Expanding Your Market: Progressing from Direct Sales into Retail or Wholesale
2025-11-06 11:00 - 12:30 UTC
GrowBiz Enterprise Facilitator Daniel Muir will guide you through the key steps, considerations, and benefits of expanding your sales channels. Daniel has a background in supply chain management and understands the challenges small businesses face when trying to scale. He’ll share practical insights to help you figure out the best way to grow—whether that’s expanding into wholesale, retail, or both.
During the session we’ll explore together:

Retail opportunities – how to position your product for retailers, what motivates them, and how to handle margin expectations while maintaining profitable growth.

Wholesale strategies – how working with wholesalers can increase your reach, reduce logistics challenges, and simplify operations, and what you need to have in place to work with wholesalers.

Practical considerations – from packaging, barcoding, and pallets to stock management and production capacity.

By the end, you’ll see how scaling through retail or wholesale can help you expand beyond your local geography, save time and delivery costs, and drive higher volumes, sales, and revenues.
Finally, we hope you’ll walk away with the clarity and the confidence to take your next step.

What is cyber resilience and why is it important? | Lunch and Learn
2025-11-06 12:00 - 12:30
In an era of constant disruption, cyber threats and regulatory pressure, resilience is no longer optional – it’s critical.
In this webinar, Jack Marley will introduce topics such as cyber security and its relationship to resilience, and how businesses can proactively manage risk, ensure continuity and build trust.
Topics covered in this session:

Understand resilience, why it’s important and how it differs from security
Real-world examples of how organisations are using planning, automation and expertise to go from a reactive to proactive cyber posture
How to get started quickly with a scalable, cost-effective resilience framework tailored to your business

An introduction to business strategy
2025-11-06 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

Pricing strategies to unlock six-figure growth | Lunch and Learn
2025-11-07 12:00 - 12:30
Join author and entrepreneur Vic Taylor for this practical, no-fluff session on how to price your services and products with confidence.
She’ll explore 15 different pricing strategies you can apply in your own business – whether you’re refining an existing offer or bringing something new to market.
Topics covered in this session:

15 pricing strategies you can test in your small business
How to set prices that reflect the true value of your work
How to present your offers confidently and without second-guessing yourself

How to build your brand
2025-11-07 12:00 - 14:00
This webinar will define what a brand is (and is not) and explain how it is more than just creating a logo. We will explore how a business can use their brand to show its identity, purpose, personality, message, and values in order to stand out from competitors, build a loyal customer base and make more sales.
This session will:

Provide you with a clear understanding of the difference between brands and branding
Help you understand what a brand is
Show you why branding is important
Look at your brand strategy, brand identity and action
Help you learn how to develop your brand’s positioning, character, and purpose to differentiate your business from its competitors
Demonstrate how to set up a brand kit and style guide to ensure consistency across websites, social media, business cards, posters etc.
Teach you how to create simple promotional graphics using a variety of tools including Canva
Highlight a variety of free tools including Google Drive, Hubspot and Mailchimp that can save time and simplify marketing tasks

How to start a business: The basics
2025-11-08 10:00 - 12:00
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

How to design an effective sales funnel | Lunch and Learn
2025-11-10 12:00 - 12:30
Are you a small business owner looking to attract more of the right customers and turn interest into consistent sales?
Join us for an interactive session led by Vandita Agarwal designed to help you build, refine, and optimise your customer journey from start to finish.
Topics covered in this session:

Attract and convert the right customers
Design a seamless customer journey
Optimise each stage with data and automation

Social media essentials: Instagram
2025-11-10 14:00 - 2025-12-13 16:00
Thinking about using Instagram to communicate with existing and potential customers? Want to showcase your products or services using it? During this webinar we will cover:

Getting the setup right and benefitting from the available business tools
Best practice profiles, and some strategies to help your business stand out from the crowd
The types of audience you can reach via this platform and the factors and analytics such as cost and timing of posting images and how that can maximise impact
The various types of content you can post to Instagram, from regular posts to Stories and Reels

Social media essentials: Facebook
2025-11-10 18:00 - 20:00
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

Thorntons Webinar - Update for Sponsors
2025-11-11 09:30 - 10:30
The immigration landscape has changed significantly this year, with major changes to the Skilled Worker visa route and immigration enforcement action at an all time high.
For sponsors, this means that keeping on top of duties is more important than ever to protect your organisation from a civil penalty, now starting at £45,000.
Join Rebecca Engel-Morton, Solicitor, and Catriona MacDonald, Senior Caseworker, to find out what sponsors need to know.

