Planning & scheduling your online content
2023-08-10 10:00 - 12:00 UTC
Businesses who plan their content in advance, aligning their channels with actual business objectives, customer themes and national events, and then schedule it to ensure it reaches the target market at the right time, on the right platform – hugely increase the chances of achieving impact.
In this webinar, you will learn how to:

Plan content based on your business and your customer needs
Evaluate current social media dashboards and management tools
Create a social media content calendar and schedule updates automatically
Reach more people through automating your blog and email newsletter content
Implement simple automation techniques to increase efficiency

Having great content is just the start. This webinar will help you better organise and setup your content strategy through simple planning and effective scheduling, to achieve great business results.

Build a customer focused business
2023-08-10 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

Business Finance Viability
2023-08-10 16:00 - 18:00
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!

Blogging for business
2023-08-10 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

How to generate and increase sales
2023-08-11 14:00 - 16:00, 2023-08-18 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 and develop your business plan
2023-08-14 09:30 - 11:30
New and established businesses will require a business plan for getting a loan, grant or just to consider the direction they wish to go in. This webinar will teach you what you need to include and how. We will walk you through what should be included within a business plan, how a business plan is used to improve your prospects for a loan or a grant, and how you can develop a business plan to meet your needs.
We will:

Provide a structure for a business plan
Review each section of what should be included within the business plan
Explain when and how to use a business plan
Explore the connections (and importance) between the words and the numbers
Look at how to identify and manage cashflow within the business planning process

Instagram for business
2023-08-14 14:00 - 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.

How to protect and manage your intellectual property
2023-08-15 10:00 - 12:00
You have invested time, energy, and money into your project, however, have you protected the innovation?
Following this webinar, you will understand how to manage your intellectual property (IP) or how to start the process of registering it.
Topics covered include:

What are intellectual assets (IA)?
What is intellectual property (IP)?
How to use IP (in the real world)
Where to get more insight and information

Participants will leave with:

An understanding that all businesses create IA/IP
A framework of knowledge about IP
A little more knowledge about the diverse types of IP
An insight into how to identify, protect and exploit IP/IA
Context of why IP/IA matters
Links to useful learning resources

The business benefits of running a sustainable business
2023-08-15 14:00 - 16:00
It’s becoming increasingly important to customers to source their products from companies who have strong green credentials. This webinar will show how by becoming more sustainable you can increase sales and profits.
We will look at:
Understanding the problem
What is sustainability and why it is important
Innovation
Profiting from being a green business
Embracing a purpose beyond profit
The sustainability triple bottom line
Developing your own green charter
Examples of those practicing this way of growth with remarkable success
Top tips for going green

e-Commerce with Shopify
2023-08-15 17:00 - 19:00
Shopify is a powerful all-in-one e-Commerce website builder that makes setting up an online store simple and straightforward. In this webinar, we will explore Shopify’s features and pull together the building blocks for your first e-Commerce website.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

Understand the essential features that a website needs to have to sell physical and digital products online
Understand what Shopify is and how to use the features it offers to build a secure and powerful e-Commerce website
Use the Shopify page builder and work with free themes to get the design and style of your website on-brand
Understand how to manage orders and deliver great customer service
Understand how to launch your new e-Commerce website and ensure all essential building blocks are in place using a pre-launch checklist

LinkedIn for business
2023-08-16 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.

The basics of trading on eBay, Etsy and Amazon Marketplaces
2023-08-16 14:00 - 16:00
As a consumer, you’ve almost certainly purchased online from one of the global marketplaces such as eBay, Etsy or Amazon, so why wouldn’t your customers do the same and buy from you?
We will cover:

Why to sell via a Marketplace, your own website, or both
Choosing the right Marketplace – looking specificly at eBay, Etsy and Amazon

Understanding Profit Margins and how Marketplace fees affect them

An overview of some of the rules and regulations enforced by these platforms
Trading internationally – what’s possible?

You’ll leave with a better understanding of how online marketplaces can help you reach your target audience, which marketplace is best for you, and how to get started selling quickly and easily.

Ready, Steady, Grow: How to Expand Your Business
2023-08-16 18:00 - 20:00
Ready to accelerate your business growth but unsure where to begin?
Look no further than our in-person Ready Steady Grow workshop focused on accelerating business growth. Led by experienced business advisers, Michelle & Norrie, this session is designed to help you identify your growth potential and create a roadmap for success.
Through collaborative discussions with like-minded businesses, you’ll gain new insights, tools and knowledge to help support your growth plans. You’ll also walk away with a network of fellow business owners to connect with for ongoing support.
Don’t miss this opportunity to take your business to new heights!

Video production for social media
2023-08-17 14:00 - 16:00
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.

