Invest in Angus

Building a Hydrogen Sector: the Scottish Supply Chain Event
2022-09-22 09:00 - 16:30 UTC | Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE
This event will help explore and highlight Scotland’s range of capabilities in hydrogen production and emerging opportunities in the sector.
The Scottish Government, in partnership with Transport Scotland, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and South of Scotland Enterprise, invite you to preregister for Building a Hydrogen Sector: The Scottish Supply Chain Event.
Scotland is well positioned to be a leading hydrogen nation in Europe, with the potential to produce enough hydrogen for our own domestic use and for export. To support this transition, the Scottish Government has set an ambition of 5 gigawatts (GW) of hydrogen production by 2030 and 25 GW by 2045.
Scotland’s developing hydrogen economy will require a strong domestic supply chain across the whole hydrogen value chain and strong international engagement.
Many companies are already engaged or actively interested in hydrogen. This event will help explore and highlight Scotland’s range of capabilities in hydrogen production and emerging opportunities in the sector.
This large-scale event will be opened by a key note address from Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport, and will bring together stakeholders from across the energy supply chain.
Featured at the conference will be guest speakers from across industry and government as well as practical panels, networking and workshop sessions on a range of supply chain opportunities.

Short-Terms Lets Regulations Roadshow
2022-09-21 16:00 - 18:00
In conjunction with Gilson Gray LLP, the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) is launching a series of in-person and virtual events aimed at short-term let business operators, stakeholders and industry professionals who want to understand the next steps for short-term let licensing regulations in Scotland.
Fiona Campbell, Chief Executive of Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers and Joanna Millar, Legal Director with Gilson Gray LLP will outline you what you need to know about the new regulations and give you an opportunity to ask any questions that people have.
This is a virtual event for businesses in Angus and Perth & Kinross.
Angus businesses can register for free using code ANGUS2022

Webinars, live streams, and video conferences: Running a business remotely
2022-09-21 14:00 - 16:00
There are many tools available to allow you to communicate with people online. Whether you are trying to run a workshop or seminar, hold a meeting or just communicate. Many of these digital tools are easy to use and offer some powerful facilities. Let us guide you through:

What webinars, live streams and video conferences are and what is right for your business
Case studies and examples of how they are used
An overview of the tools and platforms currently available

Cybersecurity : Helping you stay safe online
2022-09-21 14:00 - 16:00
If you’re starting out get the up to date info on how to make your website secure. If you have a growing business it can tumble overnight if your site or systems get hacked. If you handle data of any kind and we all do; attending this class will give you the key tools to ensure you are operating in a safe and secure manner. At this class you will learn

The importance of Backups,
Basic Malware protection,
Protecting Mobile devices,
What are VPNs,
How to avoid phishing scams as well as Good Password practice Passwords

There will also be information on additional services from Business Gateway and details of other workshops which may be appropriate for you.
This webinar is aimed at businesses based in Dundee, Angus and Perth.

Build your brand and promotional graphics
2022-09-21 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

Instagram for business
2022-09-21 10:00 - 12:00
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.

HR – Recruiting, managing, and retaining staff
2022-09-20 17:00 - 19:00
One of the scariest things you can do as a business is take on staff – from hiring, interviewing, payroll, pensions, contracts, remote working and more, it is a minefield for the business owner.
This webinar will allow you to have the key information in your possession to take on staff and manage your team.
Topics covered:

Recruiting, managing, and retaining staff
Attracting and recruiting the best and right people for our business
Our obligations as employers
Managing people to stay with us
Moving on
Dismissal
Restructure/Redundancy

We will also look at:

How in the current climate you can manage staff and teams in a remote environment, considering their productivity, efficiency, and the issues of home working
How you can best manage staff to ensure productivity is kept and mental health is supported
The impact of companies who may be considering restructuring and therefore redundancy for the first time and how that can be managed

Protect your business and data from hackers
2022-09-20 14:00 - 16:00
Join us to look at why it’s important for all businesses to give their online security thought and consideration. We will take you through some simple steps to minimise the risks, and we will also direct you to available support to help you and your business.
During the session will cover:

Cyber security and why it matters for businesses
Steps to take to protect yourself including backups, malware protection, mobile devices, VPNs, firewalls, passwords and more secure authentication to help avoid scams and fraud
Simple ways to protect your website and social media from attack
Basic good practice, to prepare and understand what to do if the worst happens

European Space Agency (ESA) Funding for Scottish Companies
2022-09-20 11:00 - 12:00
Scottish companies developing new products and services can join to learn about European Space Agency (ESA) funding.
Meet the UK Regional Ambassador for Scotland, hear about funding opportunities, and learn about support available for Scottish applicants.

