Managing People for Growth
2024-09-11 09:00 - 16:00 UTC
Our workshops cover several key areas that can help you develop the skills of your people managers.
You’ll learn how to:
Identify the skills and approaches managers require to perform their roles successfully both now and in the future.
Implement fair and progressive work practices through an understanding of key drivers that can develop new ways of working (for example, the fair work framework, productivity and benefits of employee engagement).
Understand the importance of effectively maximising and improving existing staff skills, while identifying the style and attributes of an effective manager.

Positioning Your Business to Win
2024-09-11 13:30 - 17:30 | Montrose Port, South Quay, Montrose, DD10 9SL
The exclusive “Positioning Your Business to Win” workshop series continues on 11th September at Montrose Port Authority in collaboration with Angus Council.
This 1/2 day workshop is aimed at helping businesses position themselves in the market to increase their visibility and to make them feel more comfortable when engaging with customers.
During the 1/2 day workshop you will discover strategies to:
▪️Identify and target your ideal customers
▪️Analyse why your customers buy from you
▪️Understand what it is your customers want
Plus over lunch, network with fellow business owners to expand your network.
Workshop Details:
Location: Montrose Port
Cost: £50 per person (includes lunch)
Time: 1:30 pm
Limited spaces available. Reserve your spot now!
For enquiries and reservations, please contact peterwaggott@verticalmotives.com

Ready, Steady, Grow: How to Expand Your Business
2024-09-11 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!

How to start a business: The basics
2024-09-11 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

Global Insights: Consumer Industries Exporters
2024-09-12 09:00 - 18:00 | Doubletree by Hilton Edinburgh Airport, 100 Eastfield Road, Ingliston, EH28 8LL
Join our free event, where new and experienced exporters can network with their peers and meet trade advisors and market specialists.
Whether you’re a new or experienced exporter, this is a fantastic opportunity to:

Meet and network with food, drink and consumer lifestyle specialists from Europe, the Middle East, North America and Asia and learn about current international market opportunities.
Meet trade advisors based in Scotland who can discuss the support that’s available to help your company develop and grow your international exports.
Book one-to-one meetings with our in-market specialists.
Meet with a range of support teams from EFRS, GlobalScot, IOE and Knowledge Bank who can support you with your international development.

Climate springboard
2024-09-12 09:30 - 11:30
Climate Springboard is a free online workshop programme available to any Scottish small and medium enterprise. Learn about the net zero landscape for Scottish businesses including upcoming regulation and supply chain requirements. Hear insights into business support and funding opportunities and learn simple low-cost actions to reduce your carbon emissions easily.
The three fortnightly workshops consist of:

an overview of the Scottish net zero landscape
the tools to calculate a carbon footprint and develop a strategy in-house
simple step guidance to take action
the opportunity to meet and learn from like-minded businesses

Focused on simplifying an overwhelming challenge, Climate Springboard was created from a unique partnership between the Royal Bank of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh. It is delivered online by The Edinburgh Climate Change Institute.
This is the first of three workshops. The second and third sessions will take place on 26 September and 10 October 2024.

Selling Your Business Masterclass
2024-09-12 10:00 - 12:00
Have you considered a succession plan for your business? It’s never too early to start thinking about your options. Employee ownership is quickly becoming the preferred exit route for business owners.
Aimed at business owners who are considering an exit from their company, this session will give attendees the opportunity to hear from school, dancewear and club uniform suppliers, Smiths of Greenock. Speakers from the company will explain considerations they undertook when choosing employee ownership and how things have worked out as a result.
Ralph Leishman from 4-consulting will also talk through all ownership succession options before focussing on employee ownership and how to ensure the employee buyout is a smooth process.

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 2: Off page optimisation & technical considerations
2024-09-12 14:00 - 16:00
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

Kickstart your Marketing
2024-09-12 18:00 - 20:00
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.

