Simple Steps to Get Your Business Online
2026-01-15 18:00 - 20:00 UTC | Kirrie Connections, 29 Roods, Kirriemuir, DD8 4HN
Reaching your customers online is simple, and we’ll show you how.
We’ve teamed up with DLR Media to create a workshop that will help you boost visibility, improve your online presence, and plan for a stronger year ahead. No jargon, no complicated tech, just practical tips you can start using straight away.
You’ll learn:

How to keep customers informed and engaged online
What to post, how often, and how to increase reach
Simple promotions and ideas to encourage footfall
How to build customer loyalty and repeat business
Quick online improvements you can implement right away
Tools, templates, and content ideas to support you

This workshop is suitable for all levels, including complete beginners. If you’ve never set up social media or a website before, don’t worry, we’ll guide you every step of the way.

Business expenses – What can I claim
2026-01-16 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar focuses on the main areas of spend that many businesses might incur, and provides a detailed and HMRC backed overview of what can and should be claimed.
This webinar will cover:

What constitutes a business expense
The HMRC rules around business expenses
What you can claim and more importantly what you cannot when submitting an accurate tax return
The main expenses that are claimable, what can be claimed and how they should be calculated

How to build and run a simple cash flow model | Lunch and Learn
2026-01-16 12:00 - 12:30
In this session, accounting expert Michael Austin will show you how to build and run a simple cash flow model using a spreadsheet and good bookkeeping.
Topics covered in this session:

How to build a simple cash flow model without using apps
How to keep it updated with correct historical information and forecast the near future
Why good bookkeeping is the foundation of any cash flow model

Net Zero with GrowBiz and Wasted Degrees
2026-01-16 12:00 - 14:00 | Wasted Degrees Brewery, Pitlochry, PH18 5TL
Are you interested in hearing how other businesses have approached difficult challenges? In particular how to make solutions work for the environment and the bottom line? Join us and Conall and Jack to talk about innovative solutions for packaging, the supply chain, raw materials and waste management in the Blair Atholl Brewery. They will tell us their story, join the discussion and chat informally as well as offering a tour and taste!
Theirs is an inspiring story; growth has been rapid from ‘hobby’ to business and they are already planning to move to a larger site. Their commitment to recycling the energy produced by the brewing process is driving the next initiative.
Whatever your sector you’ll find something to consider differently and you’ll definitely be inspired by the brothers’ innovative thinking that enables them to make ‘good decisions’ for the environment, the community and their staff.

How to write funding applications
2026-01-19 10:00 - 12:00
Securing funding can be a game-changer — but writing a strong application takes more than just filling out forms.
This webinar will offer tools and insights to help improve your chances of a successful application, including:

Clarifying and communicating your funding need
Building a persuasive business case with clear objectives and costings
Understanding your funder’s priorities and tailoring your language
Presenting evidence that demonstrates impact and credibility
Avoiding common mistakes that lead to rejection
Structuring your application for clarity and relevance

The Digital Visibility Method™: Show Up Everywhere Your Customers Are Searching
2026-01-19 17:00 - 19:00
Customers now speak to devices, interact with AI, and use conversational queries for instant answers. If your business is just a static website, you’re invisible to today’s consumer.
The Digital Visibility Method™ goes beyond SEO. It’s a complete authority-building system that aligns your business with how search engines and AI work now. You’ll learn to build E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)—the pillars that make AI trust and recommend you.
This session covers:

Baseline Audit: Measure your digital footprint and see what Google knows about your brand.
Competitor Deep-Dive: Identify gaps in competitors’ presence you can exploit.
AI as Your Assistant: Train ChatGPT to speak in your Brand Voice and act as a 24/7 strategist.
Semantic About Page: Rewrite your About page so Google instantly understands who you are.
Topic Clusters & Authority: Move from random posts to a linking strategy that builds topical authority.
Dream 100 Campaign: Target platforms and influencers who already have your audience.

Outcomes:

Dominate local search with optimised profiles and citations.
Capture “Position Zero” by formatting content for Featured Snippets and AI Overviews.
Build an owned audience with automated email sequences.
Stay visible using a structured Business Tracker for ongoing activity.

Who It’s For:
Local business owners, service providers, coaches, and marketers who need a future-proof framework for visibility in an AI-first world.

Thorntons Webinar - What to Expect in 2026
2026-01-20 09:30 - 10:30
In 2025, there were significant changes to UK immigration law which impacted international citizens living and working in Scotland. Further change is expected in 2026, with the UK Government expected to make further changes to work visa routes and the path to settlement and citizenship.
Join our specialist immigration team to find out what these changes mean for individuals, families and businesses.

