Developing a Successful Agritourism Retail Business
2024-11-04 10:00 - 15:00 UTC | 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.

Tourism Experiences: Discover the Travel Trade
2024-11-07 11:00 - 12:00
Join VisitScotland’s last webinar of the series and discover the world of travel trade.
Learn about the landscape of travel distribution, market insights and trends. Explore the opportunities of working with the travel trade and how diversifying routes to market can help you grow business year-round.
This free, hour-long webinar takes place on 7 November from 11am – 12pm.
What is today’s visitor expecting? What is tomorrow’s visitor looking for? Find out more about travel and booking preferences of UK and international visitor markets.
Discover how to work with travel trade to bring to market new bookable products and experiences and explore how you can engage in regional and sectoral collaboration to accelerate business growth.
Also covered in this session – a product sheet for travel trade, with industry experts to help you navigate this.
This webinar is not to be missed, packed full of support, insights and practical tips that you can implement within your business.

How to generate and increase sales
2024-11-07 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

How to start a business: The basics
2024-11-07 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
2024-11-08 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

Continuous Improvement Business Breakfast Workshop
2024-11-11 09:00 - 12:00 | Engineering Partnership Innovation Centre, Keptie Road, Arbroath, DD11 3EA
Our breakfast workshop – delivered by our Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) – is an opportunity to take a step back and look at an alternative way of working and thinking about your business.
As well as providing a short overview of the SMAS, we’ll explore how lean manufacturing can help engage people and create a sustainable change and culture in your business.
Because the workshop takes place at the EPIC, there will also be an opportunity to engage with our partners at Tay Cities Engineering Partnership. You’ll see first-hand how EPIC provides a wealth of resources for students, businesses, and the wider community.
You’ll also learn how it’s home to new equipment, including fully operational CNC mills and lathes, micro CNCs, 3D printers, and cobots.
What you’ll learn from this event
Improving productivity in your business can lead to a reduction in production costs and make your business more competitive. By focussing on adding value through lean techniques, you can improve quality, cost, and delivery performance, along with increased capacity.
Our highly interactive event will simulate how businesses are run. It highlights some of the typical daily challenges that businesses experience and will demonstrate an alternative way of looking at your business.
You’ll learn how to think and act differently to improve your business efficiency by applying simple lean thinking principles.
You’ll gain insight to the potential integration of automation within your organisation that can increase and expand ambition, productivity, growth, and profitability as part of our Q&A session.
Capital Investment queries to assist automation requirements.
Why attend?
This event is for progressive people who wish to understand the basics of improvement through team-building exercises and practical application.
Through the manufacturing simulation provided, you’ll gain an understanding of the wastes and learn the importance of performance management.
This activity workshop provides the opportunity to step back from current operations, review the essential implementation elements of improvement, and assess the way forward for your organisation.
Who should attend?
This event is suited for people at a senior management level. This includes those who have responsibility for championing or driving business improvement within the workplace, and/or are involved in the implementation of new processes and new ways of working.
The event has been timed to ensure minimum time away from the workplace. It starts at 9am with breakfast and refreshments. It will finish promptly at noon.
There will be ample opportunity to network with like-minded people and explore ways that SMAS can support your business.
This event is free of charge, with limited places, so book early to avoid disappointment.

International Trade Week 2024
2024-11-11 09:00 - 2024-11-15 17:00
The fourth edition of International Trade Week (ITW) will take place from Monday 11 to Friday 15 November 2024.
Led by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and sponsored by Santander UK, in partnership with industry, ITW 2024 will feature 5 action-packed days of events, workshops and webinars – all free for businesses to attend.
Whether you’re looking to secure your first export contract or expand your existing international sales, ITW will have something for you. The week’s activities are for UK companies of all sizes and sectors – you just need an interest in growing your business.
You will only need to complete registration once to become a member of the UK Export Academy. From there, you will be able to register for as many free ITW events as you wish. See the event programme.

Why your business needs a blog
2024-11-11 14:00 - 16:00
This webinar will provide you with the knowledge and understanding you need to create a blog that promotes your business.
We will cover:

What a ‘blog’ is, how to set one up and what it takes to make them work
Other small and medium sized businesses who already blog successfully and what you can learn from them
Options for monetising a blog
How to promote your blog
How your blog can help move your website higher up search engine ranking
Understanding analytics and measuring the impact of your blog

SMAS engaging in Lean workshop
2024-11-12 09:30 - 12:30 | National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, 3 Netherton Square, Paisley, PA3 2EF
This event is aimed at outlining the easiest way to engage with your people to start to make improvements to the way work is done, and how these activities fit within the wider philosophy of lean.
This event will use a simulation to demonstrate these tools and techniques in an engaging way. It will take you through the change process and emphasise how best to achieve sustainable change.
Why should you attend?
The rate of change in your business may be slower than anticipated and the appetite for change not quite what you would like it to be.
You may have heard about Lean – but perhaps you’re not quite sure what it is and what it will involve. You’ve been on your journey for a while, but you could do with a chance to reset and get your juices going again.
This workshop will help you to identify opportunities for improvement in your approach to change. It will help you increase the likelihood of securing sustainable change going forward.
It’s a fantastic opportunity to find out how you and your workforce can work together in the best interests of the business.
Why SMAS?
Learn how SMAS can help manufacturing businesses plot a course to take advantage of new opportunities, such as efficiency and cost saving measures, that will increase productivity and boost competitiveness.
With an average saving of £153,000 across all projects, SMAS will deliver an immediate return on investment through the improvements that arise from your business improvement activity.
Who should attend?
This event is designed to be engaging for all levels of an organisation and will cover an introduction to the tools and techniques, so no pre-knowledge is required.
Key information and timings
The event will be fast paced to minimise time away from the workplace. The session will start at 9:30am, with refreshments, and will finish promptly at 12:30pm.
There will then be an optional tour of the facility at the end.
This event is free of charge, with limited places, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