How to build a digital marketing plan
2024-09-16 10:00 - 12:00
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

Business Support – Drop In Sessions
2024-09-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Monifieth Library, 48 High Street, Monifieth, DD5 4AE
The Business Gateway team will be at Monifieth Library to offer expert advice and support for all your business questions.
Drop in and speak to us, or use the book now button and a member of the team will be in touch to book an appointment.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow business, our advisers are here for you every step of the way.

Social media essentials: Facebook
2024-09-16 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

Managing People for Growth - Hybrid
2024-09-17 09:30 - 16:00 | Park Inn by Radisson Aberdeen, 1 Justice Mill Lane, Aberdeen, AB11 6EQ
Our workshops cover several key areas that can help you develop the skills of your people managers. You’ll learn how to:

Identify the skills and approaches managers require to perform their roles successfully both now and in the future
Implement fair and progressive work practices through an understanding of key drivers that can develop new ways of working (for example, the fair work framework, productivity and benefits of employee engagement)
Understand the importance of effectively maximising and improving existing staff skills, while identifying the style and attributes of an effective manager

Areas our workshops will focus on:
1. The role of a manager
2. Empowering teams and individuals
3. Communication, influencing and collaboration
4. Coaching and delegation
5. Managing individual performance
6. Creating a culture of innovation

Video production for digital marketing
2024-09-17 10:00 - 12:00
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

Understanding AI & Automation
2024-09-17 10:00 - 13:00 | Arbroath Football Club, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, DD11 1QJ
This masterclass is for anyone interested in using AI and automation to improve productivity, reduce costs, and unlock new growth opportunities for their business.
What we’ll cover:

Understanding automation: Learn the key components, benefits, and potential challenges.
Understanding AI: Explore its core concepts, capabilities, and limitations.
The power of AI and automation: Discover the power of predictive analytics and personalised customer experiences.
Case studies and SME use cases: See how businesses like yours have successfully implemented AI and automation.
How to integrate AI and Automation into your workflows: Understand the steps involved, from identifying suitable processes to selecting the right tools.
Tech Demos: See live demonstrations of the latest AI technologies, including ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and other cutting-edge tools.
Summary and Action list: Receive an actionable checklist to help you start implementing AI and automation in your business.

No prior experience with AI or automation is needed, just a willingness to learn and explore new possibilities.
Book now and take the first step towards a smarter, more efficient, and more competitive business.

Perthshire Talks Responsible Tourism: unlock the potential of accessible tourism
2024-09-17 11:00 - 12:00
In this introduction to accessible and inclusive tourism, hear from VisitScotland’s Inclusive Tourism Manager about the value of the accessible tourism market, the barriers that some consumers face and how best to attract these extremely loyal customers.
The session will also include practical advice and top tips to implement in your business, guidance on a range of helpful resources, and key insights into this valuable market.

Skills Academy Demonstration Day
2024-09-17 11:00 - 16:00 | The Montrose Playhouse, The Mall, Montrose, DD10 8NN
Angus Council is excited to announce the upcoming Skills Academy Demonstration Day, set to take place on Tuesday 17 September 2024, from 11am to 4pm at The Montrose Playhouse.
This drop-in event will showcase a range of innovative training, simulation and administration platforms attendees can experience firsthand.
Highlights include:
· Facilities and Apprenticeship/Internship Management System
· Augmented Reality Welding
· Virtual Reality Classroom
· AR Safety Vessel Coxswain Training
· VR Wind Turbine Engineer Training
· VR Marine Operations – Mooring
· VR Working at Heights and Confined Spaces
· VR Slinger Banksman – safe cargo lifting and movement
· VR Decommissioning
· VR Hydrogen Training
· Digital Twinning (Facilities, Cities and Ports)
· University-accredited Business Development and Sales Programmes
· Recruitment Advice – Apprenticeships and Internships, CV writing
Angus Council, in partnership with Montrose Port Authority, recognises that a Skills Academy will offer targeted training programmes to develop the necessary competencies, ensuring local workers can meet the current and future needs of employers and the changing economy.
The purpose of the Skills Academy, which will be based at Montrose Port, is to address the evolving needs of businesses in the region by providing a up to date, relevant skills for the region’s workforce.
By offering world-class training and development opportunities, Angus Council aims to make the Montrose region more attractive for skilled professionals and employers alike. Retaining and building local talent is crucial for fostering long-term economic growth and prosperity in the area.
We encourage all interested individuals, businesses, and industry partners to attend the Skills Academy Demonstration Day and explore the diverse range of training and development opportunities available.
See links below to two videos which focus on what will be available on the day, plus see how Riiot Digital is helping shape the next generation workforce to support a huge Wind Farm project in Australia.
Wind Turbine Engineer
Australian Wind Farm Project
Please register your attendance for this free event.

