What creative professionals need to know about AI
2025-08-29 10:00 - 16:00 UTC | V&A Museum, 3 Greenmarket, Dundee, DD1 4QB
Everyone’s talking about Artificial Intelligence – but what does it mean for you as an artist or creative?
AI is already having an impact on the creative industries. We think every creative professional should have the opportunity to learn and explore AI tools in a creative and safe environment.
Is it possible to use AI tools in an ethical way? And how can you protect your own work from being exploited.
We’ll explore the ethical issues of using AI, covering topics like intellectual property, environmental impact, and possible misuse.
What we’ll cover:

Discover how Artificial Intelligence apps work
Learn about the most popular and powerful Generative AI tools used by creative professionals: including DALL·E, Midjourney, Copilot, and Gemini
Get advice about protecting your work, and understanding what artists can do to avoid being exploited or replaced by this technology
Discuss ethical issues surrounding AI art, like intellectual property, safety, and the environment

This course is aimed at AI beginners – You don’t need to be a technical expert to take part. We’ve written the course to be jargon-free and easy to understand.
This course is for people working in the culture sector as creative professionals.
This includes visual artists, illustrators, designers, makers and crafters, photographers, filmmakers, performers, writers, and digital creatives such as animators or game designers.
The course is also for educators and facilitators delivering creative workshops or learning programmes. Curators and producers involved in creative projects or exhibitions would also benefit.
You’ll find it useful if your role involves a significant amount of creative work, even if you’d not call yourself an artist. For example marketing professionals, social media managers, and digital content creators.

Lunch and Learn: Spotting opportunity in disruption
2025-08-29 12:00 - 12:30
When the pandemic made Gail Irvine’s core business model unsustainable, she didn’t scale down – she redesigned.
In this 30-minute session, Gail shares the real story behind that reinvention and offers practical strategies any small business can use to pivot, simplify and scale, even with limited resources.
This session is ideal for founders, community interest companies (CICs) and business owners navigating change, uncertainty or growth.
Topics covered in this session:

How to spot opportunity in disruption: Learn how to read the market and pivot strategically without starting from scratch.
A clear path to reinvention: How to tidy up your offer, simplify your day-to-day and grow – even without a big team.
Tools and tactics to work smarter, not harder: Get practical ideas to automate admin, increase visibility and boost income without a big budget.

How to build your brand
2025-08-29 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

Video production for digital marketing
2025-09-01 09:30 - 11:30
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

SMAS best practice visit to MacIntyre Chocolate Systems
2025-09-01 10:00 - 13:00 | MacIntyre Chocolate Systems, Kirkton Industrial Estate, Arbroath, DD11 3RD
To celebrate the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) turning 20, we’re hosting a series of best practice visits (BPVs) throughout 2025. You can now sign up to participate in our upcoming visit to MacIntyre Chocolate Systems.
This visit will highlight how organisational culture can support the use of innovation as a key business tool to help safeguard the future of your business and directly contribute to its bottom line.
Part of the Probat group, MacIntyre Chocolate Systems is a worldwide supplier of chocolate manufacturing and processing equipment. Formed in 1974, the company has historical roots in Scotland that can be traced back to the 1800s. With around 98% of its products exported and a customer base stretching across 116 countries, this organisation is a truly global business.
Under the direction of Managing Director Joe Gorman, MacIntyre Chocolate Systems changed its operations by shifting the workplace culture to better engage with and empower its staff. This allowed the organisation to tap into its workers’ wealth of product knowledge and high-level engineering skill, to create a boundless capability for innovation which is now part of the organisation’s DNA and a key differentiator in the markets they serve.
During this visit, Joe Gorman will talk us through the organisation’s history and cultural revolution, then explain how using innovation as a business tool linked to the financial bottom line has placed the company at the very top of its sector. There will also be a Q&A session, so please come with your questions ready as this is very much an audience participation event.
You’ll also be able to visit the shop floor and see the business processes in operation, which should answer some questions and perhaps provoke a few more. You’ll have a chance to ask any final questions after the tour.