TikTok and Instagram Reels for business
2023-08-18 10:00 - 12:00
You might view TikTok as a stream of dance trends and lip-synching videos, but it can also be a fantastic place to engage with your customers and increase the reach of your business online. Explore how to create bitesize vertical video content and how to use this new format for more effective business communication.
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.

Providing Work Experience in Angus to Young People
2023-08-18 14:00 - 15:00, 2023-08-24 11:00 - 12:00
Are you an employer in Angus looking to offer work experience to young people in your local community but not sure what is involved or the next steps, well this event is for you!
DYW Tay Cities and the Angus Skills for Work Coordinator, David Millar, are partnering together to host two online information sessions on delivering work experience to young people in Angus. Employers are invited to attend either or of the sessions, the same content will be delivered in both of the sessions.
During the session David will talk though the pre-placement process, what needs to be in place for a young person in a successful placement and so much more. We also might be joined by a young person who is currently undertaking some work experience with Angus Council.
Offering work experience placements to young people has many benefits not only to those individuals undertaking the work experience but also to your business. Benefits to your business include:
1. Developing the skills of your staff
2. Engaging with your local community
3. Raising your profile
4. Promoting opportunities in your industry or profession
5. Enjoying the energy and perspective of young people
6. Identifying potential future employees

The low-cost guide to marketing your business
2023-08-18 14:00 - 16:00
When budgets are tight, it can be difficult to find the funds for marketing. This webinar will offer marketing tips and advice that you can then use across your business – without bursting the bank!
We will look at:

How marketing extends way beyond what most businesses consider it to be and how it provides opportunities for businesses to make transformational change with little or minimal extra spend
Identifying marketing priorities and using these to reshape your business.
The marketing mix as a tool for reviewing how your business plans and delivers its marketing activity
How your marketing activity is delivered successfully and effectively in your business
A series of top tips including the importance of understanding your customers, the core components of a brand, the value of strong and consistent branding, the value of a clear focus and the power of creativity
The many options available with traditional Advertising and Promotion as a way a company communicates what it does and what it can offer customers, but also looking how this has changed in a world where marketing has moved online
The foundations of effective marketing in a digital age, looking at how your business can grasp new ways of marketing such as social media, web, and digital PR

The essentials of bookkeeping and what expenses you can claim
2023-08-21 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar is for those who are entering business for the first time or require an understanding of what is involved in financially managing a business, including basic bookkeeping, and creating a profit and loss account. You will also get an understanding of what expenses the business can claim and then how to fund your business. At the end of the session, you will receive a workbook on excel to help you manage and monitor costs and sales.
At the end of this session, you will be able to:

Implement basic bookkeeping skills across your business
Create a profit and loss account
Understand what expenses can and cannot be claimed
Use financial management to increase revenues and profits
Understand capital and revenue costs and how they are treated

Online Sales: Improve, develop & make more money
2023-08-21 14:00 - 16:00
What’s the best way to sell your products online? The key to improving your online business is measuring its effectiveness – you can then take steps to optimise its performance. Should you be using your own eCommerce store or Amazon, neither or both? This webinar will help you decide.
We will cover:

Factors to consider when selling online.
What eCommerce options exist, and the benefits of each
Differences in available eCommerce platforms
Benefits of automation
Key items to optimise performance

Data Skills Bootcamp for Women Returners
2023-08-22 09:30 - 2023-08-24 16:00
Are you curious about acquiring data skills but unsure of where to begin? In the 21st Century, data skills have become as essential as reading and writing were in the 20th Century. With data skills being in demand across almost every job sector, from healthcare to astronomy, Scotland is in need of more people with these skills. By developing foundational data skills, you can prepare yourself for a career or pursue advanced learning opportunities in this dynamic field.
This 3-day Bootcamp is free of charge to women living or working in the Tay Cities Region and is designed to help you adapt to the demands of increasingly digitalised, automated and data-driven workplaces.
The Tay Cities Region consists of the following areas:

North East Fife
Dundee
Angus
Perth & Kinross

The Bootcamp runs from 22-24 August 2023 from 9.30am until 4.30pm and you will study online from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a laptop/computer and internet access.

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 1: On page optimisation
2023-08-22 14:00 - 16:00
The first of 2 webinars designed specifically to help get your business website higher up the search engine rankings, increasing visibility, web traffic, and sales.
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

How to build a digital marketing plan
2023-08-22 18:00 - 20:00
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

Parents Go Network
2023-08-23 09:30 - 11:30 | The Montrose Playhouse, The Mall, Montrose, DD10 8NN
It can often be a lonely experience being self-employed, especially if you have young kids. The Business Gateway team are delighted to be hosting a Parents Go Network session where self-employed parents can connect with others in the same situation, grow their network and meet like-minded people, all whilst the children are entertained.
This interactive session will encourage attendees to move around the room, learning more about the other businesses present and share your aspirations for 2023.

