The Basics of Starting a Business
2024-12-03 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
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.

Social media essentials: LinkedIn
2024-12-03 10:00 - 12:00
No longer just an online CV, LinkedIn can be an incredibly powerful – and profitable – business tool.
During this webinar, you will:

Learn how to create a LinkedIn strategy to boost your business reputation via marketing and brand promotion initiatives
Learn the difference between personal and company profiles and how to optimise them for both maximum visibility and brand awareness
Understand that content is king on LinkedIn, and we’ll show you how to plan and produce captivating content that enriches your brand

Boost your productivity with AI
2024-12-03 11:00 - 12:00
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.

Behind the business: Challenges, wins & strategies for success
2024-12-03 12:30 - 13:30
In celebration of Small Business Saturday, we’ve brought together three business owners from across Scotland to reflect on their business journeys so far, and plans for the future. The panel will discuss the challenges that come with running a small business, as well as the various opportunities for growth and learning.
The session will explore:

The most rewarding parts of running a small business
The biggest challenges and how to overcome them
What support has made the biggest difference
Different options for financing growth
What changes would make a difference to Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

Whether you’re looking to start-up or grow your business, this session will offer tools and inspiration to help you succeed.
Panellists include:
Hugh Lightbody, Chief Officer, Business Gateway National Unit (Host)
Dr Kate Smith, PhD, Founder & CEO, ProfessorMe
Karen Robinson, Founder, Three Robins
Douglas Hardie, Director, Highland Food & Drink Trail

Intellectual Property (IP) Masterclass
2024-12-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Arbroath Football Club, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, DD11 1QJ
This masterclass will explain Intellectual Property (IP) and provide clear guidance on how to address issues related to copyright, trademarks, patents, and more that SMEs might encounter. Our expert speaker, Alan Rae, has years of experience with IP legislation, offering guidance to a number of academic and commercial organisations on raising IP awareness and managing any arising issues.
During the masterclass, you will see several relevant examples of IP issues that may affect your business. This is an interactive workshop, and we encourage participants to ask specific questions they may be facing in their own business. This is your chance to get expert feedback and help others who might be dealing with similar issues.

Marketing for your business
2024-12-03 13:00 - 16:00
Without proper marketing your business cannot have a lasting impact. This bootcamp 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 – choosing your price points.
Agenda:
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

Starting from scratch on social media
2024-12-03 14:00 - 15:00
Join this free event to hear from people in social media roles in the heritage sector, ask questions, and pick up practical tips.
This event, you’ll be hearing from Dr Kristin Leith FSAScot, Senior Curator of Clocktime, a new digital museum which enables a worldwide audience to discover how British clockmakers changed our world.
Kristin’s team launched the social media accounts for Clocktime in early 2024 and have been steadily growing their follower and engagement numbers ever since.
In addition to a whistlestop tour of the digital museum, Kristin will talk about:

what platforms they chose and why
how they’ve been sharing and adapting website content for social media on different platforms
what communities / target audiences they decided to cultivate as followers
how they grew their follower numbers from zero
what they chose to track and report on
key takeaways (including what worked well, and what they’d do differently going forward)

This online event will conclude with a Q&A session.

An introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for small businesses
2024-12-03 14:00 - 16:00
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 Co-ops
2024-12-04 09:30 - 12:30 | The Studio Glasgow, 67 Hope Street, G2 6AE
Are you thinking of starting a business? Or looking for a different approach to your existing business or community venture? Have you considered a co-op?
If you’re looking for an inclusive, democratic approach to your business, then a co-op could be the perfect fit.
Our free event, Understanding Co-ops, is brought to you by Co-operative Development Scotland, one of Scottish Enterprise’s services, and explores how your business can thrive as a co-operative.
Why co-ops?
All kinds of businesses operate as co-ops. These include pubs, energy suppliers, taxi firms, bookstores, community gardens, wine sellers, farms, sports clubs, and much more.
Co-ops are run by their members. They can be customers, employees, residents, or suppliers. They have a say in how the co-op is run – this makes it a fairer, more collaborative, and democratic way of doing business.
Co-ops are also resilient as a business model. They are more than twice as likely to survive the early years of trading when compared to other start-up businesses.
What to expect
The workshop will be led by a co-op specialist from Co-operate Scotland LLP and will feature guests from local co-ops:

Radiophrenia
Greencity Wholesfoods

Our guests will share their experiences of starting and running a co-op.
This informative and interactive workshop will give you a more in-depth understanding of co-operatives, as well as the initial steps required to start one. You’ll discover:

The different kinds of co-ops available and learn which type might suit you best
What membership means
The strengths of co-ops versus traditional business models
Co-op values and principles
Co-op facts and figures
The different legal forms a co-op can take
Support for co-ops from Co-operative Development Scotland

How to generate and increase sales
2024-12-04 10:00 - 12:00
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

