cover:

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

Unlocking the power of crowdfunding
2024-10-30 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar will equip businesses with the knowledge and strategies to effectively leverage crowdfunding for growth and success,
We’ll cover:

Understanding your funding audience
Crowdfunding success stories
The impact of a successful campaign
The opportunity presented by patronage models
Essential elements of a winning crowdfunding campaign
Building a crowdfunding culture
Crowdfunding myths and realities
Strategies for success

By the end of this webinar, you will have a comprehensive understanding of crowdfunding and patronage/membership models, actionable strategies to launch a successful campaign and the confidence to take your organisation to new heights through crowdfunding.

Tourism and heritage sector skills
2024-10-30 12:00 - 13:00
Join Diane Cunningham, Growth & Inward Investment Manager at Skills Development Scotland, and Lawrence Durden, Tourism Sector Manager, as they explore the challenges faced by the tourism and heritage sectors in talent attraction and retention.
Joining Diane and Lawrence are Catherine Cartmell, Historic Environment Scotland’s Skills Investment Plan Manager, Kat Brogan, Managing Director of Mercat Tours and Nicola Watt, Head of People at Buzzworks. They will provide industry insights and examples of best practice in recruitment and retention across their respective sectors.

Tayside Adaptation Partnership Vision and Priorities Event: Local Business
2024-10-30 12:30 - 15:00 | Webster Memorial Theatre, 64 High Street, Arbroath, DD11 1AW
The climate in Tayside is changing, and the region is experiencing warmer, wetter weather, increased storminess, and higher sea levels, all of which is set to continue even if we achieved net zero tomorrow. We need to adapt to these changes to allow us to become more resilient and ensure Tayside can continue to flourish.
Adaptation Scotland are supporting partners within Tayside to develop a new, Regional Adaptation Partnership to address climate risks.
At this early stage, we want to involve people and organisations across the region in defining a shared vision and priorities for the new partnership. Four sector specific events have been designed to provide opportunities for different groups to have a say in what the partnership could be, what it could do and how it could work.
Aimed at businesses, land managers and the agricultural sector in Tayside, this workshop will explore how a regional adaptation partnership can advance adaptation in Tayside, using these three key questions:
1. How would you describe current work on adaptation in Tayside? What works well and what are the challenges?
2. What do you hope to see in Tayside in 2050, as the result of good adaptation action?
3.How can the regional partnership help move Tayside from the current situation to the future we want to see in 2050?
Each event will run from 12:30pm – 3pm with registration and a free lunch available from 12:15pm. Space is limited, so we ask you to register no more than 2 people per organisation or group.

Finding, keeping and looking after your staff
2024-10-30 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

Marketing for your small business
2024-10-30 13:00 - 16:00
Without proper marketing your business cannot have a lasting impact. This live webinar will help you to identify, profile and gain a deeper understanding of your target audiences, how to conduct market research and build a marketing plan. It will also explain brand development and positioning, and choosing your price points.
The webinar is divided into three sessions.
Marketing and market research:

what is marketing?
how to understand your audience using market research

Understanding your customers and competition:

understanding your competitors
identifying your customers and categorising them
understanding your customers’ needs and motivations

Marketing planning, pricing and branding:

pricing considerations
developing your brand
developing your message
deciding on the best marketing methods for your business
budgeting and evaluating

Breaks are provided between the sessions. You can attend all three using the same link, or choose the parts that suit your needs.

Tourism Experiences: Mastering Online Travel Agents
2024-10-31 10:00 - 12:30
Can Online Travel Agents (OTAs) add to your growth and, most importantly, to your profitability?
Join our interactive webinar designed to provide visitor attractions, activity providers, and tour companies, with an in depth understanding of working with OTAs.
This session will focus on businesses that are looking to start using OTAs for the first time and, if already using an OTA, how to improve the performance of your listings.
As part of this session, you’ll be asked to analyse your own business practices and consider what might be improved.
Please note: There are limited places available for this session, and registration will be on a first come, first serve basis.
Due to the format of this session, which is specifically tailored for visitor attractions, activity providers and tour companies, please use the form to submit your interest in attending. It has a series of questions to make sure this session is right for your business.

Introduction to Canva
2024-10-31 11:00 - 13:00
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.

An introduction to business strategy
2024-10-31 13:00 - 15:00
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

Business Support – Drop In Sessions
2024-10-31 13:00 - 16:00 | Kirriemuir Library, 28 Reform Street, Kirriemuir, DD8 4BS
The Business Gateway team will be at Kirriemuir Library to offer expert advice and support for all your business questions.
Drop in and speak to us, or use the book now button and a member of the team will be in touch to book an appointment.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow business, our advisers are here for you every step of the way.