Marketing for your business - Skills Webinar
2024-09-17 13:00 - 16:00
This bootcamp has been designed as a beginner’s guide for businesses, focused on the subject of marketing.
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.

How to deliver low-cost, high impact marketing
2024-09-17 14:30 - 16:30
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

An introduction to business strategy
2024-09-17 18:30 - 20:30
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

Scottish Enterprise Clean Heat Strategic Workforce Development Fund
2024-09-18 10:00 - 11:00
The Clean Heat Strategic Workforce Development Fund offers workplace innovation support to Scottish companies that are working or interested in the clean heat market.
This practical support helps businesses improve their processes by making better use of staff skills, experience and creativity to carry out everyday tasks.
The fund also provides financial support to help companies develop their:

Workforce Capability and Culture
Workplace Practices
Leadership and Management

The grants can be used to cover third party training or consultancy costs, as well as provide some support for internal training costs.
Find out more about the fund by joining this webinar and visit our website for a more information about the fund.

Canva for Business
2024-09-18 10:00 - 13:00
This course covers editing pictures, designing cover photos and collages, and making professional-looking images without needing a designer.
You’ll pick up quick Canva tips, shortcuts, and best practices for free, understand the importance of good graphic design for building your brand, and discover how to create quality graphics. The goal is to help you quickly and effectively produce engaging content, saving time and effort.

Unplugged Montrose
2024-09-18 16:00 - 18:00 | Montrose Museum, Panmure Place, Montrose, DD10 8HF
What is it?
Open to everyone, CodeBase Unplugged is a networking and information session for those involved with or interested in tech startups. It will be a great opportunity to meet others in the local tech and business community and hear about the support for building tech startups offered by CodeBase through the Scottish Government’s Techscaler programme. We hope to see you there!
What can I expect?
This event will consist of casual networking with other attendees and CodeBase staff, as well as a short presentation about Techscaler and the support it offers for those wanting to build tech startups in Scotland. Feel free to come along whenever you’re able between 16:00 and 18:00, and we’ll aim to give the presentation when most attendees have arrived.
We’ll have tea, coffee and light catering available throughout the event.
When and where is it?
We’ll be running this event from 16:00 – 18:00 on Wednesday the 18th of September. It will be hosted by Montrose Museum, located on Panmure Place, Montrose, Angus, DD10 8HF.
The event will be running the gallery space at the back of the museum but a member of staff will be at the front desk by the main entrance to welcome you.
What is Techscaler?
Techscaler is a Scottish Government funded programme, delivered by CodeBase, and offers tailored support for everyone in Scotland who wants to build a startup, whether they are considering a career in startups or are developing, building and scaling an idea.
We offer Community and Member access to world-class education, a peer-led online and offline community, and flexible workspaces.
Techscaler membership is for any prospective or current startup founder, startup employees, or more broadly anyone who is involved in the Scottish tech ecosystem. Membership offers tailored support depending on your goals. When someone applies to become a Techscaler member, our team can direct applicants to the most suitable Techscaler support.
To find out more, watch this video on YouTube: What is Techscaler? And what does it mean for me and my region?
What is CodeBase?
CodeBase is a tech incubator, making startups accessible to everyone. Through building culture, community and education, we promote and support tech innovation.
We offer flexible and affordable hotdesking and office space, education programmes delivered by expert industry operators, and an offline and digital community where startup founders and staff can connect and help each other.
We are CodeBase. We believe in startups for everyone and the power of community.
We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our culture – from our spaces and events, to our education programmes and community. In whatever way you interact with the CodeBase community, we require you to treat everyone with respect, regardless of background or personal beliefs.