Space Data for Industry – Denmark
2024-12-04 13:00 - 14:00
Following the success of previous space data innovation calls, ’Applying Space Data to the Net Zero Economy’ and ‘Space Data for Industry’, we are looking to create a new call, named ‘Space Data for Industry Denmark’. We hope to launch the call in April 2025.
Our aim is to help Scottish companies bridge the gap between end-user interest and product sales. The demand-led call will offer grant funding to Scottish businesses that use innovative space data solutions within their products or services to enhance collaboration with potential customers in Denmark.
The project will be developed and delivered by Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Scottish Development International (SDI), with support from the Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID).
Our webinar will offer more details on funding and discuss proposed SDI trade missions to Denmark in February and April 2025. These missions will help build relationships and scope potential projects for the call.
Scottish companies are welcome to collaborate with Nordic partners from any sector, but SDI will focus on supporting sales of space-derived ESG reporting into the Danish financial services industry.
This webinar is your opportunity to help shape this exciting new call, the trade activity associated with it and explore how your business can benefit from partnering with companies in Denmark.

How to create engaging content
2024-12-04 14:00 - 16:00
Producing quality content is an excellent way of helping your customers develop a meaningful relationship with your brand, services and products. In this webinar we will show you how to source and develop a variety of content for your website and social channels.
This session is ideal for businesses that already have a business website or use social media and now want to take it a step further, and develop the skills to show your audience that you are a trusted operator in your field.
We will help you:

Understand what kind of content your customers are looking for
Source, write and deliver that content
Amplify your brand and message and boost engagement online

Ready, Steady, Grow: How to Expand Your Business
2024-12-04 16:00 - 18:00
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!

Improving Your Business Using Lean and Digital Tools
2024-12-05 09:30 - 11:00 | HALO Enterprise and Innovation Hub, Hill Street, Kilmarnock, KA1 3HY
This event will give you an overview of the support and guidance available from the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS).
This will be followed by a case study of ACS Clothing Ltd that details how it created its roadmap for success. We’ll look at various traditional Lean Tools and how these can effectively solve business problems.
Finally, we’ll discuss digital technologies, their potential limits, and provide examples of where they can help bridge gaps.
Who should attend?
Anyone who has responsibility for driving business improvement within the workplace should join our event. We invite people who are involved in the implementation of new processes and new ways of working. This includes those who have responsibility for the financial side of business improvement and expenditure.

Inclusive business models: identifying opportunities for plural ownership
2024-12-05 10:00 - 12:30
Hosted by Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS), this workshop will explain how inclusive business models can help your organisation deliver your Community Wealth Building (CWB) agenda.
CWB is described by the Scottish Government as a practical approach to economic development focused on five pillars of activity: spending/procurement, workforce, land and property, finance, and plural ownership.
Co-operative Development Scotland contributes to the plural ownership pillar by supporting companies and community groups across Scotland that want to adopt an inclusive business model, such as employee ownership or forming a co-operative.
The event is aimed at frontline business and community advisers, individuals with a policy or strategic role, and other interested parties from across local authorities, the enterprise agencies and third sector interfaces (TSI).
It will help you develop an in-depth understanding of inclusive business models, so you can identify, develop and signpost appropriate referral opportunities to CDS.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have:
• An in-depth understanding of inclusive business models such as co-operatives and employee ownership, including legal structures and governance
• An increased awareness of why these models are important against Scottish policy landscape
• The knowledge to identify future opportunities for start-ups and existing enterprises to adopt inclusive business models
• An understanding of the support available from Co-operative Development Scotland on behalf of all Scotland’s enterprise agencies (Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and South of Scotland Enterprise)

An introduction to business strategy
2024-12-05 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

Kickstart your Marketing
2024-12-05 16:00 - 18:00
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.

Creating an effective email marketing strategy
2024-12-06 14:00 - 16:00
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

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 1: On page optimisation
2024-12-09 10:00 - 12:00
Join us to look at how Google and other search engines decide the order in which they list their search results. We will show you how to maximise your chances of appearing towards the top of the search rankings, ensuring you understand what key words and phrases your potential customers are using when searching online, and how to optimise your website as a result.
We will cover:

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

Social media essentials: Facebook
2024-12-09 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

Embracing Localism in the Drive to Net Zero
2024-12-10 10:00 - 11:30
Join Scotland’s Towns Partnership for an inspiring session of insights, innovation, and actionable strategies aimed at transforming Scotland’s towns and communities in the push for Net Zero.
This online event brings together leaders and visionaries from across Scotland’s public, private, and third sectors to discuss the power of localism in meeting climate goals.
In Scotland, the drive to Net Zero starts at the heart of each town. Our towns and town centres are not only places of connection but also vital players in the fight against climate change.
This event will examine how Scotland’s places can take the lead by reimagining, repurposing, and championing sustainable business and community practices.
Through expert-led sessions and an exemplar showcase, you’ll gain insights into how collaboration and local action can unlock sustainability and climate resilience for a better, greener Scotland.
Let’s transform Scotland’s towns to be greener, resilient, and prosperous – together. Register today and be part of Scotland’s journey to Net Zero!
Why Attend?

