Growing your business on social media | Lunch and Learn
2026-01-30 12:00 - 12:30 UTC
These days, there’s much more to social media than posting content. You’re also having to build visibility and trust, and acquire customers consistently.
In this insightful webinar led by Vandita Agarwal, you’ll learn how to use social media to grow your business, attract the right audience and convert engagement into real opportunities.
Designed specifically for entrepreneurs, start-ups and small businesses, this session will focus on what actually works for business growth across today’s key social media platforms.
Topics covered in this session:

How to choose the right social media platforms for your business
Building a strong brand presence that attracts and retains customers
Creating content that drives engagement, leads and conversions
Using social media as a sales and lead-generation tool
Simple strategies to grow your audience organically and sustainably

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 1: On page optimisation
2026-01-30 14:00 - 16:00
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

How to get into retail | Lunch and Learn
2026-02-02 12:00 - 12:30
Breaking into retail can feel like a black box: unclear expectations, mixed advice and little transparency around what buyers truly value.
In this practical session, Anne-Sophie Martin-Kukah draws back the curtain on what happens behind the shelves, sharing real-world insights from over a decade working with major FMCG brands and challenger founders.
You’ll learn how retailers assess brands, where founders often lose traction and what “retail-ready” actually means in today’s climate.
This session is designed to help founders of consumer goods move beyond guesswork, build credibility with buyers and make smarter decisions.
Topics covered in this session:

What “retail-ready” actually means and where you truly stand. Most founders are told to “get retail-ready” without ever being shown what that looks like in practice. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of the commercial, operational and brand markers retailers use to assess businesses, and how to honestly evaluate your own readiness today.
How buyers think, decide and “de-risk” their choice. Go beyond surface-level pitching advice and understand how retail buyers actually make decisions. What reassures them, what raises red flags and how do they assess risk when backing emerging brands?
A practical framework to move forward – whether you’re pre-pitch, pitching or post-pitch. Founders often don’t know what to do next if retail feels “a bit too soon” or if interest hasn’t converted into listings. You’ll gain a clear framework to help you prioritise actions, strengthen gaps and progress strategically, instead of rushing or stalling.

Why your business needs a blog
2026-02-02 14:00 - 16:00
This webinar will provide you with the knowledge and understanding you need to create a blog that promotes your business.
We will cover:

What a ‘blog’ is, how to set one up and what it takes to make them work
Other small and medium sized businesses who already blog successfully and what you can learn from them
Options for monetising a blog
How to promote your blog
How your blog can help move your website higher up search engine ranking
Understanding analytics and measuring the impact of your blog

Making the most of your Carbon Audit: Beyond the tick-box exercise
2026-02-03 10:30 - 12:00
You may have completed a carbon audit in the last 5 years, but have you since used the results?
In this webinar we’ll chat to Farm Carbon Toolkit about what your carbon audit results can actually tell you, and what you can do with that data to make more informed decisions, better understand where you could make savings, and build resilience in your system.
Carbon audits are one of the five requirements of the new Whole Farm Plan, and all farmers and crofters receiving Basic Payments (BPS) must complete one by 2028.
Join us for an insightful and interactive session!
FREE and open to farmers, crofters, growers and land managers. Booking required.

Legal essentials for startups
2026-02-03 11:00 - 12:00
As your start-up grows, clear legal foundations help you scale with confidence and reduce risk. Gaps in contracts, governance, or data protection can slow momentum and make investment more difficult.
Join LegalVision’s free webinar, Legal Essentials for Startups: Contracts, Licences, and Governance, with LegalVision’s Kristine Biason.
Key takeaways:

How to set up contract frameworks that support growth
Protecting your intellectual property and core business rights
Governance and UK GDPR essentials investors expect

Maximising your Google Profile
2026-02-03 12:00 - 13:00
This one hour webinar will support you to ensure each element of your agritourism and farm retail business is set up correctly for Google, helping to drive sales.
Visit Scotland have recently connected their listings website visitscotland.com to Google listings. Andrew Craig from VisitScotland will explain what you need to do to ensure your business is profiled.

Introduction to Canva
2026-02-03 16:00 - 18:00
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.