How to design products consumers come back for | Lunch and Learn
2026-01-20 12:00 - 12:30
Learn how to create food and drink products that keep customers coming back for more, not just because of your branding, but because they genuinely crave your products.
In this session, Manon Galizzi will show you practical, founder-friendly ways to find your product’s “secret sauce” and test what actually makes people want to buy again and again.
Topics covered in this session:

The most powerful retention tool in food and drink
How to identify and refine your brand’s “signature experience”
Balancing familiarity and novelty to encourage repeat purchases
Small-scale sensory testing methods any founder can use

Working with the Public Sector - All You Need to Know
2026-01-20 13:30 - 15:00
How well do you know the public sector? This introductory module is recommended for anyone new to bidding. It provides a comprehensive overview of the public sector marketplace in Scotland and beyond and introduces the concept of tendering and procurement.
This event is suitable for Level 1 (Beginner) workshop is a first step to tendering for new or inexperienced bidders. No previous knowledge or experience is required to attend this workshop.

During this course, you will learn:

What is the public sector?
Routes into the public sector
Finding opportunities
Creating a pipeline of work
Pre-engagement activities

At the end of the webinar, there will be an interactive Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask our expert trainer any questions you may have.

The rise of social proof: How to use it to grow trust and sales
2026-01-20 14:00 - 15:00
Today’s customers trust people more than brands and what they see online shapes every buying decision.
Whether it’s a review, testimonial or a social post, authentic customer feedback has become one of the most powerful marketing tools for small businesses.
Join this free Tech Hub webinar to explore how to use social proof to attract new customers and boost both loyalty and credibility.
Learn practical ways to collect, manage and share reviews, testimonials and user-generated content (UGC) that tell your brand’s story and build lasting trust.
Whether you’re a small business owner, marketer or social media manager, this session will help you build credibility, strengthen relationships and turn customer voices into a powerful driver of growth.
What you’ll learn:

The power of social proof: Why reviews and testimonials matter more than ever
Collecting feedback the right way: Simple, ethical and effective methods to gather customer insights
Turning words into growth: How to use social proof across your website, emails and social media
Building trust through transparency: Managing negative feedback and responding with confidence

SEO Basics for Business Owners
2026-01-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Arbroath Courthouse, 88-92 High Street, Arbroath, DD11 1HL
Looking to get to grips with SEO and attract the right customers to your website?
This workshop will take the mystery out of SEO and show you how to bring in the right visitors, not just more clicks, but people who are ready to buy.
You’ll get straightforward, easy-to-follow guidance on what matters most in SEO today, what you can ignore, and how to avoid mistakes that stop your website from ranking or converting.
What will you learn?

How search engines decide which websites to show
How your customers search for products and services online
How to choose keywords that attract buyers, not browsers
How your website content impacts visibility and trust
Simple SEO improvements that deliver long-term results

What problems will this solve?

Confusion around SEO and conflicting advice
Low-quality traffic that doesn’t convert
A website that looks great but doesn’t get found
Over-reliance on paid ads without organic growth
Lack of confidence when working with marketers or developers

Perfect if you want to take control of your online presence and make confident, informed decisions about your website and marketing.

Google Analytics – Understand how your website performs
2026-01-21 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.

Roadmap to circularity for islands and rural communities
2026-01-21 10:00 - 12:00
Join Zero Waste Scotland in this session aimed at island and rural communities which addresses circularity in the Built Environment and Energy Infrastructure sector.
Circular economy practices in both Scotland’s Built Environment (BE) and Energy Infrastructure sector, have the potential to deliver social, environmental and economic benefits by reducing emissions associated with infrastructure design and deployment; enhancing the strength of local supply chains by ensuring that materials and components are maintained at and restored to the highest level of value possible for as long as possible; and reducing our dependence on international supply chains for the supply of essential materials such as critical raw materials.
Zero Waste Scotland are currently developing sector specific roadmaps, each of which will have a set of interventions designed specifically to address circularity in the Energy Infrastructure sector. A system thinking approach has been taken, which has included the development of system maps for each sector. These maps tell us the most important factors influencing businesses in these sectors and we are looking for stakeholders to help identify the correct interventions to address these. This requires input from stakeholders across the economy who influence the sector including finance, insurance, public organisations, skills and standards.