Future proofing your business
2025-11-11 10:00 - 11:00
A combination of game-changing trends are driving transformative change in Scotland and the rest of the world. Geopolitical tensions, emerging technologies and a global skills squeeze, for example, mean that today’s world is often uncertain and volatile.
This first in a series of free webinars, hosted by Scottish Enterprise, will explore the background and research behind these megatrends and how you can build your business resilience considering them.
Speakers:

Ewan Mearns Team Leader Strategy and Performance Scottish Enterprise
Simone Boeklaar Head of Horizon Scanning Innovate UK

Simone Boeklaar will discuss:

What is futures thinking?
How futures thinking can help businesses identify new innovation opportunities and to develop strategies for to prepare for disruptors.
Why should businesses care about futures thinking?

As Scotland’s national economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise tracks the trends that are likely to shape Scotland’s economic future.
Ewan Mearns will discuss:

An introduction to the four megatrends identified by Scottish Enterprise that are shaping Scotland’s future economy
An overview of the practical ways businesses can respond to future external trends and how Scottish Enterprise can help

An introduction to business websites
2025-11-11 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.

How to start prioritising what matters | Lunch and Learn
2025-11-11 12:00 - 12:30
Time is a precious commodity for small businesses, yet it’s often overlooked or mismanaged.
With a unique blend of advocacy and research expertise, Tammy Whalen Blake, founder of the Yellow Mastermind, brings a fresh perspective to time management. This webinar will be informative and inspire actionable change.
Topics covered in this session:

The multi-role dilemma and its impact on businesses
How to prioritise tasks effectively and focus on high-impact activities that drive growth and profitability.
Proven strategies for balancing a number of responsibilities and being as productive as possible

AI Panel Discussion
2025-11-11 12:00 - 13:00 | The Flour Mill, 34 Commercial Street, Dundee, DD1 3EJ
Join us for an exciting AI Panel Discussion at the Flour Mill Dundee.
Our expert panelists will delve into the world of artificial intelligence, discussing its impact on various industries and its future implications.
Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just curious about AI, this event is perfect for gaining insights and engaging in thought-provoking discussions.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your knowledge and network with like-minded individuals.

How to build a digital marketing plan
2025-11-11 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

Thorntons Webinar - Redundancies
2025-11-12 09:30 - 10:30
Join Andrew Wallace and Chris Phillips as they discuss the challenges of redundancies and why getting things right is so important.
The webinar will include:

A discussion about what redundancy really means, not misusing it and how you might avoid going down the redundancy route in the first place;
Consultation, what it needs to cover, why it can be genuinely useful and what can happen if you don’t do it right (or at all);
Selection, some top-tips and pitfalls to avoid;
The differences between smaller and larger scale redundancy scenarios and more difficult cases

This webinar will be useful for business owners, HR professionals and any employer facing challenging times or looking at a restructure.

Business expenses – What can I claim?
2025-11-12 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar focuses on the main areas of spend that many businesses might incur, and provides a detailed and HMRC backed overview of what can and should be claimed.
This webinar will cover:

What constitutes a business expense
The HMRC rules around business expenses
What you can claim and more importantly what you cannot when submitting an accurate tax return
The main expenses that are claimable, what can be claimed and how they should be calculated

Smart Hiring for Strong Teams
2025-11-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Arbroath Football Club, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, DD11 1QJ
Our networking event will help your business escape the costly cycle of constant rehiring. Learn how to attract the right candidates and empower your team with the skills they need to thrive from day one.
We’ll start with an introduction from Mike Duncan of the FSB, followed by practical strategies for recruiting talent that truly fits your business, plus updates from Dundee and Angus College on funding opportunities that make team development both achievable and impactful.
If you’re looking to grow your team or strengthen your existing workforce, this event will give you the tools to build a resilient, future-ready business.
Connect with fellow business leaders, gain actionable insights, and improve your recruitment and training strategy.

Video production for digital marketing
2025-11-12 12:00 - 14:00
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

Thorntons Webinar - An update on the Housing (Scotland) Bill
2025-11-13 09:30 - 10:30
Housing law for private tenancies in Scotland is currently undergoing rapid change and the Housing (Scotland) Bill is anticipated to be passed by The Scottish Parliament later this year. The Bill is currently at stage 3 in The Scottish Parliament. This seminar will provide private landlords with an update on the Bill and other issues affecting private tenancies.
This seminar is suitable for private landlords who wish to gain an up-to-date understanding of the law and anticipated changes.

Budgeting and forecasting – why it's important for SMEs
2025-11-13 12:00 - 12:30
Effective budgeting and forecasting can help your small business plan ahead, stay in control of its finances and make smarter decisions that ultimately lead to growth.
Join Alex Sutherland for this insightful webinar exploring the power of effective forecasting and budgeting.
Discover how these financial tools not only drive profitability but also bring greater clarity to your business planning. Learn how accurate forecasting can act as an early warning system, helping you identify when things are off track – so you can respond quickly and confidently.
Key takeaways from this session:

How good forecasting and budgeting benefit profitability
The clarity it brings to your planning
How it helps you spot the early warning signs when things aren’t going to plan

VisitScotland Business Essentials Bitesize Webinars: Enhance your Google listing
2025-11-13 14:00 - 14:30
Make sure your business stands out online.
In this bitesize session, discover how to claim, verify and optimise your Google Business Profile to reach more visitors and showcase what makes your offering unique.