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 2: Off page optimisation & technical considerations
2022-09-20 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

New Opportunities in China for Scottish Fintechs
2022-09-20 09:00 - 10:00
Interested in exploring China’s fintech market? Learn about opportunities and trends from industry expert, Dr Wei Wu.
SDI has commissioned research into the opportunities available to Scottish fintechs in China, looking at trends in technology, business models, collaboration opportunities and viable routes to market.
In this session, you’ll hear expert findings from the author of the report, Dr. Wei Wu, Associate Professor of China Overseas Institute at Shenzhen University.

Get impact & engagement with social media analytics
2022-09-19 14:00 - 16:00
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn & Pinterest are widely used social platforms, but often account owners aren’t looking at the metrics provided within them. Those metrics will inform you of reach, impressions, demographics and more, all of which can help towards improving the impact of your posting and targeting.
This webinar will help you understand how to access those metrics, and how to use them to improve your social media delivery.

How to generate and increase sales
2022-09-16 14:00 - 16:00
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 write a Business Plan and why you need one
2022-09-15 18:00 - 20:00
This webinar will help you create a robust business plan.
The webinar will look at:

creating a description for your business
the business planning process
efficient ways of obtaining skills and resources
presenting your business plan

There will also be information on additional services from Business Gateway and details of other webinars which may be appropriate for you.
This webinar is for businesses based in Dundee, Angus and Perth.

Website analytics to improve your business and sales
2022-09-15 14:00 - 16:00
Google Analytics (Universal and GA4), Search Console and Heat Mapping are incredibly powerful tools that help you better understand how your website is performing. This webinar will better equip you to be able to improve the performance and effectiveness of your website by:

Learning about top landing pages and traffic sources, to understanding organic search rankings and user interaction,
We’ll show you around the Google Analytics interface, help you view and understand key reports, how to setup conversions and more.

LinkedIn for business
2022-09-15 10:00 - 12:00
No longer just an online CV, LinkedIn can be an incredibly powerful – and profitable – business tool. Like any tool, you must learn how to use it, and this webinar gives you expert guidance.
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.

Website usability and customer experience
2022-09-14 18:00 - 20:00
Website usability and user experience are key to driving leads, sales and other conversions through your website. But where do you get started?
During this webinar, we’ll cover:

What User Experience is and what impact it can have
Some of the key factors influencing website usability, including credibility, value, purpose and more
Hints, tips and tools to help you start improving elements of your website, from navigation menus to page layouts
An overview of tools to help you measure User Experience

Pick, Preserve & Present – a Chef’s Guide to Extending the Foraging Season
2022-09-14 14:30 - 15:30
Morag Hamilton a Development Chef at SRUC will present a range of store cupboard ideas around foraging to preserve – from seasonal cordials to swapping ingredients to reflect the year and preserving so you can taste summer in the winter.
This is essentially about making foraged foods more user friendly for the chef by creating longevity – foraged in January to use in November. Adding different colours and flavours to the plate, using wholesome and sustainable ingredients that link to current consumer interests.
Online Zoom event.

How to start a business: The basics
2022-09-14 10:00 - 12:00
Whatever your reasons may be for considering being your own boss, Business Gateway is here to support you and help you decide if this is the right path for you. Helping you consider your plans from exploring your potential customers to looking at the key activities and costs involved.
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

Back Garden Edibles – Foraging Closer to Home
2022-09-13 19:30 - 20:30
If you are a garden centre or plant nursery, or a business looking to create an edible garden to supply your kitchen or to provide a haven for your visitors, then this event will be of interest. Is there an opportunity to link ‘all things edible’ when you’re promoting plants in your garden centre? Are you looking to demonstrate the link between your served food & drink and the natural environment? Then join this event and consider the opportunities!
You will hear from three speakers:

Liz Callaghan, Growforth, will speak about back garden edibles.
George Gilchrist, SRUC’s Horticultural Team, who created the foraging garden in a tattie box on SRUC’s stand at this year’s Royal Highland Show.
Arleen Sinclair, Solascapes, will discuss her innovative new business creating wild, edible, medicinal and soothing spaces for all wildlife.