Gain Insight: Learn from the UK’s longest-established carbon-neutral water retailer and Scotland’s circular economy public body about impactful business practices for Net Zero.
Discover Innovation: Be inspired by creative solutions like human-powered energy systems, sustainable design, and climate-resilient placemaking projects.
Engage & Collaborate: Share ideas, ask questions, and connect with experts to drive real, actionable change within your own organisation or community.

Highlights

Welcome & Context by Kimberley Guthrie, Chief Officer, Scotland’s Towns Partnership
Business Stream – A leader in water retail sharing their path to Net Zero by 2030
Zero Waste Scotland – Innovating the circular economy to support businesses on their Net Zero journey
Showcase with unique insights from local authority and climate resilience projects, including Fife Council, PeachyKeen, and Sniffer
“Share & Inspire” Session – Learn from fellow attendees and pose questions to our panel of experts

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 2: Off page optimisation & technical considerations
2024-12-10 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 productivity: the power of collaborative robotics
2024-12-10 10:00 - 12:00 | Smart Hub Lanarkshire, New College Lanarkshire, Motherwell, ML1 2TX, United Kingdom
Smart Hub Lanarkshire helps small to medium-sized manufacturing businesses explore the uses of collaborative robots (cobots). Scottish Enterprise helps Scottish companies unlock productivity through capital investment. This event combines both areas of expertise to help companies understand the support that’s available when they invest in collaborative robots.
The event will run for two hours from 10am to 12pm, with the following agenda:
• Scottish Enterprise’s mission: capital investment for productivity
• Overview of Smart Hub and cobots capability
• Case studies – the applications of cobots in different manufacturing settings
• Interactive cobot demonstration and learning session
• Next steps – exploring the cobot offering and grants
If there is enough demand for this workshop, an additional afternoon session will be arranged to accommodate the numbers.
The Smart Hub team will be in contact a few days before the workshop to share a welcome pack with logistical details. They’ll also ask about your areas of interest to help shape the workshop content to suit the audience and maximise learning.

How to become a disability ally: advocating for accessibility webinar
2024-12-10 12:30 - 13:30
In recognition of International Day for People with Disabilities, this session will take a look at becoming a disability ally.
Disability allyship is a lifelong commitment to support and stand with the disability community.
This session will look at:

what it is to be an ally
why allies are important
the best ways to support disabled people as an ally

UK and Scottish Budget Breakdown
2024-12-10 12:30 - 13:30
The UK and Scottish Budgets are two of the most significant political events of the year, setting the tone for the nation’s economic priorities and policy direction.
This webinar will unpack the key announcements from the UK and Scottish Budgets and explore their implications for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Scotland. Our expert panel will break down the fiscal measures, funding allocations and policy updates that could shape the business environment in 2025 and beyond.
Whether you’re navigating tax changes, seeking growth opportunities, or planning for potential changes, this session is designed to provide practical insights and actionable advice tailored to SMEs. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain a clear understanding of the budget’s impact and discover strategies to position your business for success in the evolving economic landscape.

How to build your brand
2024-12-10 13:00 - 15:00
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

Business Finance Viability
2024-12-10 18:00 - 20:00
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!

How to start a business: The basics
2024-12-10 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

Event Industry Engagement Workshop
2024-12-11 09:30 - 13:30 | V&A Museum, 3 Greenmarket, Dundee, DD1 4QB
EventScotland, part of VisitScotland which is the national tourism and events organisation for Scotland, is responsible for fostering a collaborative approach across the sector in support of the successful delivery of Scotland’s updated National Events Strategy – Scotland The Perfect Stage 2024 – 2035.
The updated strategy has the vision of Scotland as the “perfect stage for events”. The mission is to sustain and develop, through a Team Scotland approach, a dynamic, resilient, and responsible events sector that is recognised as a global leader and valued for its contribution to Scotland’s wellbeing economy.
To support the above, EventScotland is working with partners, including local authorities, to deliver a series of in-person Regional Event Industry Engagement Workshops across the country from November 2024 to February 2025.
These workshops will provide an important platform for local industry representatives to hear updates from key sector partners, share good practice, and feedback on their experience of event development and delivery in the area.
Date and venue:
The Juniper Auditorium, V&A Museum, Dundee.
Wednesday 11 December, 9.30am-1:30pm.
Workshop timings & format:
09:30 – 10:00
Arrival, networking and refreshments
10:00 – 10:10
Welcome, introductions, and format
10:10 – 10:40
Progress update – National Events Strategy, Scotland The Perfect Stage 2024-2035
10:40 – 10:55
Scotland The Perfect Stage Q&A/discussion
10:55 – 11:15
An update from VisitScotland
11:15 – 11:30
Mid-morning break
11:30 – 11:50
An update from Dundee City Council
11:50 – 12:00
Partner updates/local case study (to be specified)
12:00 – 12:25
Facilitated industry discussion
12:25 – 12:30
Summary and thanks
12:30 – 13:30
Networking, lunch and depart

Photography for digital marketing
2024-12-11 14:00 - 16:00
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