How to plan and schedule your online content
2024-11-01 10:00 - 12:00
Businesses who plan their content in advance, aligning their channels with actual business objectives, customer themes and national events, and then schedule it to ensure it reaches the target market at the right time, on the right platform – hugely increase the chances of achieving impact.
In this webinar, you will learn how to:

Plan content based on your business and your customer needs
Evaluate current social media dashboards and management tools
Create a social media content calendar and schedule updates automatically
Reach more people through automating your blog and email newsletter content
Implement simple automation techniques to increase efficiency

Having great content is just the start. This webinar will help you better organise and setup your content strategy through simple planning and effective scheduling, to achieve great business results.

Boost your productivity with AI
2024-11-01 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.

Social media essentials: TikTok and Instagram Reels
2024-11-04 10:00 - 12:00
TikTok and Instagram Reels aren’t just for dance trends and lip-synching videos, they can also be a fantastic opportunity to engage with your customers and increase the reach of your business online. Learn how to create bitesize video content for more effective business communication on two of the most popular social platforms.
We will cover:

How to optimise your TikTok and Instagram accounts for the best results with video
How to discover the latest trends on each platform and leverage this to create popular videos for your business
Ideas for creating content to entertain, inspire or educate your audience (with lots of examples from a variety of relevant TikTok and Reels accounts)
How to increase engagement and reach by paying attention to your videos’ structure, duration, titles and understanding hashtags and algorithms
The best kit, apps and workflow to create bitesize vertical videos for both platforms

How to write funding applications
2024-11-04 10:00 - 12:00
When submitting applications for funding, you need to ensure that the applications are written in such a way that improves your chances of being successful.
There are numerous funders out there and each will have their unique way they wish you to apply, however, in this webinar we’ll explore some key steps you can take to improve your chances of a successful application, including:

Clarifying your need

Demonstrating your needs

Understanding your funder

How to speak their language

Getting the basics right

Overcoming the common mistakes

Answering the questions asked

Developing a Successful Agritourism Retail Business
2024-11-04 10:00 - 15:00 | Carfrae Farm Shop, Haddington, EH41 4LP
Join Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farms Programme for an informative event focused on developing successful retail in an agritourism business.
Whether you’re an established agritourism business or just starting out, this event at Carfrae Farm will help you consider how to run a successful retail enterprise. We will be joined by Retail Experts who will talk us through the key challenges for retail at this time and provide insights from their own experience.
We will also have an opportunity to hear from our hosts and Core Community Group Members, Trudi and Eric Cueto about the progress and developments at Carfrae Farm. We will be able to have a walk around the business which includes a Farm Shop, Snug offering a place to enjoy coffee and cake, holiday accommodation , workshops and more recently wellness retreats.
There will be an opportunity to share thoughts & ideas and network over lunchtime.

Business Support – Drop In Sessions
2024-11-04 13:00 - 16:00 | Brechin Library, 10 St. Ninians Square, Brechin, DD9 7AD
The Business Gateway team will be at Brechin Library to offer expert advice and support for all your business questions.
Drop in and speak to us, or use the book now button and a member of the team will be in touch to book an appointment.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow business, our advisers are here for you every step of the way.

The Basics of Starting a Business
2024-11-05 10:00 - 12:00
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.

An introduction to business websites
2024-11-05 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Perthshire Talks Responsible Tourism: exploring different climate action themes
2024-11-05 11:00 - 12:00
Energy, transport, and waste comprise a substantial amount of global greenhouse gas emissions and will usually make up a considerable part of your footprint. Reducing these will be an essential step on your road to net zero.
However, measurement and reduction are only one part of the picture. Developing climate action around communicating, influencing your customers or suppliers, and adapting to climate change are equally as crucial on the road to net zero.
In this webinar, we will explain the different climate action themes in our guide and what they mean for you and your business.

Social media essentials: Facebook
2024-11-05 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

Google Analytics – Understand how your website performs
2024-11-06 14:00 - 16:00
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that helps you understand how your website is performing. It helps answer lots of questions, including:

Which marketing channels drive traffic to your site?
What pages are users looking at the most?
What impact does mobile have on your potential customers?

During this webinar, we’ll help you understand how Google Analytics is set up and give you an overview of key reports. We’ll also look at other web analytics tools to help you online.

Social media essentials: LinkedIn
2024-11-06 18:00 - 20:00
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

An Introduction to Canva
2024-11-07 10:00 - 12:00 | The Meffan, 20 West High Street, Forfar, DD8 1BB
Looking to create your own brand images using Canva? This interactive workshop will teach you how to create stunning visuals that make your brand stand out on social media.
Bring your laptop or MacBook and your brand images for a hands-on experience. We’ll cover everything from the basics to more advanced techniques for creating dynamic, bespoke images for your brand.
In this workshop, we’ll cover:

How to register for a free Canva.com account
A walk-through of the platform, including features and toolbars
The importance of fonts, colours, and effects for maximum impact
How to use Canva design templates and adapt them for your business
How to create your own designs from scratch using your own imagery
How to insert animation on your photos and text
How to create engaging reels
An explanation of different types of social media content
How to save and download from Canva
How to upload to Meta Suite Planner

Don’t miss out. Take control of your brand imagery and create stunning visuals for online use. Book your place now!

An introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for small businesses
2024-11-07 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.