Innovation Funding: Heating & Cooling, Built Environment and Geothermal
2023-08-23 15:00 - 16:30
Join the Scottish European Green Energy Centre (SEGEC), Scottish Enterprise Innovation Collaboration and Funding Team and Innovate UK to discover the latest innovation funding opportunities for heating and cooling, built environment and geothermal projects.
This webinar will provide an overview of current and future opportunities in these areas, ranging from grants and support designed for single SMEs all the way up to large-scale international collaborative projects. It will be of interest to businesses, researchers and those in the public sector who support the development of innovative products and services.
The presentations will discuss:
Innovate UK funding programmes, including IUK SMART, Innovate UK loans and IUK investor partnerships.

Collaborative funding, including the £5 million Clean Energy Transition Partnership, Eureka Eurostars and Horizon Europe.
The Scottish Green Heat Innovation Support Programme.

You will also have the opportunity to find out more about:

Support available to Scottish organisations interested in applying to these funds.
Top tips for partner searches and creating eye-catching profiles.

Confirmed speakers include:

Karen Fraser, European Programme Manager, Scottish European Green Energy Centre (SEGEC)

SEGEC helps companies access European funding in Scotland in the critical growth areas of energy and low carbon by supporting businesses and key stakeholders. This includes leading on the delivery of the Clean Energy Transition Partnership Programme and promotion and support for the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

Conall McGinley, Horizon Europe UK National Contact Point for Energy and Global Innovation Lead for Energy, Innovate UK

Innovate UK is the UK’s national innovation agency supporting business-led innovation. They provide free and impartial help and support to all organisations innovating in the energy sector to help them access funding for European and international collaborative projects.

Jane Watters, Innovation Collaboration and Funding, Scottish Enterprise

This team delivers Innovate UK EDGE services to ambitious Scottish companies, helping them to grow through innovation, internationalisation and investment. This includes helping companies navigate and secure innovation funding, international market opportunities and partners through extensive international networks.

Shaping the future of tourism in Angus
2023-08-23 16:00 - 18:00 | Forbes of Kingennie, DD5 3RD
Join us at Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort on Wednesday 23 August 2023, where we will be reviewing what has been delivered through the Angus Tourism Framework over the last year, and looking at current challenges and priorities to help shape action plans for the year ahead.
This workshop is open to anyone connected to tourism in Angus, including businesses, community groups and volunteers.
See Eventbrite for more details and to register.

Community Development Programme of Support - Good Governance
2023-08-23 18:00 - 20:00
Angus Council Vibrant Communities, in collaboration with Angus Rural Partnership, have commissioned a programme of events for community groups and organisations.
The new programme of workshops will help local groups and organisations:

successfully form a sustainable group
plan their projects
apply for funding
deliver their aspirations

Workshop One:
Developing a sustainable organisation that can secure funding and continue to meet the needs of its community requires solid foundations which start with the right structure and robust governance.
This session will cover the basics of:
– Choosing the right structure.
– Good Governance & Responsibilities, including risk assessment and dealing with conflicts of interest
– Reporting Requirements and Annual Accounts

Continuous Improvement Activity Workshop
2023-08-24 14:00 - 17:00 | V&A Museum, 3 Greenmarket, Dundee, DD1 4QB
Improve productivity in your business to reduce production costs and become a more competitive business. You can add value through lean techniques which will lead to improved quality, cost and delivery performance, and more capacity.
This interactive event will simulate how businesses are run. It highlights some of the daily challenges that we all experience and demonstrates a different way of looking at your business. By applying the ‘Lean Thinking Principles’, you can start to think and act differently to improve your business efficiency.
This workshop will focus on three themes:

The basics of improvement based on Lean principles
The power of team working
The benefit of having timely data to make informed decisions

Through the manufacturing simulation provided, you’ll gain an understanding of lean wastes and how they impact process performance.
This workshop will give you the opportunity to step back from current operations. You’ll get a chance to learn a new way of thinking about operational processes and how to improve them as a way forward for your organisation.
Agenda

2pm to 2:30pm: arrive and meet the other delegates (tea, coffee and pastries will be available)
2:30 pm to 3pm: introductions, team challenge and introduction to Lean Thinking
3pm to 4:45pm: interactive manufacturing simulation with continuous improvement techniques applied
4:45pm to 5pm: wrap up and questions
5pm: workshop ends

How to start a business: The basics
2023-08-24 18:00 - 20:00
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