A Strategic Reset for Independent Businesses
2026-02-03 18:00 - 20:00 | The Stag, 140-144 Castle Street, Forfar, DD8 3HX
Feeling things are a bit quiet right now?
Maybe it’s roadworks, bad weather, or simply that early-year slowdown when people are watching their spending. Whatever the reason, this is the perfect time to step back, evaluate, and reset your business for the year ahead.
A new year brings fresh opportunities to refocus, set new goals, and plan for the months ahead. Join us for an action-led, interactive workshop created to energise, connect, and equip you with practical strategies to grow your business.
The session is split into two parts:

Managing Disruption and Building Resilience
Reset, Refresh, and Re-launch

You’ll learn:

How to stay visible and accessible during quieter periods
Low-cost, effective ways to keep your business front of mind
How to prioritise key products, customers, and costs to protect cashflow and maintain stability

Take this time to invest in your business and start the year strong.

Legal Update: The Data Use and Access Act 2025 revisited
2026-02-04 09:30 - 10:30
Join Loretta Maxfield and Morgan O’Neill for an update on the implementation of the Data Use and Access Act 2026.
Loretta and Morgan will recap on the key changes and implications for organisations, how to prepare and adapt to the requirements and there will be Q&A for you to ask our experts questions about this legislative change.

How to create engaging content
2026-02-04 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.
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

Future Skills for Dundee & Tay Cities Tech: DigiTay Roundtable
2026-02-04 10:00 - 14:00 | The Flour Mill, 34 Commercial Street, Dundee, DD1 3EJ
Help shape the digital skills Dundee and the Tay Cities’ tech economy will need next.
Dundee and the wider region’s tech sector is evolving rapidly. To sustain growth, employers must play a leading role in defining the skills, training models, and pathways needed for the future workforce.
This half-day, industry-led roundtable brings together tech employers and key stakeholders to identify priority skills gaps and co-design practical, future-ready approaches to digital skills development for the Dundee and Tay Cities region.
Secure your place and help shape the future digital skills needed to drive the Dundee and Tay Cities tech economy.

How to avoid costly mistakes with UK VAT | Lunch and Learn
2026-02-04 12:00 - 12:30
This practical webinar led by Reda Vaisvidiene breaks down the UK’s VAT system in clear, plain English.
Designed for business owners and decision-makers, it explains when you need to register, how VAT really works in practice and how to avoid the most common (and expensive) VAT mistakes.
You’ll leave with actionable steps you can apply immediately to your small business.
Topics covered in this session:

When, why and how you should be VAT-registered
How VAT affects cash flow and profit (not just compliance)
The top VAT errors that cost businesses thousands

Scaling delivery through investible solutions
2026-02-04 12:00 - 13:00
Councils across the UK face a common challenge: turning ambitious climate strategies into fundable, deliverable projects at pace and scale. While priorities and plans exist, many stop short of investment-ready detail, causing delays, missed funding, and reliance on short-term grants.
This webinar will explore the importance of planning, pipeline development, and regional partnerships in unlocking public and private funding.

Bookkeeping essentials
2026-02-04 14:00 - 16:00
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

You will also receive a workbook on excel to help you manage and monitor costs and sales.

Getting Your Business Tender Ready - The Checklist
2026-02-04 14:30 - 16:00
In Scotland, public sector procurement is governed by rules set out by the Scottish Government. Therefore, there is certain information, policies, and processes which must be in place before your business can begin to bid for public sector contracts.
This webinar aims to help Scottish SMEs and social enterprises become tender ready. One of our expert trainers will talk you through a “bidding checklist” of all the key information, processes and policies that your business must have in place prior to bidding.
During this course, you will learn:

The information and policies you need to have in place for public sector procurement.
An understanding of the public sector procurement market and how to enter it.
How to create a bid/no bid strategy.
How to improve your chances of winning a public sector contract.

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.

Adaptation & Climate Resilience in the Tourism Sector
2026-02-05 10:00 - 11:30
This webinar will examine the Heritage Tourism Sector as a case study to explore the innovations and resources emerging from this sector, what skills, resources, and learnings can be adapted for the broader tourism and events audience.
You will hear about what free tools and resources there are to support you on this journey.