Building a balanced team | Lunch and Learn
2025-11-14 12:00 - 12:30
Teams don’t always work well and a ‘balanced’ team can be more productive.
In this session, Stephen Tunnicliffe-Wilson will discuss how different team roles and personalities add value, and how diverse teams can work well together.
Topics covered in this session:

How each person brings different strengths to a team
Why we need to understand how our team members (and ourselves!) work best
Ways in which a ‘balanced’ team can be more productive

You've Got An Engaged Email List – Now What?
2025-11-14 12:00 - 12:30
You’re regularly emailing your subscribers – they’re opening, clicking, maybe even replying. But they’re not buying (yet).
In this FREE 30-minute lunch and learn, email marketing expert Minal Patel and sales outreach specialist Leisa Pickles will show you how to go beyond the inbox and start turning your engaged email audience into paying customers.
You’ll learn how to follow up meaningfully through social media, networking and phone calls – and why mixing up your outreach is the key to more conversions.

Legal essentials for small business owners | Lunch and Learn
2025-11-17 12:00 - 12:30
Running a business comes with countless responsibilities, and legal compliance is one of the most important.
In this session, Patricia Wing (CEO of SuLe) breaks down the legal essentials every business owner needs to know.
From contracts and intellectual property to employment and data protection, this webinar will help founders and business owners gain clarity and confidence in managing their company’s legal foundations – all without the legal jargon.
Topics covered in this session:

How to understand your legal obligations: The fundamental legal requirements that apply to businesses of all sizes, from company formation to day-to-day operations.
How to protect your business assets: Safeguard your contracts, intellectual property and brand to prevent costly legal disputes.
How to stay compliant and confident: Practical, actionable insights to keep your business compliant with current laws and best practices, saving time, money and stress.

Angus Carer Positive Information Session
2025-11-17 14:00 - 15:30
Join Carers Scotland for an informative session on supporting unpaid carers in the workplace. This free event will highlight the benefits of becoming Carer Positive accredited organisation.
We will be joined by Sally Wilson, Service Manager at Angus Health and Social Care Partnership.
Sally co-leads the Improvement and Development Service in AHSCP. Within her portfolio is the role of Lead for Carers, with strategic responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation of the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 across the organization. Sally is passionate about raising awareness of the role of unpaid carers and the vital contribution they make to individuals, families, and communities
Unpaid carers play a vital role in our communities, and many balance their caring responsibilities with employment.
Employers can make a big difference by recognising and supporting carers in the workplace. At this session, we will:

Increase awareness of unpaid carers and the challenges they may face at work
Learn how your organisation can achieve Carer Positive accreditation – a free flexible scheme recognising employers who support staff with caring responsibilities
Highlight local and national support available to carers and employers
Connect and collaborate peer learning and networking opportunities with business owners, senior managers, and Human Resources, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion professionals in Angus

Thorntons Webinar - AI Governance
2025-11-18 09:30 - 10:30
Artificial Intelligence has been the topic of 2025 in many respects. Workforces are looking to, if not already, embed AI systems or platforms into their working environment whether it be generative AI tools like Copilot or GPT or systems used to make work processes more efficient. Adopting AI systems may well bring efficiencies but risk management is a key concern, particularly when processing personal data.
Join Loretta Maxfield and Morgan O’Neill to look at recent AI developments and how these impact an organisation’s approach to risk and compliance.

THRIVE+ : Food & Drink Packaging for SMEs
2025-11-18 10:00 - 12:00
This event is part of a series of THRIVE+ skills development events delivered by experienced industry trainers.
Key Topics:

What you consider when choosing product packaging
Information about different packaging options

This package is aimed at food and drink entrepreneurs in any product category and food industry professionals looking to expand their food packaging expertise (Technical, NPD, sales, marketing, food production).
There will be a Q&A section at the session.

Why your business needs a blog
2025-11-18 10:00 - 12:00
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

Getting started with TikTok for business | Lunch and Learn
2025-11-18 12:00 - 12:30
Where do you begin when it comes to marketing your business on TikTok?
In this session, Rebecca Hopwood will walk you through five simple, actionable steps that you can implement on TikTok right away.
Topics covered in this session:

A clear roadmap for getting started on TikTok: How to set up and optimise your profile so your business looks professional and ready to attract the right audience
Actionable strategies for creating content: How to research, plan and batch-create content efficiently so you can stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed
Using TikTok’s tools to grow: How to use analytics and insights to refine your approach, measure success, and build momentum towards your marketing goals