How to use TikTok Shop successfully in 2026 | Lunch and Learn
2026-01-21 12:00 - 12:30
TikTok Shop is fast becoming one of the most important growth channels for product brands, but success on the platform looks very different to traditional e-commerce or online marketplaces.
In this Lunch and Learn, Carina McLeod will tell you what brands need to be thinking about to set themselves up for success on TikTok Shop in 2026.
From content creation and affiliates to ads and live shopping, this session will break down how the different parts of the TikTok Shop ecosystem work together to drive visibility and conversions.
Rather than focusing on quick wins or trends, this webinar will cover best practices for building a sustainable TikTok Shop strategy that aligns with your brand, resources and goals for growth.
This session is ideal for brands already selling on TikTok Shop, as well as those considering it as a new channel in the year ahead.
Topics covered in this session:

Creating TikTok-first content that drives discovery and conversion
How to use affiliates and creators to scale reach and sales
The role of ads in supporting content, affiliates and live shopping
Where live streaming fits into a TikTok Shop growth strategy
Common mistakes brands make when launching or scaling on the platform

The Unpacked Series: Litigation
2026-01-21 12:30 - 13:30
Curious about what life in different areas of law really looks like?
Join us for The Unpacked Series: Litigation, our interactive webinar programme designed to unpack what it’s like to work in various areas of legal practice. In this session, Fiona Stewart (Head of Talent Acquisition), will be joined by Litigation colleagues Iain Buchan (Associate), Iain Sargison (Newly Qualified Solicitor), and Sophie Fairweather (Trainee Solicitor) who will share their real-life experiences, career journeys, and practical advice on the skills you can start developing now to succeed in these areas.
Whether you’re exploring your options or have a particular legal specialism in mind, The Unpacked Series is your chance to hear authentic insights directly from our lawyers and ask questions in a relaxed, informal setting.
This webinar is for law students and graduates who want to explore different areas of practice. Anyone curious about the realities of life as a lawyer at a leading Scottish firm.

Selling Your Business Masterclass
2026-01-22 10:00 - 12:00
Have you considered a succession plan for your business? Have you considered selling your business to an employee ownership trust? It’s never too early to start thinking about your options.
Employee ownership is fast becoming the preferred exit route for business owners. Attend this free online workshop to learn how employee ownership offers a tax efficient exit route that protects your company’s legacy while ensuring you get a competitive price for the business.
Aimed at business owners considering an exit from their company, this free online session will give you the opportunity to hear from marketing and design agency Whitewall and Isle of Arran based Auchrannie Resort. They’ll talk about the factors they considered in choosing employee ownership and how things have worked out.
Andrew Harrison from Co-ownership Solutions will talk through all your ownership succession options before focussing on employee ownership and how to ensure the employee buyout is a smooth process.

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2026-01-22 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

Marketing Mastery: Spotlighting Features and Benefits for Your Product or Service Business
2026-01-22 11:00 - 13:00
Marketing is a valuable tool to connect with your ideal customers in order to build loyalty, create sales and get referrals.
During this learning session we’ll look at ways to identify the benefits of your product, service or creative business so you can use the messaging that your customers ultimately want to hear in your marketing and promotional material.
This session will be led by GrowBiz Deputy CEO Clair Smith and Learning and Development Manager Alison Finlay. Both of whom have a sales and marketing background and who will guide you through some key principles to help you with your marketing strategy.
You’ll walk away from this session feeling much clearer about what the features and benefits are of your business, who your customers might be, how to reach them and what channels to you use to talk to them.

Connecting your marketing activities to real results | Lunch and Learn
2026-01-22 12:00 - 12:30
Are you busy with marketing but not sure if it’s actually working?
Many business owners invest time and money in marketing without a clear line of sight to what it’s doing for their bottom line.
In this practical session, business growth adviser Marinda Malan will share a simple framework you can use to connect your marketing activity with your business goals. A clear way to make smarter decisions about where to focus your efforts.
Topics covered in this session:

A clear picture of the three revenue streams your marketing should be feeding
A five-minute “hypothesis habit” to use before any campaign or spend
Why it’s about having the confidence to evaluate what’s working, and stop what isn’t

Visit Angus and Tripadvisor
2026-01-22 14:00 - 15:00
Join Visit Angus to find out more about our current and upcoming campaign with Tripadvisor to promote Angus to a UK, US and Canada audience.
You will hear from our marketing team about our current Naturally Angus activity and Johnny O’Halloran from Tripadvisor will take us through a few practical steps to show you how your business can claim a listing on Tripadvisor, update your current listing and answer any questions you may have about listing your business.
It’s a great opportunity to hear about how you can maintain, update or create a Tripadvisor presence for your business during our campaign period to promote Angus as the perfect destination for a day trip or short break.
Should you wish to attend, please complete the short registration form at https://forms.office.com/e/5VtH5rdLSZ, and a Microsoft Teams link will be provided for you to join the session. Please note that this session will not be recorded.
This session is suitable for tourism businesses (attractions, experiences, accommodation providers and food & drink) operating in Angus.

An introduction to business websites
2026-01-22 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.