The Employee Ownership Transition: A Deep Dive
2024-09-19 10:00 - 12:30
Are you considering employee ownership as a succession plan for your business? Join us on our deep dive into the process of selling to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).
Aimed at business owners considering employee ownership as a succession option, this interactive online workshop will cover topics that are fundamental to every employee ownership transition.
The workshop will include a presentation and a breakout session.
The presentation will cover:

How a transaction or sale of shares to an EOT works
Valuation, purchase price and repayments
Seller protections and the role of the exiting owners
Governance structure of the business post transition
The role of the board and the trust and their relationship with each other
Employee engagement and employee incentives (bonuses and share schemes)

The breakout sessions will be on:

The transition process and legal implementation – led by Louise Fisher, Baxendale Employee Ownership
The importance of employee engagement – led by Hannah Welch, Baxendale Employee Ownership

Timings:
10:00 Introductions – Glen Dott, Scottish Enterprise
10:10 Presentation – Louise Fisher and Hannah Welch, Baxendale Employee Ownership
11:10 Facilitated breakout sessions (attendees participate in each session)
12:00 Q&A and learning outcomes
12:30 Close
Attend this interactive workshop to learn more about the EOT process when considering a transition to employee ownership.

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2024-09-19 14:00 - 16:00
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

Create videos with YouTube
2024-09-19 14:30 - 15:30
With 2 billion users logging in every month, YouTube provides an exciting way of increasing your brand’s exposure through video.
This session will cover:

how to understand your brand and target audience’s behaviours
how to write, storyboard and film engaging videos
how to market your content to users and measure your success

You will also learn:

how to identify your niche
top tips for creating engaging content
ways to increase your video’s discoverability

This session is run using YouTube and is 60 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.

Bookkeeping essentials
2024-09-23 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

Cookery Schools, an opportunity for Agritourism?
2024-09-23 10:00 - 15:30 | Westerton Farmers, Laurencekirk, AB30 1RT
Westerton Farm is investigating setting up a cookery school as part of being one of the Agritourism Monitor Farmers.
Fiona Smith and Caroline Millar are travelling to Ireland mid September to visit Ballymalloe Cookery School. Ballymaloe is one of the most famous Cookery Schools in Europe and is also a working farm providing real ‘farm to fork’ cookery experiences.
Fiona will present feedback on the visit to Ballymalloe and her first hand experience of the two and a half day farm to fork experience. Fiona will also update those attending on where Westerton are with their own plans for a cookery school.
Please arrive at 10.00am for an 10.30am start with a 3.30pm finish.
Tea and coffee provided. For lunch, you will be able to purchase a takeaway lunch from the Farm to Table Shop onsite or if you prefer you can bring a packed lunch with you.
The meeting itself is free to attend and all agritourism, rural tourism and rural food and drink businesses are welcome as well as farmers and crofters considering agritourism.

Business Support – Drop In Sessions
2024-09-23 13:00 - 16:00 | Kirriemuir Library, 28 Reform Street, Kirriemuir, DD8 4BS
The Business Gateway team will be at Kirriemuir Library to offer expert advice and support for all your business questions.
Drop in and speak to us, or use the book now button and a member of the team will be in touch to book an appointment.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow business, our advisers are here for you every step of the way.

How to generate and increase sales
2024-09-23 18:30 - 20:30
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
