GlobalScot: Energy Transition Briefing (Timeslot 2)
2024-03-04 08:00 - 09:00 UTC
Following the announcement of our new strategy for economic transformation, our mission leads are keen to share this approach with the GlobalScot network directly.
Join this session to hear from mission lead Suzanne Sosna on Energy Transition.
This mission aims to accelerate technological innovation, supply chain capability and investment in manufacturing facilities and key infrastructure, with the potential to double the number of companies operating across green energy sectors. Our goal is to ensure that the maximum economic benefit is derived from opportunities presented by the energy transition.
GlobalScots and the network will play a key role in helping to deliver this strategy and this session will provide more detail about this mission, give you an opportunity to ask questions, to comment and consider how you can help.
Please note there will be two briefing sessions for each of the three missions to accommodate different world time zones.

How Artificial Intelligence (AI) can help your business marketing
2024-03-04 10:00 - 12:00
You’ve heard of Artificial Intelligence, but do you know how it can help you as you run your business? This brand new practical webinar will explore how AI can help revolutionise your business marketing to be more efficient and cost-effective, through the automatic creation of content for all your digital platforms; as well as helping you better understand your customers and business opportunities.
This webinar will include:

What is Artificial Intelligence
Current AI tools and systems to use right now (including ChatGPT and Dall-E 2)
Automating Digital Content for Blogs and Social Media
Using AI for business strategy and customer profiling
The pros and cons of AI for small businesses

This webinar will help you understand how you can integrate AI into your existing marketing, looking at the potential consequences (good and bad) of Artificial Intelligence, and its impact on small businesses and their customers.

Build an effective strategy to grow your business
2024-03-04 14:00 - 16:00
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

GlobalScot: Scaling Innovation briefing (Timeslot 1)
2024-03-05 08:00 - 09:00
Following the announcement of our new strategy for economic transformation, our mission leads are keen to share our approach with the GlobalScot network directly.
Join this session to hear from mission lead Derek Shaw on Scaling Innovation.
The Scaling Innovation mission will focus on industries where Scotland has the potential to scale internationally, as set out in the National Innovation strategy.
We want to do more to fully harness our world class innovation capability and infrastructure to convert and scale innovation into growth. A doubling of scale-up businesses in Scotland over the next 10 years would add 675 new scale-ups into our economy, creating 75,000 new jobs and an additional £14 billion in turnover.
GlobalScots and the network will play a key role in helping to deliver this strategy and this session will provide more detail about this mission, give you an opportunity to ask questions, comment and consider how you can help.
Please note there will be two briefing sessions for each of the three missions to accommodate different world time zones.

Community Wealth Building – Spending and Procurement
2024-03-05 10:00 - 11:00
Ready to continue your learning with Co-operative Development Scotland’s (CDS) Community Wealth Building programme?
This is the first of four webinars that explore how inclusive business models can contribute to the four key pillars of CWB: spending and procurement, workforce, land and property and finance.
Delivered by support partners of CDS (including the Federation of Small Businesses, Sustainable Procurement, the Centre for Local Economic Strategies and the Supplier Development Programme) this webinar will explore how you can maximise community benefits through procurement and commissioning, developing good enterprises, fair work and shorter supply chains by commissioning Inclusive Business models. There will also be a chance to ask your questions to the expert panel.
Please note, to attend this webinar you must have already attended the CDS workshop Inclusive Business Models – Identifying the Opportunities for Plural Ownership.

Instagram for Business
2024-03-05 10:00 - 12:00
An introduction to Instagram for businesses to show how to it can be a useful tool to market your business.
We’ll look at how to segment the global social media audience into the audience you are trying to target, discuss what social media platforms will work for your audience, and how to create engaging visual content which will spark interaction with your brand.

Video production for social media
2024-03-05 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.

Do I Speak Giraffe
2024-03-05 10:00 - 12:30
We all have our own unique communication styles. In this workshop you will discover and explore your dominant your dominant communication style while gaining insight into others.
You will also leave with practical tips and tricks on how to adjust your language and behaviour, enhancing your assertive communication for the best results.
Whether in business, your personal life, or navigating the art of people, this workshop equips you with valuable skills.
This workshop is ideal for people who wish to:

Engage in effective client communication
Connect with potential customers
Persuasively articulate business concepts
Enhance networking skills with confidence
Cultivate proficiency in interpersonal communication
Strengthen both professional and personal relationships

Boost your productivity with AI
2024-03-05 11:00 - 12:00
This Google Digital Garage session introduces learners to cutting-edge AI tools that are already available from Google and others, to show some of the smartest ways digital-age workers can use them to save time at work and on tasks.
In this session, you will learn:

an introduction to generative AI and how it works
how to use AI-powered tools and techniques to save you time
an overview to crafting effective prompts

This session is run using YouTube and is 45 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.