Lunch and Learn: How to value your business before raising investment
2025-09-01 12:00 - 12:30
Struggling to determine the right valuation for your business when seeking investment?
Setting the correct valuation is critical – price it too high and you may scare off investors; price it too low and you could regret it for years.
In this Lunch and Learn, funding expert Paul Grant shares a proven approach to confidently setting your company’s valuation for investors. Many entrepreneurs lack confidence in valuing their business and end up making poor agreements or missing out on investment opportunities.
Fortunately, there’s a straightforward method to value even early-stage companies effectively, so you can present a compelling case to investors.
During this session, Paul will explore three key methods you can adopt to value your company and give yourself the best possible chance of securing investment.
Topics covered in this session:

How business angels assess early-stage businesses
How to set a credible valuation for your company
Tactics to boost your start-up’s valuation

AI: The power, the productivity, the profit
2025-09-01 18:30 - 19:30
Using agentic AI to run parts of your business when you are tied up.
The host is Sam Onigbanjo, who has over 20 years marketing and coaching experience. He is CEO of AI Academy for Beginners and he publishes regular articles on AI for the SME community. He’s also an alumni of Said Business School, University of Oxford.
Key takeaways from this session:

How to use faceless marketing from the comfort of your home (and keep your privacy)
How agentic AI can help you start, grow and save money
How you can go push products and services global with AI

An introduction to business strategy
2025-09-02 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar is practical, outcome driven, and designed to fit with the needs of small businesses in both B2C and B2B environments. It will help you develop a strategically led approach that can turbo charge business growth, identify the core growth strategy(ies) that are right for your business, and develop an action plan.
We will look at:

Your business today – identifying your strengths and areas for development
The key pillars of a business and why balancing all areas is essential for success
Personal and business ambitions and using these to guide strategy development
Ansoff’s Matrix as a tool for identifying core growth strategies
The core components of your business delivery
How to develop a methodical, strategic approach to developing your business for future success

After the webinar, you will understand:

How to undertake a balanced review of where your business is that helps identify areas for development
Ansoff’s Matrix and how to use it as a core strategic planning tool
How to create a strategic plan for growing your business

Lunch and Learn: Joining supply chains and mastering public contract bids
2025-09-02 12:00 - 12:30
Are you a business owner looking to expand your reach, diversify your revenue streams and secure stable contracts?
This webinar is designed to demystify two powerful avenues for growth: integrating into existing supply chains and successfully bidding for public contracts. In today’s dynamic market, collaborating and engaging with the public sector can be hugely beneficial for businesses of all sizes.
We’ll explore the tangible benefits of becoming a valuable link in a supply chain and provide practical insights into the often-complex world of government procurement.
Topics covered in this session:

Advantages of joining supply chains: Discover how joining supply chains can increase sales, lower running costs, provide access to new markets and boost your business’s credibility and stability. We’ll discuss different types of supply chain relationships and how to identify the right fit for your organisation.
Navigating public procurement: Gain a clear understanding of the public contracting environment, including common types of contracts, where to find opportunities and the essential steps involved in the bidding process. We’ll explain acronyms and look at the common pitfalls, so you can approach public tenders with confidence.
Essential requirements for successful public bids: Learn about the crucial documents, certifications and compliance standards typically required to bid for public contracts in the UK. We’ll cover everything from financial solvency and technical capacity to sustainability criteria and ethical considerations, making sure you’re well-prepared to submit a winning proposal.