How to create engaging content
2024-11-12 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

Young person’s guide to starting a business
2024-11-12 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

Retail Support for Independent businesses
2024-11-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Strathmore Rugby Club, Inchmacoble Park, Forfar, DD8 1RL
This session will include a presentation from our retail and business expert followed by an interactive discussion, giving the opportunity for attendees to share experiences, exchange best practices, and learn from one another.
In this session we’ll explore the realities of operating a business in today’s challenging economic and political environment, while also identifying key strategies and opportunities to help independent retailers and business owners thrive.
Book now and get ready to connect, learn, and leave with actionable insights to strengthen your business for the future.
This event can be followed up with online one to one sessions for individuals interested in getting further personal support.

Ready, Steady, Grow: How to Expand Your Business
2024-11-13 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!

Video production for digital marketing
2024-11-13 18:00 - 20:00
Video captures people’s attention online and is important for getting your message across, while engaging with your target audience.
Learn how to:

Choose what type of video to create to suit your business objectives
Plan, shoot, edit, and upload video without special kit or expertise
Get to know the various digital platforms that can be utilised to view and share video content
See what editing apps are available and how to add music and subtitles

ASVA Annual Conference 2024
2024-11-14 09:00 - 17:30 | Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ
This year’s Association for Scottish Visitor Attractions conference will bring together leading voices and experts from within the visitor attractions and wider tourism sector to share best practices, explore innovative approaches in technology, sustainability, and community engagement.
The programme will explore everything from enhancing the visitor experience to the integration of tech and partnership strategies. It will delve into the unique challenges faced by small and big attractions alike, discuss sustainability efforts, and focus on critical themes like people, accessibility and inclusion.
The trade exhibition will be a key part of conference activities, and an excellent opportunity for trade members to showcase their organisation to the attraction industry audience. There will be a limited number of trade stands available, so it is advised to book as early as possible to ensure you secure your spot and avoid missing out.
After the conference, all delegates are invited to a drinks reception at Perth Museum from 6-8pm. Not only will you enjoy a selection of drinks provided by local suppliers, but you’ll also have the opportunity to network and explore the museum, including a guided tour of the iconic Stone of Destiny.

Selling Your Business Masterclass
2024-11-14 10:00 - 12:00
Have you considered a succession plan for your business? It’s never too early to start thinking about your options. Employee ownership is fast becoming the preferred exit route for business owners.
Aimed at business owners who are considering an exit from their company, this session will give attendees the opportunity to hear from industrial machinery manufacturer Fusion Mechanical and publishing services company Prepress Projects. Speakers from the companies will explain considerations they undertook when choosing employee ownership and how things have worked out as a result.
Louise Fisher from Baxendale Employee Ownership will talk through all ownership succession options before focussing on employee ownership and how to ensure the employee buyout is a smooth process.
Timings:
10:05am Welcome – Glen Dott, Scottish Enterprise
10:10am Ownership Succession Options – Louise Fisher, Baxendale Employee Ownership
10:35am Employee Ownership Case Study – Fusion Mechanical
11am Employee Ownership Case Study – Prepress Projects
11:25am Support available – Glen Dott, Scottish Enterprise
11:30am Q&A
11:45am Close
Attend this workshop to learn how employee ownership offers a tax efficient exit route that protects your company’s legacy, while providing a competitive price for the business. It could it be the perfect succession solution for you.

Creating an effective email marketing strategy
2024-11-14 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

Kickstart your Marketing
2024-11-14 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.

Scottish Agritourism Conference 2024
2024-11-18 09:00 - 2024-11-19 13:00 | Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, Perth, PH1 5HZ
This Conference will bring together everyone interested in the development of agritourism in Scotland.
It will be a great chance to get together, network and build relationships.
The conference is set to welcome:

existing agritourism business owners
farmers and crofters considering agritourism or just keen to find out more
tourism, hospitality and food and drink businesses keen to benefit from the growth of agritourism in Scotland
professionals and suppliers to the sector
industry representatives from across agriculture, tourism destinations, the public sector and academia

Both members of Scottish Agritourism and non-members are welcome. Anyone booking with a non-members ticket who decides to join Scottish Agritourism before or during the Conference will have the difference in their ticket money refunded.
Highlights will include

Building Great Teams – Beata Winiarska, Forest Farm Dairy, Anna & Richard, Lindores & further speaker tbc
Innovation – Jillian McEwan, Lunan Bay Farm, Tom Lewis, Monachyle Mhor and Katrina Reynolds, Allanton Inn
International session – Marijke Dunselman, Agritourism New Zealand & Pandurang Taware, Agritourism India
Insight Session, Vicki Miller, Visit Scotland and Amanda Brown, Scotland Food & Drink
Focus on Scotland’s Agritourism Strategy and upcoming World Agritourism Conference
Annual Sector Dinner
Scottish Agritourism update and AGM

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2024-11-18 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

Business Support – Drop In Sessions
2024-11-18 13:00 - 16:00 | Carnoustie Library, 21 High Street, Carnoustie, DD7 6AN
The Business Gateway team will be at Carnoustie 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.