An introduction to business strategy
2026-02-05 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

Scaling your business in 2026: Growth strategies for success
2026-02-05 11:00 - 12:00
Join LegalVision’s free webinar, Scaling Your Business in 2026: Growth Strategies for Success, with Michaela Corley, practice leader, who will advise businesses on structuring, capital-raising and governance.
This session covers building a sustainable business model, preparing for investment and developing leadership teams to support long-term growth.
Key takeaways from this session:

How to structure your business for scale
Capital-raising options and investment readiness
Leadership and employee incentives, including share options

Preparing for 2026: What your business needs to know | Lunch and Learn
2026-02-05 12:00 - 12:30
Is your business ready for the legal and regulatory changes coming in 2026?
Making sure you have strong legal and financial foundations in place will help you capitalise on new opportunities for growth.
In this Lunch and Learn, LegalVision’s co-head of legal, Robert Nay, will walk through the key updates and actions you should take now.
Topics covered in this session:

Your 2026 commitments when it comes to data and privacy compliance
Upcoming Companies House verification requirements
Consumer law changes affecting how you sell and communicate
Whether your client and team contracts are fit for purpose in 2026

Branding & Pricing: Set Your Business Up For Growth
2026-02-05 13:00 - 18:00 | Forfar Community Campus, Kirriemuir Road, Forfar, DD8 3TG
Our Branding & Pricing workshop is great for business owners who want to build a strong foundation for their business. In this session our experts will guide you through creating a clear Branding Framework and an aligned Pricing Strategy Blueprint. By the end, you’ll have a personalised plan to define your brand’s unique value and price it for profit and growth.
In a competitive market, your brand isn’t just a logo; it’s a promise. And your pricing isn’t just a number; it’s a key part of your brand. This workshop brings these two essential elements together, ensuring they work in harmony.
You’ll work through a series of structured exercises to build a comprehensive blueprint for your business.
This workshop is highly interactive and provides a dedicated template that you’ll complete as you go, with plenty of time for group discussions, peer feedback, and one-on-one support.
What you’ll learn

Clarify Your Brand Purpose: Define your ‘why’ to communicate with confidence.
Know Your Ideal Customer: Pinpoint who you’re targeting and how to reach them.
Stand Out: Shape a unique brand identity that sets you apart.
Price with Purpose: Explore pricing models and value-based strategies.
Create Pricing Tiers: Build a structure that attracts different customer types and boosts revenue.

It’s perfect for anyone who feels uncertain about what their brand stands for or how to price their offerings effectively.

Simple automations that run your business in the background
2026-02-05 14:00 - 15:00
Modern tools can quietly take care of the small but essential jobs that keep your business moving. From reminders to invoicing, simple automations can save you time every single day so you can focus on the work that actually needs you.
Join this practical session to explore straightforward, reliable automations that handle routine tasks in the background. You’ll learn how to set up step-by-step workflows that reduce admin, improve consistency and free up valuable hours in your week. No technical knowledge required!
What we’ll cover:

How to automate everyday tasks such as reminders, follow-ups and client updates
Ways to build routine processes into automated checklists so nothing slips through the cracks
How to link your favourite apps so information flows smoothly between tools
Practical examples of low-effort automations that make a measurable difference to your day

You’ll leave with clear, easy-to-apply ideas that help you cut down repetitive work, be more organised and keep your business running smoothly in the background.
Whether you’re a sole trader, freelancer or small business owner, these time-saving approaches can help you regain focus and make your week more productive.

When to use AI as a solution for your business | Lunch and Learn
2026-02-06 12:00 - 12:30
In this webinar, Julian Musson will provide a practical framework to help small businesses identify where AI can most be of use to them – and apply it in the most efficient way. He’ll do this via a simple worksheet, which you’ll receive as a PDF after the session.
There’s also a short “reality check” on AI and some hands-on guidance around real-life AI use in a small (albeit fairly tech-savvy) business.
Overall, Julian aims to provide straightforward options for businesses without the time and budget to do deep research, so they can see benefits in the short to medium term.
Topics covered in this session:

How AI is different from traditional computer systems
Examples of how AI is being applied in programming and day to day work
Takeaway – a decision framework for when to consider AI as the solution

How to start a business: The basics
2026-02-07 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

Your Business MOT - Drop-In Sessions
2026-02-09 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.