Employment Rights Bill – Planning for Change
2026-01-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Business Gateway Arbroath, Unit 9 Harbour Visitor Centre, Arbroath, DD11 1PS
The approval of the Employment Rights Bill is your early warning and early action is always cheaper and easier than reacting later.
These sessions are ideal for SME owners, directors, and managers who want clarity and practical guidance without the fluff. They’re time-efficient, focused on what really matters, and delivered in plain English. Our HR Adviser will cover the Employment Rights Bill, key changes for SMEs, what to do now (and what can wait), and how to stay compliant.
You’ll learn:

What the Employment Rights Bill means in simple, plain English
Which changes are most relevant to SMEs
What actions you should be taking now
How to stay compliant without over-complicating your processes
How to manage employees confidently as expectations evolve

You’ll leave with clear next steps tailored to SMEs, practical examples you can apply straight away, and the confidence to manage people effectively as expectations evolve.

How to start a business: The basics
2026-01-22 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

PR on a shoestring | Lunch and Learn
2026-01-23 12:00 - 12:30
Learn how to craft a story, PR tricks for making sure journalists open your emails, when to run a PR campaign and how to achieve results, in this session with Suzanne Noble.
Whether you’re looking to employ an outside agency or run a PR campaign yourself, this workshop will help you understand the basics of PR.
Topics covered in this session:

The different types of PR stories
How to write a press release
How to target journalists, and specific ones to target
Tricks of the PR trade

Creating an effective email marketing strategy
2026-01-23 12:00 - 14:00
Customers buy from businesses that they know, like and trust. Email marketing is powerful and affordable tool in your digital marketing toolkit to build these relationships.Most businesses send monthly newsletters to stay in touch with their audience, but your results will improve with a structured plan and the best practices that will be explored in this webinar. Whether you’re new to email marketing or you’re looking to optimise your email strategy, this webinar enable you to:

Adopt email marketing into your wider marketing strategy and gain insight into your target audience
Understand the key stages of an effective marketing strategy
Segment your audiences and to target and position your offering to them effectively
Create a value-driven and customer-focussed content for email marketing whilst measuring and testing it’s effectiveness
Identify the most suitable platforms and tools for email marketing campaigns, including different paid-for account levels
Optimise the different components of a successful email campaign
Use reporting and key metrics to make sure your campaigns are successful
Be compliant with legal requirements relating to email communications and use best practices for escaping the spam folder

Social media essentials: LinkedIn
2026-01-26 10:00 - 12:00
No longer just an online CV, LinkedIn can be an incredibly powerful – and profitable – business tool.
During this webinar, 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

Your Business MOT - Drop-In Sessions
2026-01-26 10:00 - 15:00 | Business Gateway Arbroath, Unit 9 Harbour Visitor Centre, Arbroath, DD11 1PS
If you’ve just launched a full-time venture or you’re growing a side hustle, our free Business MOT drop-in sessions are here to help.
Pop in for a relaxed, one-to-one chat with our expert advisers. We’ll take a look at what’s working well, spot any gaps, and guide you towards the right support to help you grow. It’s simple, practical, and tailored to you, so you can move forward with confidence.
Drop in for a free business check-up, because every start-up deserves a strong start.

Key numbers every business owner should understand | Lunch and Learn
2026-01-26 12:00 - 12:30
In this session, Esther Kyesimira will explain why sales don’t always equal success.
She’ll also cover cash flow, profit and turnover, the key numbers to track and simple fixes founders can use in their businesses immediately.
Topics covered in this session:

The difference between turnover, profit and cash flow (and why many businesses fail despite good sales)
The three numbers you should check monthly to stay financially in control
Common pricing and cash flow mistakes seen across many small businesses
Simple actions founders can take immediately to improve financial confidence

An introduction to business strategy
2026-01-26 13:00 - 15:00
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

Start Up Essentials
2026-01-27 11:00 - 12:30
Have you started the new year excited to take your business idea forward but are feeling overwhelmed about where to start and what’s involved?
Join us for an informal interactive session where GrowBiz Enterprise Facilitators, Jenny Lyall and Ang Laurie will provide you with an insight into what self-employment could look like for you, the things you need to consider and how you can go about getting started right now!
Be inspired by Jenny and Ang, both small business owners themselves. They understand the challenges involved in taking the first steps towards turning your business dreams into reality.
The session will include:

Friendly guidance on key considerations
Hearing about existing small business owners and their journey into self-employment
Gaining confidence in your own existing skillset and understand the support available to develop your business toolkit
Interactive discussion about your self-employment idea and deciding your next steps

GrowBiz provides ongoing support throughout your self-employment journey. Begin by joining us in this learning session, assured that we’re here to assist at every stage. You’ll leave this session feeling confident, inspired, and equipped with clear direction for your next steps.