Unlocking the potential of Accessible Tourism
2024-03-05 11:30 - 12:30
In this introduction to accessible and inclusive tourism, hear from VisitScotland’s Inclusive Tourism Manager about the value of accessible tourism market, the barriers that some consumers face and how best to attract these extremely loyal customers.
The session will also include information about Accessibility Guides, what are they and why are they important to this market. Insights on this will be provided by Carrie-Ann Lightley, Head of Marketing at AccessAble, an accessibility guide specialist.
We will also hear from Pippa Stacey an award-winning writer, speaker, and charity sector communication consultant about her experience of travelling and living her best life alongside chronic illness.
Both Carrie-Ann and Pippa have been named in the Shaw Trust Disability Power 100 list multiple times.
Packed with practical advice and top tips to implement in your business, guidance on a range of helpful resources, and key insights into this valuable market this workshop is not to be missed.

GlobalScot: Scaling Innovation briefing (Timeslot 2)
2024-03-05 16:00 - 17:00

Fair Work Workshop
2024-03-06 09:30 - 12:30
Fair Work is an investment in everyone, for everyone. It can improve productivity, innovation, organisational reputation and recruitment. It can also reduce staff turnover and help create inclusive workplaces with a richness of talent and a diversity of ideas.
For staff, Fair Work can increase financial security, physical health and psychological wellbeing. For businesses, it brings more engaged, committed and adaptable workers who spot challenges and opportunities, solve problems, offer insight and ideas for business improvement, and create value.
What’s the event about?
This is a fully funded workshop which will help participating companies to:

Understand the benefits of fair work (for both the business and its staff)
Develop an action plan to embed or improve current people practices
Prioritise and take next steps to implementing an action plan

This type of actions that could result from a fair work action plan include:

Improving people and fair work practices
Skills, leadership and management development
Creating a positive culture and values-based approach
Improving employee engagement and supporting performance management practices

What’s Involved?

Complete the Fair Work Employer Support Tool and familarise yourself with fair work and benchmark your company on where you are on your fair work journey.
Join your three-hour workshop to explore the key concepts of the five dimensions of fair work, along with some practical solutions to embed and improve this in your organisation and begin to develop your action plan.

The programme is for Scottish SMEs. You’re particularly suitable if you:

Are you business leader or individual who wants to understand more about Fair Work and the support available.
Have the autonomy and influence to implement an action plan

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 1: On page optimisation
2024-03-06 10:00 - 12:00
Join us to look at how Google and other search engines decide the order in which they list their search results. We will show you how to maximise your chances of appearing towards the top of the search rankings, ensuring you understand what key words and phrases your potential customers are using when searching online, and how to optimise your website as a result.
We will cover:

How search engines work, and the ‘on-page’ factors used to rank your site
Understanding customer search behaviour
Keyword research tools and how to benefit from them
Optimising your website content for search engines

Online Sales: Improve, develop & make more money
2024-03-06 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

Ready, Steady, Grow: How to Expand Your Business
2024-03-06 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!

LinkedIn for business
2024-03-07 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.

A Guide To: Happy and Inclusive Workplaces
2024-03-07 10:00 - 12:00
Inclusive workplaces can be attractive to current and future employees, regardless of their diverse backgrounds.
Cultivating an inclusive work culture isn’t just a legal obligation—it’s essential for retaining talent, enhancing employee satisfaction, fostering success, and promoting overall well-being.
Join us for a webinar where you’ll gain insights into the essence of inclusion and its distinction from diversity. Learn why nurturing an inclusive workforce is paramount to your organisation’s success and explore the legal frameworks and policies that underpin workplace inclusivity.
Following our Q&A, Phillippa will share information on the additional support and resources available for you to make positive changes.

Social Media Savvy
2024-03-07 10:00 - 13:00 | Arbroath Football Club, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, DD11 1QJ
Is your Social Media not working for you? Are you not receiving good engagement?
Would you benefit from a two day Social Media Masterclass, followed by a hours 1-2-1 consultation with an expert specifically looking at your business?
You will learn more about

Platform Choice and Scheduling of Content
Crafting Compelling Content
Acquiring Clients through Social Media
Increasing Engagement and Growing Followers
Visual Content Creation
Hashtag Strategy
Video Marketing
Community Building
Influencer Collaboration – Dos and Don’ts
Emerging Trends
Paid Advertising
Analytics and Insights
Mobile Optimisation

Attendees will be tasked with an assignment after the second masterclass.
These In Person Masterclasses will take place on Thursday 7 March and Thursday 21 March 10am – 1pm. The Online 1-2-1 Consultation will take place at a time convenient to the attendee.
When registering for this event you are registering for all three sessions.

Email marketing for business
2024-03-07 13:30 - 15:30
Connecting with your audience through effective email marketing campaigns is a great way to improve your marketing strategy and boost sales. In this webinar, we’ll explore what makes an email campaign effective and ensure you are able to:

Segment your audiences and target them effectively
Create a quality marketing email and measure its effectiveness
Identify the most suitable platforms and tools for email marketing campaigns, including different paid-for account levels
Identify the different components of a successful email campaign, including design, HTML v text and other formats
Use reporting and key metrics to make sure your campaigns are successful
Be compliant with legal requirements relating to email communications

Marketing strategy and AI
2024-03-07 16:30 - 17:30
How can you supercharge your digital marketing strategy with the help of AI in 2024?
In today’s evolving digital landscape, AI is changing the way consumers access and interact with digital tools: from providing increasingly personalised user experiences to the integration of new technology in our everyday apps.
In this one-hour short course, you’ll explore the impact of AI on digital marketing and how to leverage its potential to reach and engage with customers in new ways.
This session delves into the cutting-edge tools from Google and others, and will provide you with actionable insights to implement in your marketing strategy, with the help of AI.
In this session you will learn:

how AI is changing the marketing landscape and what are the opportunities for marketers
AI-powered marketing tools you can try
supercharging your digital marketing strategy.