Digital marketing that works: Practical advice for small businesses
2025-09-02 13:00 - 15:00
In this business.connected workshop in partnership with Vodafone Business, we’ll walk you through the essential digital marketing strategies every small business needs to grow online, connect with customers and stay secure.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your current approach, this session is packed with practical guidance and affordable tools to help you market your business more effectively.
Led by Alison Battisby, an expert in small business marketing, this session covers everything from building your presence on social media to improving your visibility in search engines, creating content that captures attention and sending emails that convert – all while following key security best practices to protect your business and your customers.
Key takeaways from this session:

Social media marketing strategies: Learn how to choose the right platforms and develop content that resonates with your audience.
Creating engaging content: Discover tips and formats to help you produce content that drives engagement and builds community.
SEO basics for small businesses: Understand how search engines work and how to improve your website’s visibility on a budget.
Email marketing best practices: Explore how to run effective email campaigns while keeping customer data secure and GDPR-compliant.
Free and low-cost digital marketing tools: Get recommendations for powerful tools that help you do more with less.
Security best practice: Learn simple but effective measures – like strong passwords and multi-factor authentication – to protect your business online.

An introduction to business websites
2025-09-02 14:00 - 16:00
This webinar will take you through all the steps required to design, build and host a business website. You will learn about:

The need to determine website objectives
The importance of knowing who your audience is and measuring results
Setting clear calls to action and creating engaging content
Creating your brand’s visual identity online, your site’s blueprint and how you can structure your site map
What’s involved in registering your domain, maintaining your site content, and options for hosting it

This webinar will also offer guidance on when and how to outsource your website development, covering topics such as choosing a suitable content management system, what to organise first and costing for the work.

Future-Proofing Our Independent Businesses
2025-09-02 18:00 - 20:00 | The Montrose Playhouse, The Mall, Montrose, DD10 8NN
Are you a local independent retailer in Angus and feeling a bit uncertain about what the future holds? You’re not alone, this session is here to help!
Across Angus, we’re lucky to have a large number of fantastic independent businesses that bring life, character, and community spirit to our high streets. But with rising costs and global changes, it’s understandable that things might feel a bit tough right now.
This session is all about helping you feel more confident about the road ahead. We’ll share useful tips, fresh ideas, and expert advice to help your business stay strong and continue to thrive. Our expert business and retail consultant, Kimberley Guthrie, will guide you through new ways to connect with customers, how to make the most of your footfall, and explore simple digital tools to save time and money.
And the best part? This session is designed to be interactive, so feel free to ask questions at any time! Whether you’ve got a specific challenge or just want to bounce around ideas, Kimberley is here to help and happy to chat.
What we’ll cover:

Getting to know your customers even better
Turning footfall into sales
Making new trends work for your shop
Simple ways to use digital tools and AI to save time
How local shops can spark a social buzz in our towns

Let’s build a bright, sustainable future for Angus’s independent businesses. We’d love to see you there!

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2025-09-03 10:00 - 12:00
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

Lunch and Learn: Turning creative thinking into consistent online momentum
2025-09-03 12:00 - 12:30
Do you have great ideas but no clear path to action?
In this energising Lunch and Learn, digital strategist and coach Alison Kenward shares how to turn creative thinking into consistent online momentum – without the overwhelm.
This session is packed with actionable insight and practical tools for founders, coaches and creatives who are ready to make things happen.
Topics covered in this session:

Learn how to simplify your digital marketing strategy
How to structure your first (or next) funnel
Start using tools like Kajabi to grow your business with clarity and confidence

Black Friday 2025 - Plan For Success
2025-09-03 14:30 - 16:30
With demand set to surge across eMarketplaces around Black Friday 2025, now is the perfect time to refine your online selling strategy and skills.
Whether you’re an experienced online seller or just starting out, this session will provide actionable steps to set you up for success on eMarketplaces like Amazon.
This event will guide you through the essentials of preparing your product listings, optimising keywords, and ensuring your offers are visible to the right customers at the right time.
We’ll dive into practical tactics for boosting conversions, including how to create compelling product content and designing strategic pricing strategies.
Attendees will also learn how to leverage Amazon’s promotional tools, advertising options, and customer insights to capture more buyers during peak traffic hours.

