Invest in Angus

Understanding machine learning
2024-03-21 15:00 - 16:00 UTC
This session teaches the foundations of how machine learning models learn and work, the components of designing a problem for machine learning to solve and a basic understanding of the resources and tools needed for a business to invest in machine learning. Aimed at small business leaders / owners or anyone looking to get a better understanding on the subject.
In this session, you will learn:

how different machine learning models work
the essentials for preparing data for a machine learning project
options for implementing machine learning for a business

This session is run using YouTube and is 60 minutes long.
The course assumes no prior knowledge or experience so there is no pre-reading necessary.
There will be the opportunity to ask questions during the session.
Please note, these training sessions are only available in the UK.

The low-cost guide to marketing your business
2024-03-21 14:00 - 16:00
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

Unlock SPA Framework Opportunities Learn How to Bid For Our Frameworks
2024-03-21 09:30 - 12:30 | Scottish Procurement Alliance, 6 Deer Park Avenue, Livingston, EH54 8AF
This session will provide prospective bidders with the necessary knowledge of procurement practices, documentation, the scoring mechanism and other crucial elements of the application process.
There are several framework opportunities that will be available in the coming weeks and months. Attending this session will provide businesses looking to apply the fundamental knowledge that could land them a great opportunity to work with over 120 public sector organisations in Scotland.

Introduction to SPA
Upcoming frameworks
Open vs restricted procurement
Overview of the suite of tender documents
Scoring mechanism
Top tips for success
Q&A

The invitation is open to businesses of all sizes with an interest in applying for one of our framework opportunities.
Upcoming framework opportunities:

Retrofit and Decarbonisation (N9)
Design, Supply and Installation of Permanent and Temporary Modular Buildings (MB3)
Public Buildings Construction and Infrastructure(PB4)
Roofing Systems and Associated Works (RS5)

How to write and develop your business plan
2024-03-20 14:00 - 16:00
New and established businesses will require a business plan for getting a loan, grant or just to consider the direction they wish to go in. This webinar will teach you what you need to include and how. We will walk you through what should be included within a business plan, how a business plan is used to improve your prospects for a loan or a grant, and how you can develop a business plan to meet your needs.
We will:

Provide a structure for a business plan
Review each section of what should be included within the business plan
Explain when and how to use a business plan
Explore the connections (and importance) between the words and the numbers
Look at how to identify and manage cashflow within the business planning process

Quit stalling and build your brand
2024-03-20 12:00 - 13:00
Join this webinar to explore the current range of low-cost digital technologies that can help you build your business and your brand.

How to protect and manage your intellectual property
2024-03-20 10:00 - 12:00
You have invested time, energy, and money into your project, however, have you protected the innovation?
Following this webinar, you will understand how to manage your intellectual property (IP) or how to start the process of registering it.
Topics covered include:

What are intellectual assets (IA)?
What is intellectual property (IP)?
How to use IP (in the real world)
Where to get more insight and information

Participants will leave with:

An understanding that all businesses create IA/IP
A framework of knowledge about IP
A little more knowledge about the diverse types of IP
An insight into how to identify, protect and exploit IP/IA
Context of why IP/IA matters
Links to useful learning resources

Business Finance Viability
2024-03-19 16:00 - 18:00
Led by experienced advisers, this webinar takes the fear out of finances, providing practical tools and guidance to help you confidently manage your business’s budgeting and forecasting. You’ll learn how to identify the hidden costs of running your business, including the cost of hiring staff, maintaining stock levels, and other crucial expenses.
Through a series of engaging exercises, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your business’s financial viability, helping you make informed decisions about its future growth and success. Whether you’re a new entrepreneur or have been in business for a couple of years, this webinar is tailored to your needs, providing you with the knowledge and skills to take your business to the next level.
Don’t let financial worries hold you back from realizing your business’s full potential. Sign up for the Business Finance Viability webinar today and discover how to confidently manage your business’s financial health!

Responsible Tourism for a Sustainable Future
2024-03-19 15:00 - 16:00
In an exciting new partnership, VisitScotland are working with The Travel Corporation (TTC) and the Travel Foundation, to host a free “Responsible Tourism for a Sustainable Future” webinar.
The one-hour webinar on Tuesday 19 March will offer Scottish tourism businesses an insight into what global tour operators are looking for when choosing a business to work with in Scotland and advice on futureproofing your products and services.
The session will include guest speakers, case studies, free tools available to help businesses with their climate action planning, as well as advice on creating bookable experiences for tour operators – a key booking channel for international visitors.
The Travel Corporation is a global operator whose brands include Contiki, Luxury Gold, Insight Vacations, Brendan Vacations and Trafalgar. As well as sharing the latest consumer trends, the Travel Corporation will also outline the opportunities to support its development of MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experiences and its collective mission to reduce emissions in its tour programmes globally.
As part of our ongoing work to support the industry on its journey to low carbon, the “Responsible Tourism for a Sustainable Future” webinar will include information about the free tools and resources available to help Scottish tourism businesses meet their net zero targets including our Climate Action Planning guide.