Measuring Biodiversity: Farm Biodiversity Scotland Tool
2026-02-09 12:30 - 14:00
Biodiversity audits are one of the 5 requirements of the new Whole Farm Plan, and all farmers and crofters receiving Basic Payments (BPS) must complete all of the relevant plans/audits by 2028.
Join us on 9 February for the second in our 2026 series of interactive webinars on the different elements of Whole Farm Plans, this time focusing on the Biodiversity audit.
Taking part in the piloting of the Farm Biodiversity Scotland tool is one way of completing your biodiversity audit yourself. In this webinar, we will explore how mapping habitats and monitoring biodiversity can support decision making.
The Farm Biodiversity Project team from NatureScot will demonstrate how the free to use mobile app and web platform works. This tool has been designed with input from farmers and crofters to:

Create a habitat map
Carry out simple habitat assessments
Record species
Add photos

Monitoring biodiversity can help farmers and land managers plan how to protect, manage and enhance nature on their land providing benefits for nature and the business.
Join us for an insightful and interactive session!
FREE and open to farmers, crofters, growers and land managers. Booking required.

International Energy Week 2026
2026-02-10 09:00 - 2026-02-12 15:30 | QEII Centre, Westminster, London, SW1P 3EE
International Energy Week 2026 is the first major global energy event following COP30, where the world’s energy leaders gather to turn climate commitments into action.
Backed by the Energy Institute and its 20,000-strong membership, International Energy Week offers a unique platform to tackle the most urgent challenges in energy: from grid resilience and supply chain risk, to financing the transition and scaling innovation.
With its trusted heritage as the UK’s flagship energy event, International Energy Week is more than just a conference – it’s a convening force, a networking hub and a strategic tool in the Energy Institute’s mission to create a better energy future.
Over three days of high-profile keynotes, panel discussions, and networking, and culminating in the prestigious International Energy Week dinner and awards ceremony, the week attracts more than 1,000 delegates from around the globe.
International Energy Week is designed for energy professionals across the spectrum – executives, policymakers, investors, engineers, academics, and early-career talent. Whether you’re driving strategy, scaling innovation or shaping policy, this is your platform to connect, collaborate and lead.
It is the essential annual fixture for those leading on corporate strategy, business development, and technological innovation, those wanting to retain a competitive edge, and anyone seeking insight into the great energy challenges facing humanity and once-in-a-generation energy transition opportunities.

Google Analytics – Understand how your website performs
2026-02-10 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.

Social media essentials: Instagram
2026-02-11 10:00 - 12:00
Thinking about using Instagram to communicate with existing and potential customers? Want to showcase your products or services using it? During this webinar we will cover:

Getting the setup right and benefitting from the available business tools
Best practice profiles, and some strategies to help your business stand out from the crowd
The types of audience you can reach via this platform and the factors and analytics such as cost and timing of posting images and how that can maximise impact
The various types of content you can post to Instagram, from regular posts to Stories and Reels

How wellbeing can support clearer thinking | Lunch and Learn
2026-02-11 12:00 - 12:30
Have you ever set intentions, but found it difficult to stay connected to them once life becomes busy, stressful or uncertain?
In this Lunch and Learn, Dr Dimple Devadas takes you through a gentle, psychology-informed exploration of how wellbeing and awareness can support clearer thinking and better decisions.
Mental clarity is closely linked to physical wellbeing and everyday lifestyle. While many people already know the basics of healthy living, eating well, moving more and sleeping better, the challenge isn’t always knowledge. Instead, it’s how difficult it can be to stay both consistent and flexible with healthy routines when life is busy, stressful or uncertain.
This session explores how awareness and emotional understanding can make approaching physical wellbeing feel more realistic and supportive.
Topics covered in this session:

How to notice familiar patterns, where helpful and context-dependent, with curiosity and compassion
Understanding emotions as meaningful signals that can support change
Exploring how physical wellbeing and everyday lifestyle support mental clarity