The 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 opportunity to ask questions during the session.
This session is developed by marketing experts at Google as part of the New Fundamentals training series from Google Digital Garage.

Build a customer focused business
2024-03-08 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

How to start a business: The basics
2024-03-09 10:00 - 12:00
Whatever your reasons may be for considering being your own boss, Business Gateway is here to support you and help you decide if this is the right path for you. Helping you consider your plans from exploring your potential customers to looking at the key activities and costs involved.
We will cover:

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

Keep your business safe online
2024-03-11 10:00 - 12:00
Join us to find out how criminals are targeting small businesses online, the risks you face, and what you can do to minimise your exposure to online crime.
This webinar includes a number of live demos, covering the following areas:

What are the main online threats to your business?
The 5 pillars of prevention (Backup, Malware prevention, Securing your hardware, Passwords & Phishing attacks)
Simple and practical measures you can implement to protect yourself and your business
Best practice recovery steps for your business if the worst should happen

As a result of attending this webinar, you will gain a deeper understanding of the digital threats facing your business and what you need to do to secure your website, social media and company data from cyber criminals.

The essentials of bookkeeping and what expenses you can claim
2024-03-11 14:00 - 16:00
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

Accessible tourism - welcoming all customers
2024-03-11 14:00 - 16:30 | St James Quarter, Edinburgh, EH1 3AD
This half-day training course focuses specifically on customer service for disabled customers, which also benefits other customer groups. This is the second in a series of inclusive and accessible tourism events.
Participants will learn about:

adopting a positive attitude to all customers and anticipating accessibility requirements
successful communication styles to identify customer needs
legal obligations and types of discrimination

This interactive session will include activities, exercises, and discussions. Each participant will receive a guide containing practical tips. Participants also receive a jointly branded VisitScotland / Welcome to Excellence attendance certificate.
Normally, a full-day course would cost organisations £950 + VAT for 16 delegate places. However, ETAG in partnership with VisitScotland are giving 16 businesses the opportunity to attend a condense version of the course, for a reduced cost of £15 per person.
Please note that there are only 16 places available on this training workshop. To allow more businesses the opportunity to be trained, only one person from each business can sign up to attend.
These events are aimed at tourism businesses only who operate on a B2C (business to consumer) or B2B (business to business) basis.
Unfortunately, no places are available for intermediaries, consultants or suppliers of services.

Getting ready for offshore wind farm constructions - lessons from Scotland
2024-03-12 09:00 - 10:00
This webinar will cover a few examples of Scotland’s experiences with offshore wind preconstruction works (UXO safe disposal, surveying, marine life protection), which Poland’s upcoming projects can benefit from.

Scottish Tourism Month 2024: The Signature Conference
2024-03-12 09:00 - 2024-03-13 17:00 | P&J Live, East Burn Road, Aberdeen, AB21 9FX, United Kingdom
March is dedicated to Scottish Tourism Month; an opportunity to amplify the voice of the tourism and hospitality industry, recognising its enormous contribution to Scotland and highlighting the support it needs to overcome the immense challenges it faces to grow sustainably.
The flagship event of Scottish Tourism Month, The Signature Conference, will explore these themes from Tuesday 12th to Wednesday 13th March 2024 at the P&J Live in Aberdeen
Delivered as a collaboration between leading industry trade bodies, The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) and the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA), the event is designed to connect, engage and empower organisations in and related to the sector.
The biggest conference of its kind in Scotland, the event will bring together the leading voices in the industry and beyond to deliver a high-quality programme which will cover:

The latest trends and insights across travel, tourism, hospitality, food and drink, the economy and policy.
Useful information and actionable advice to take into your business
Inspirational stories and relevant examples of innovation
Best practice and knowledge sharing

Programme coming soon – early 2024.

Producing engaging online content
2024-03-12 10:00 - 12:00
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. 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.
This session 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

Open age inclusion awareness
2024-03-12 14:00 - 15:30
Age Scotland’s age inclusion awareness webinar is an hour-long introduction to the topic of age in the workplace. The purpose of the session is to:

raise awareness of ageism in the workplace and the potential consequences for organisations and individuals
explore what you can do as an individual to co-create an age inclusive working environment

It will provide you with some research data and ideas for developing your knowledge, skills and understanding further.
The webinar will be followed by an up to 30 minutes Q&A session with the speaker.

Google Analytics – Understand how your website performs
2024-03-12 14:00 - 16:00
Google Analytics (Universal and GA4) 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.
