Lab: How to nail your AI prompts
2026-04-30 13:00 - 14:00 UTC
Getting confident using AI all comes down to how good you are at prompt engineering!
In this beginner-friendly Digital Skills Lab, we’re sharing our framework to ensure you nail your AI prompts every single time.
In this Digital Boost x NatWest Lab, you will work in small groups to:

Understand why nailing your prompt is so important
Harness the prompt framework to work smarter, not harder
Build prompts you can use in your business going forward!

As this is an interactive session, cameras and mics are essential so that you can work together in virtual breakout groups.
This Digital Skills lab is sponsored by NatWest Group.

Social media essentials: TikTok and Instagram Reels
2026-04-30 13:00 - 15:00
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

Space Data Denmark showcase
2026-05-07 14:00 - 16:30 | Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, 50 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6HQ
This free showcase celebrates innovation in Scotland’s space sector. You’ll network, explore new technologies and learn more about funding.
The CAN DO space data Denmark challenge call provided funding for companies looking to develop cutting-edge solutions to strengthen Scotland’s Space sector and collaborate with partners across Denmark in demonstrating market demand.
This event will showcase their groundbreaking work so far.
As well as discovering the latest innovations in the space sector, you’ll have the opportunity to:

Network with industry leaders, innovators, and developers
Explore new technologies and collaborative opportunities
Learn more about ESA ACCESS funding with Ken Gordon

Planning Your Bid – Time and Resources
2026-05-12 10:30 - 12:00
The biggest learning curve in tendering is understanding the time, energy, and resources that go into creating a winning bid.
The more planning you do before writing your bid, the easier you’ll find it when you begin your response. This training will walk you through the steps of how to plan and manage your bid. From capture planning to forming a bid team (this doesn’t necessarily need to be a full team; it could be one person if they have the right skills) to making key decisions.
One of SDP’s expert trainers will also show an example of a Bid Time Plan and how to complete it.
Overview of what you will learn:

What work can be done pre-tender to make the process of creating the bid less stressful
How to make objective decisions while managing a bid
How to create a bid time plan

At the end of the session, there will be an interactive Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask any burning questions you may have. As well as the chance to hear what other SME businesses in Scotland have to say.

All-Energy Exhibition & Conference 2026
2026-05-13 09:00 - 2026-05-14 15:30 | SEC Glasgow, Exhibition Way, Glasgow, G3 8YW
All-Energy is paving the way to more environmentally friendly events. With several sustainable initiatives and a clear objective to reduce our carbon footprint, we’re leading by example​.
Join us for two days of networking, connections, and uninterrupted business with the renewable energy community. Explore the star-studded conference programme featuring topical discussions on every form of renewable energy, decarbonising transport, heat, cities/places, industry, the supply chain, and much more.​
2025 saw another record-breaking year for All-Energy at Glasgow’s SEC with an impressive 13,033 attendees – surpassing 2024’s figures. The two-day event featured over 270 exhibitors and more than 600 speakers across 57 conference sessions, including the addition of a new Grid and Networks theatre. Buzzing aisles, packed theatres, and lively networking events such as the Giant Networking Evening at Glasgow Science Centre highlighted the sector’s momentum. The inaugural Innovation Zone Competition for SMEs brought fresh talent to the fore, further energising the show floor.

Flexible Working 2026 and Beyond
2026-05-14 09:30 - 10:30
The world of work has changed substantially in recent years, due to the changes during and post the Covid pandemic, the increase in hybrid working and partly because of changing expectations and needs.
Join Thorntons Employment team as we look at the current landscape of flexible working and the changes being brought in by the Employment Rights Act 2025.