This will be followed by a Q&A session enabling ’round the table discussion’ and networking.
Online Zoom event.

Blogging for business
2022-09-13 18:00 - 20:00
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 rankings
Understanding analytics and measuring the impact of your blog

Market Research Made Easy
2022-09-13 18:00 - 20:00
The workshop will look at:

the role of marketing in your business
identifying your target customers
identifying the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors
market research

There will also be information on additional services from Business Gateway and details of other webinars which may be appropriate for you.
This webinar is for businesses based in Dundee, Angus and Perth.

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 1: On page optimisation
2022-09-13 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

One-To-One New Product / Service Development Business Surgeries
2022-09-13 09:30 - 12:30
SAC Consulting is hosting a Business & Product Development Surgery for businesses working in the food and drink sector where you will be able to receive bespoke advice form our expert food & drink enterprise consultants in any of the following areas:

Market assessment
Recipe development
Good trends and health/free from markets
Marketing including digital
Branding
Pricing and pitching
Business planning

The virtual surgery is open to entrepreneurs, SME, micro and embryonic businesses, food manufacturers, processors, retailers, foodservice and other rural enterprises, and offers individual 20 minute one-to-one sessions with our team of specialist consultants.
Online Zoom event.

Pinterest for business
2022-09-12 14:00 - 16:00
A commonly used tool for those researching products and services for personal life (clothing ideas, holidays inspiration, cooking alternatives!), but how can it benefit your business? Move from being a beginner to knowing enough to gain commercial benefit from the use of Pinterest.
During this webinar we’ll help you better understand:

Who is using Pinterest and what are they looking for?
How to setup your business profile
Key features to use within Pinterest
Measuring success and engagement

Making the most of Google Tools
2022-09-12 10:00 - 11:00
Google provides a huge amount of free tools to help you market your business.
This webinar highlights tools that will help you save time and avoid splashing cash on a marketing agency. These tools cover areas such as keyword analysis, measuring success, website speed, search and trends.
The webinar will offer many live demos of these tools — meaning you can see how to take advantage of them in your own business.

One-To-One New Product/Service Development Business Surgeries
2022-09-12 09:30 - 12:30

Build a customer focused business
2022-09-09 14:00 - 16:00
Did you know that a returning customer will typically spend more than two thirds more with your business than a brand new one?
Did you know that retaining just 5% of your customer base can give an increase of over 20% in profits for your business?
Having an effective strategy in place for your business to deliver great customer service is critical for your business.
We will cover:

Why good customer service is critical for business growth
What are the essentials of delivering great customer service and how should this be delivered?
How to effectively manage different types of customers and their expectations
How, why, and when you should measure the service a business delivers
How to use the service provided to promote a business and enable growth

Making digital content accessible
2022-09-08 18:00 - 20:00
Everyone consumes and understands information differently, with some facing additional challenges that aren’t always considered. In this webinar, we’ll explore the challenges that people can have when accessing digital content and we’ll look at the ways you can improve your digital content to be inclusive and considerate for all.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

Understand and consider the barriers and challenges faced by others when accessing digital content.
Assess your digital content on how easy it is for others to access, consume and understand.
Review your website content with an understanding of what adjustments you should make to ensure that your content is catering to all.
Use social media functions and tools to help make your content more accessible.
Understand and use an ‘Accessibility Ready Checklist’ for any of your content to ensure you are designing and developing content for all of your audience.

Complete Guide to Finance for Start-Ups
2022-09-08 18:00 - 20:00
The workshop will look at:

managing a profit and loss account
producing a cashflow statement
working capital
the different sources of finance
the different legal structures of a business

There will also be information on additional services from Business Gateway and details of other workshops which may be appropriate for you.
This webinar is aimed at businesses based in Dundee, Angus and Perth.