How to deliver low-cost, high impact marketing
2025-09-04 10:00 - 12:00
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

Lunch and Learn: Understanding the psychology behind decision-making
2025-09-04 12:00 - 12:30
Why do smart teams sometimes make poor choices? And how can individuals stand their ground without derailing collaboration?
In this interactive session led by Tarnia Gonzo, we’ll explore the psychology behind decision-making from the subtle pressures of conformity to the dynamics of groupthink and discover how to harness individual identities to make smarter, more balanced choices.
Expect relatable examples, research-backed insights and practical strategies you can apply the moment the session ends.
Topics covered in this session:

How to spot the traps: Recognise the warning signs of groupthink and conformity in meetings and projects, and learn how to interrupt unhelpful patterns before they derail outcomes.
How to balance unity and independence: Discover techniques to maintain team cohesion while encouraging constructive dissent and diverse perspectives.
How to make the most of individual identities: Understand how self-concept and personal values shape decision-making and use that awareness to improve both individual and group outcomes.

Collaborating for change: Growing responsible tourism
2025-09-04 12:00 - 13:00
Effective collaboration can be a route to growing sustainable agritourism through enhanced visitor numbers, unique experiences and improved visibility of your offer.
Jillian McEwan, Agritourism Monitor Farm Core Community Group member will share insights into growing sustainable tourism through collaboration. We will hear about the work of the Lunan Bay Community Group in providing visitor infrastructure in the bay. Highlighted examples will include a collaboration between the Community Group, Arbikie Distillery and Insights Coaches; facilitation of new signage, an all-abilities viewing platform and a community ranger service which all improve the visitor experience to the area.
We will also hear about a new Goat to Garment Tour which Lunan Bay Farm is launching in September in collaboration with partner Johnsons.

VisitScotland bitesize webinars: Introduction to travel distribution
2025-09-04 14:00 - 14:30
Discover how travel distribution can help you reach more potential visitors and grow your business. This session will introduce the key travel distribution partners from tour operators to online travel agents.
Perfect for those new to travel distribution, this webinar offers a clear and simple introduction.

Bookkeeping essentials
2025-09-05 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

Lunch and Learn: Where should you focus your e-commerce strategy
2025-09-05 12:00 - 12:30
With so many e-commerce channels to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide where to focus your time and budget.
Led by Carina McLeod , this session will explore the key differences between selling on Amazon, building your own direct-to-consumer (D2C) website and tapping into emerging platforms like TikTok Shop.
She’ll cover the pros and cons of each, what it takes to succeed on them and how to align your channel strategy with your brand goals, resources and stage of growth.
Whether you’re starting out or looking to scale, the talk will offer a practical framework to help you make smarter, more confident investment decisions.
Topics covered in this session:

The key differences between e-commerce platforms and selling direct to consumer
How to tap into emerging platforms like TikTok Shop
How to bring your channel strategy into line with your brand goals

How to start a business: The basics
2025-09-06 10:00 - 12:00
Whatever your reasons may be for considering being your own boss, we are here to support you and help you decide if this is the right path for you.
We will cover:

Personal finance
Planning – how much do you need to earn?
Researching your market – who your customers are, understanding your competition and what the trends are within your chosen field
Business structure – what are the core business structures? How to decide which is right for you and how to register as a business
Creating your start-up action plan – an outline
Marketing
Pricing
Naming the business
Basic bookkeeping
Forecasting
Financing, banking, insurance, and VAT
Tax

Lunch and Learn: Selling on social media – the three-step conversion formula
2025-09-08 12:00 - 12:30
If you’re tired of posting on social media and only getting likes instead of sales, this session is for you.
In this webinar led by Emma Watson, discover how to finally connect the dots between your content and your bank account, with simple, practical strategies that turn followers into paying customers.
Topics covered in this session:

Turning engagement into opportunities: Understand why likes and followers aren’t enough and how to guide your audience toward becoming paying customers.
Creating calls-to-action that convert: Craft simple, compelling CTAs that move followers from scrolling to clicking, booking or buying.
Building a simple sales funnel: Design a clear, repeatable process to nurture followers into loyal, long-term customers without feeling overwhelmed.