Passing the Selection Stage – The Single Procurement Document (SPD)
2026-05-19 10:30 - 12:00
The Single Procurement Document (SPD) is a set of questions, that cannot be altered, which helps buyers identify if your business is suitably qualified to carry out the contract you are bidding for.
Most buyers use the SPD for the tendering process, as it ensures that the process stays consistent. It can reduce your workload when bidding on an opportunity as your answers can be saved and reused again and again along as they remain relevant.
Previously known as European Single Procurement Document (ESPD), the SPD is a regular part of bidding for public sector contracts.
Completing the SPD can be daunting for everyone, even if you have done so in the past. It is a long electronic document that splits questions into different subsections and parts. During this training event, you will be given examples of the standard questions asked in the SPD by one of SDP’s expert trainers, who has also completed numerous Single Procurement Documents and will teach you an expert method on how to answer all questions robustly and correctly.
You will learn:

What is the Single Procurement Document (SPD)?
When will you need to complete the SPD?
Standard Questions
Mitigating any issues in your SPD
Checking your submission

At the end of the session, there will be an interactive Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask any questions your business may have about the SPD, as well as give you the chance to hear what other SME businesses in Scotland have to say.
This event is suitable for Level 2 (Intermediate) for people who know about bidding but need to develop specific knowledge and skills.

Global Talent Visas for academics & researchers
2026-05-20 09:30 - 10:30
Scotland’s universities and research institutions attract talented academics and researchers from all over the world. The Global Talent visa offers a highly favourable visa route for academics, researchers and their families.
Join the Immigration team for an in-depth session on the Global Talent visa route.

How to Write Outstanding Tenders - The Invitation to Tender (ITT) Stage
2026-05-28 10:30 - 12:00
Understanding what a buyer is looking for and creating a response to show how you are the best candidate for the job can be tricky.
At this training, you will learn what skills are needed for your business to write a good tender response and stand out from your competitors. One of SDP’s expert trainers will also explain how to analyse the tender documents and how to find hidden clues in the tender documents to help you develop a well-round response.
Overview of what you will learn:

What work can be done pre-tender to make the process of creating a bid less stressful?
How can use Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) and Public Contracts Scotland-Tender (PCS-T) to submit tenders?
What work needs to go into preparing for the ITT before the tender documents are released.
Which skills do you need to have in your bid team to write winning bids?
What good looks like in a bid response

At the end of the session, there will be an interactive Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask any burning questions you may have. As well as have the chance to hear what other SME businesses in Scotland have to say.
This event is suitable for Level 2 (Intermediate), for people who know about bidding but need to develop specific knowledge and skills.

Scotland’s National Meet the Buyer 2026
2026-06-02 10:00 - 15:00 | DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Glasgow Central, 36 Cambridge Street, Glasgow, G2 3HN
Join us for Meet the Buyer 2026, Scotland’s largest free procurement event!
Now in its 17th year, Scotland’s National Meet the Buyer event will take place on Tuesday 2 June 2026, from 10am to 3pm. This free event is hosted by the Supplier Development Programme, and partnered by Scottish Government.
Come along to meet procurement teams, buyers and supply chain partners. Meet the Buyer is the place to discuss projects and tender opportunities, on a local and national scale, across Scotland and the UK.
This free to visit event gives you access to buyers and decision makers, from organisations across the public and private sectors. You’ll have the chance to introduce your company, talk to key buyer contacts, and discover opportunities in their pipelines.
Whether you are a micro, small or medium sized supplier, Meet the Buyer National can help you get into public sector supply chains. You will meet buyers connected to public sector projects, who are looking for suppliers that enrich local economies and support Community Wealth Building.

Understanding and Bidding - Frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS)
2026-06-03 14:00 - 15:30
Frameworks and Dynamic Purchasing Systems (DPS) are fast becoming a popular way for buyers to manage common purchases. Frameworks and DPS’s can also be a lucrative source of business for suppliers but it is vital you understand the agreement before getting on a Framework.
At this training, you will get an understanding of what a framework is, the common features of a framework and why buyers use frameworks. One of SDP’s expert trainers will also talk you through the two main methods of winning business on a framework i.e. Direct Award and Call Off Contract.
Overview of what you will learn:

What is a Framework?
How to get on a Framework
How to win business off a Framework
What is a Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)?

At the end of the session, there will be an interactive Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask any burning questions you may have. As well as the chance to hear what other SME businesses on Scotland have to say.
This event is suitable for Level 2 (Intermediate) for people who know about bidding but need to develop specific knowledge and skills.