How to create engaging content
2025-09-08 14:00 - 16:00
Producing quality content is an excellent way of helping your customers develop a meaningful relationship with your brand, services and products. In this webinar we will show you how to source and develop a variety of content for your website and social channels.
This session is ideal for businesses that already have a business website or use social media and now want to take it a step further, and develop the skills to show your audience that you are a trusted operator in your field.
We will help you:

Understand what kind of content your customers are looking for
Source, write and deliver that content
Amplify your brand and message and boost engagement online

Google Analytics – Understand how your website performs
2025-09-09 10:00 - 12:00
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that helps you understand how your website is performing. It helps answer lots of questions, including:

Which marketing channels drive traffic to your site?
What pages are users looking at the most?
What impact does mobile have on your potential customers?

During this webinar, we’ll help you understand how Google Analytics is set up and give you an overview of key reports. We’ll also look at other web analytics tools to help you online.

Introduction to Canva Pro
2025-09-09 10:00 - 12:00
Canva is an all-in-one online design tool that makes it simple to create graphics, edit photos/videos and write content.
In this webinar, you’ll learn how to navigate Canva with confidence, starting with a broad overview of what you can create and do with Canva including a live demonstration of the Canva Editor.
We’ll then explore how to:

Design professional printed marketing materials and edit photos with ease.
Create engaging social media content, including videos and images for posts and ads.
Write creative blog content and make stunning presentations.

We’ll finish this beginner’s guide to Canva by looking at some clever strategies for improving how you market your business with your new suite of creative marketing materials.
As a result of attending this webinar, you will gain practical knowledge of the basics of Canva and learn how to save time when marketing your business online. We’ll be focusing on the free features of Canva for this webinar but some paid ‘Canva Pro’ features will be demonstrated also.

How to move from inbox to sales
2025-09-09 12:00 - 12:30
You’re regularly emailing your subscribers – they’re opening, clicking, maybe even replying, but they’re not buying (yet).
This free 30-minute webinar is for small business owners who want to turn engagement into sales. Join Minal Patel and Leisa Pickles to learn how to follow up using social media, networking and phone calls.
Key takeaways from this session:

Why email is just the starting point
How to spot hot leads
How to follow up without being salesy

Lunch and Learn: How to get your business visible on Google
2025-09-09 12:00 - 12:30
Want to know which of Google’s tools can help you get your business more visible on the search engine?
In this webinar, Maddy Shine, SEO expert and owner of the agency Sassy and Soft, takes you through what you need to know. You’ll walk away feeling clearer and more capable doing this Google stuff than ever before. And? You’ll be more visible.
Topics covered in this session:

How to use Google Search Console to tell Google you exist
How Google Business can help you put your business on the map
How to keep an eye on both to boost your visibility even more

How to write funding applications
2025-09-10 10:00 - 12:00
When submitting applications for funding, you need to ensure that the applications are written in such a way that improves your chances of being successful.
There are numerous funders out there and each will have their unique way they wish you to apply, however, in this webinar we’ll explore some key steps you can take to improve your chances of a successful application, including:

Clarifying your need

Demonstrating your needs

Understanding your funder

How to speak their language

Getting the basics right

Overcoming the common mistakes

Answering the questions asked

Scale AI for global productivity miniseries
2025-09-10 10:00 - 12:00
This free executive masterclass miniseries is designed for ambitious leaders who are ready to start or strengthen their AI journey.
Over four expert-led sessions, you’ll gain tools to improve your operations, reduce costs, and future-proof your business using practical, real-world AI applications.
This event will start on Wednesday 10th September and run for 4 weeks every Wednesday until the 1st of October, from 10am to 12pm.