Using Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) – How to Find and Bid for Opportunities
2026-06-10 10:30 - 12:00
Public Contracts Scotland is the national public sector tender portal for Scotland. It lists contract opportunities for all public sector bodies and has a “Quick Quote” function for lower value contracts. This webinar will help you to ensure that you’re not only comfortable using the PCS website but also know how to generate business from it.
This event is suitable for Level 1 (Beginners). This workshop is the first step to tendering for new or inexperienced bidders.
During this course, you will learn:

What is Public Contracts Scotland (PCS)?
How do I set myself up on PCS?
What functions do I need to use on PCS?
What is PCS-Tender (PCS-T)?
What is a Quick Quote?
How does e-invoicing work?

Improving Your Bid Score - Increase Your Tender Win Rate
2026-06-11 14:30 - 16:00
Getting the highest possible score in your bid is essential to winning a contract, but it can be difficult to know exactly what the buyer is looking for.
Every supplier putting in a bid will tell the buyer they can do what it wants them to do. To improve your bid score and win bids, you need to go beyond the basic requirements and explain how your business can add value to the contract. At this training, SDP’s expert trainer will give you top tips on how you can sell the benefits of your business and why these benefits should matter to the buyer.
What happens if you haven’t scored as high as you thought you were going to? This session also covers the importance of asking for feedback on all your bids, how to ask for feedback, and what to do if the buyer isn’t forthcoming with feedback.
Overview of what you will learn:

How to understand and find ‘Hot Button’ issues.
How to sell benefits, not features.
How to use the evaluation and award criteria to elevate your bid.
How to manage your bid effectively
How to learn from your previous bids.

At the end of the session, there will be an interactive Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask any burning questions you may have. As well as have the chance to hear what other SME businesses in Scotland have to say.
This event is suitable for Level 2 (Intermediate), for people who know about bidding but need to develop specific knowledge and skills.

Global Offshore Wind 2026
2026-06-16 09:00 - 2026-06-17 17:00 | Manchester Central, Windmill Street, Manchester, M2 3GX
In June 2026, Global Offshore Wind 2026 returns to Manchester Central for the flagship event that brings the entire offshore wind value chain together to turn global ambitions into reality.
Offshore wind is a cornerstone of the UK’s long-term strategy for energy security, economic growth and global leadership in clean technology. As momentum continues at home and internationally, Global Offshore Wind 2026 will bring together the people, policies and innovations shaping the future of the industry.
Stand bookings and sponsorship opportunities are now open and selling fast. Don’t miss your chance to elevate your brand and meet the market at one of Europe’s largest and most influential offshore wind events.

Responding to Tender Policy Requirements - Power of Procurement
2026-06-16 10:30 - 12:00
Public sector procurement in Scotland is guided by several policy requirements that were put in place so that organisations, operations, and procurement exercises achieve specific, desirable outcomes. So, what does that mean for suppliers?
During this training, you will get an overview of the most common policy requirements including Sustainability, Community Benefits, Fair Work Practices, Community Wealth Building and Net Zero targets. These topics are extremely important to buyers; so much so that the public sector expects businesses of all sizes to demonstrate how they are meeting these policy requirements in tender documents.
Please note: Even though a buyer may not specifically ask suppliers to provide evidence of how the business is meeting policy requirements, it is still expected to be included within a bid.
Policies can be daunting, but help is at hand for Scottish SMEs, supported businesses and third sector organisations through the Supplier Development Programme.
Join this webinar to become ‘tender ready’ and find out how you can provide the most up-to-date policies on your bids. You will also get advice on how to record and evidence what your business is doing to meet these requirements. By successfully providing evidence on how you are implementing policy requirements, you can improve how high your bid scores go and also stand out from competitors to buyers.
You will learn:

How to put the theory of the public sector’s common policy requirements into practical terms.
What sustainability is, as well as examples of what sustainability could mean for your business.
What Community Benefits are, and ideas for and examples of Community Benefits you could implement into your business.
What Net Zero is and how you can work towards meeting your Net Zero targets.
What Fair Work First is, what it involves, and tools available to help you implement the five aspects of Fair Work into your business such as the Living Wage and other practical steps.
How to record and evidence these key common policies into your bids.

You won’t just come away from this training course with good ideas: you will learn how to turn those ideas into a workable plan of action your business can use to get ‘tender ready’ for your next bid.
At the end of the session, there will be an interactive Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask SDP’s expert trainers any questions you may have and hear what other SME businesses in Scotland are asking, too.
This event is suitable for Level 2 (Intermediate), for businesses which understand bidding concepts but need to develop and refine specific knowledge and skills.

Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) Innovation Notices and Guidance
2026-06-17 14:00 - 15:30
Scotland has a vision of becoming one of the most innovative small nations in the world over the next decade. This is key to our efforts to transform the economy, improve our Public Services and drive lasting improvement in Scotland’s economic performance.
Public procurement can play an important part enabling innovation in our public services. Scottish Government policy note SPPN 03/2023 (Supporting innovation through procurement) makes provision for new functionality on Public Contracts Scotland to improve our procurement processes and reporting for the purposes innovation. Staff from SPPN will provide an over view of the functionality and guidance relating to the Policy Note.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Scottish Government experts, as we discuss this recently added functionality to Public Contracts Scotland (PCS), which is the portal used by all Scottish Public Sector buyers to alert the market of ‘relevant calls for competition’. These new notice types are designed to help Scottish public sector to procure innovation more efficiently.
This short call by Scottish Government staff outlines those changes to PCS and guidance. Feel free to come along to the call and learn about the developments.

​The Global Agritourism Conference
2026-06-23 08:00 - 2026-06-25 16:00 | P&J Live, East Burn Road, Aberdeen, AB21 9FX, United Kingdom
The Global Agritourism Conference will provide an opportunity for:

inspiration from keynote speakers
farmers, economic development professionals, researchers, supply chain representatives and other interested parties from every continent to apply to speak at the event to share their learnings and experiences
first-class networking and business development
new knowledge and insights about the sector from across the globe
a range of Scottish cultural activities to be enjoyed throughout the programme
enjoying the best of Scotland’s farm and fishing produce during every meal

The annual Scottish Agritourism Conference, which has been running for five years and attracts three hundred delegates, will be integrated into the 2026 global event.

Understanding Your Role in Contract Management – Critical Success Factors
2026-06-24 14:00 - 15:30
So, you’ve been awarded onto a contract, now what?
You now need to manage the contract in partnership with the buyer to deliver on everything you promised in the bid. This training will explain how to successfully deliver on your contract, what to do if things go wrong, and how to win again when it is retendered.
Overview of what you will learn:

What is the Contract Management life cycle?
Critical success factors of maintaining a good relationship with the buyer.
How to make data driven decisions.
How to manage risk.
How to manage the change over the life of the contract.

At the end of the session, there will be an interactive Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask any burning questions you may have. As well as have the chance to hear what other SME businesses in Scotland have to say.
This event is suitable for Level 3 (Advanced) if you have a very good understanding of public sector procurement (completed Level 1 and 2 or have equivalent experience) & you have bid for a public sector contract on more than one occasion.

The Angus Business Showcase - Angus Business Hub 1st Anniversary
2026-06-29 10:30 - 15:30 | Forbes of Kingennie, DD5 3RD
Join us at Forbes of Kingennie for an opportunity to network and exhibit with fellow Angus business owners.
Angus Business Hub is celebrating one year of supporting Angus businesses. And what better way to do that than to shine a spotlight on local businesses.
Join us for our showcase of businesses across the county.
Whether you’re here to exhibit or network, The Angus Business Showcase is a brilliant opportunity to make new connections, potential clients and find collaborations with stallholders and visitors alike.

Meet the Buyer North 2026
2026-09-03 10:00 - 15:00 | Aberdeen Music Hall, Union Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1QS
Join us for Meet the Buyer North 2026, the largest FREE procurement event in the North of Scotland!
Now in its 9th year, the Supplier Development Programme is set to host Meet the Buyer North 2026 at The Music Hall, in Aberdeen, on 3 September 2026. Come along to meet procurement teams, buyers and supply chain partners with upcoming projects and opportunities in the North of Scotland.
Why should your business attend Meet the Buyer North?

Find out about upcoming contract and supply chain opportunities
Meet face to face with public sector buyers from across Scotland, including local authorities and government agencies
Engage 1-to-1 with key primary contractors
Stay up to date with the latest in procurement
Raise your profile as a business

This event is designed to support micro, small and medium sized businesses in the North of Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands, to engage with business opportunities in the public sector. However, businesses of all sizes are welcome to attend Meet the Buyer North.