The business benefits of running a sustainable business
2024-03-19 14:00 - 16:00
It’s becoming increasingly important to customers to source their products from companies who have strong green credentials. This webinar will show how by becoming more sustainable you can increase sales and profits.
We will look at:
Understanding the problem
What is sustainability and why it is important
Innovation
Profiting from being a green business
Embracing a purpose beyond profit
The sustainability triple bottom line
Developing your own green charter
Examples of those practicing this way of growth with remarkable success
Top tips for going green

Build your brand and promotional graphics
2024-03-19 11:00 - 13:00
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

Inclusive recruitment training
2024-03-19 10:00 - 11:30
Widen your tech talent pool with inclusive recruitment.
The industry is facing a considerable tech/cyber skills gap. Workplace inclusion is no longer a “nice to have” and is now critical to attract and secure the best talent. Embedding inclusive recruitment practices ensures you are tapping into a wider talent pool, fostering diversity of people, experiences, and innovation.
Join ScotlandIS for free online training about inclusive recruitment practices specifically designed for small and medium sized enterprises.
What will you learn?

increase your understanding of what inclusive recruitment is within the Scottish tech ecosystem
learn about current best practices throughout the recruitment process and know how to apply them within your organisation
develop skills to review your own recruitment processes and identify short-term and long-term actions
where to find resource and guidance to continue your learning

Who should attend?

this training is designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises with a requirement for digital technology skills
ideal for professionals in a management or leadership position, working in Human Resources or involved in the recruitment process

When is it?
This training will be hosted online and split across two sessions to allow time for self-reflection.  Participants should attend both sessions:
Session 1: Tuesday 19 March 10am – 11.30am
Session 2: Tuesday 26 March 10am – 11.30am

Scotland's Marine Tourism Conference 2024
2024-03-19 09:30 - 16:00 | The Waterside, Ardrossan Road, West Kilbride, KA23 9NG
Part of the national Scottish Tourism Month Programme and proudly sponsored by North Ayrshire Council, this is not just Sail Scotland members, everyone related to the industry is welcome to come together, learn, and network with others.
The event is for everyone with an interest in the marine tourism sector; whether it’s the delivery, skills, supply chain, marketing or development.
This year, the event will be focusing on:

the strategic importance of marine tourism and sustainable and responsible consumer behaviour
the importance of continued investment in marketing, infrastructure, and product development
opportunities and things to think about now
how everyone can collaborate to grow marine tourism further

The programme is still being finalised but it will include input from:

Fiona Hyslop MSP – Minister for Transport
Gavin McDonagh – Chairman of Sail Scotland and MD of Holt Leisure Group
Rob Dickson – Director of Industry and Destination Development, VisitScotland
Joshua Ryan-Saha – Director of Traveltech for Scotland Daniel Steel – CEO, Sail Scotland
Sinead Sheridan – Marine Planning and Policy Officer for NatureScot

Please remember that tickets are limited, and this event has often sold out in the past.
So, please book early and come along to join the debate and hear from our line-up of expert speakers, with more to be announced soon!

Fair Work Workshop
2024-03-19 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

Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service Continuous Improvement Workshop
2024-03-19 09:00 - 12:00 | Engineering Partnership Innovation Centre, Keptie Road, Arbroath, DD11 3EA
If you’re looking for ways to adopt sustainable continuous improvements in your business — especially to increase productivity and competitiveness — then this free workshop is for you.
This breakfast workshop focuses on how to learn and understand Lean principles through fun, interactive exercises.
The event will be hosted in partnership with Dundee and Angus College at the brand new Engineering Partnership Innovation Centre (EPIC), Arbroath Campus, Keptie Road, DD11 3EA on Tuesday 19 March 2024 from 9am to 12pm.
What you’ll learn from this event
Improving productivity in your business can lead to a reduction in production costs and a more competitive business. Focusing on adding value through applying Lean techniques leads to improved quality, cost and delivery performance along with increased capacity.
This highly interactive event will simulate how businesses are run. It highlights some of the typical daily challenges that most businesses experience and demonstrates an alternative way of looking at your business.
You’ll find out how, by applying some simple ‘Lean Thinking Principles’, you can start to think and act differently to improve your business efficiency.
Why attend?
This event is for progressive people who wish to understand the basics of improvement through team-building exercises and practical application.
Through the manufacturing simulation provided, you’ll gain an understanding of the wastes, and learn the importance of Performance Management.
This activity workshop provides the opportunity to step back from current operations, review the essential implementation elements of improvement, and assess the way forward for your organisation.
Who should attend?
This event is suited for people at a Senior Manager level, those who have responsibility for championing or driving business improvement within the workplace, and/or those involved in the implementation of new processes and new ways of working.
The event has been timed to ensure minimum time away from the workplace. It starts at 9am with breakfast and refreshments and finishes promptly at noon.
There will be ample opportunity to network with like-minded people and explore ways that SMAS can support your business.
This event is free of charge, with limited places, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Instagram for business
2024-03-18 14:00 - 16:00
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 to build a digital marketing plan
2024-03-18 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar will guide you through the steps needed to create an effective digital marketing strategy, ensuring you focus on the right tactics to meet your business objectives and goals.
We will cover:

The importance of planning your digital marketing activities
Building your plan around a simple framework
Conducting a situational analysis (and understanding Customers and Competitors)
Developing your brand and tone of voice
Planning your Content strategy
Prioritising digital channels
Evaluating your Digital Marketing efforts

How to generate and increase sales
2024-03-15 14:00 - 16:00
Sales are the lifeblood of every business. This webinar focuses on a pragmatic approach to sales strategy and delivery and is designed to fit with the needs of small businesses in both B2C and B2B environments.
We will cover:

Why a clear understanding of what an ideal customer looks like, and a good understanding of their problems, needs and wants is key to sales success
How to develop your sales platform using digital tools, platforms, and techniques
The different motivations potential customers may have and how to identify which ‘buttons’ your business needs to press
The key phases in prospecting, qualifying, and converting sales prospects
The value of a ‘sales funnel’ and how it can be used to help plan and achieve sales
Why keeping the customers you already have is the best sales strategy of all
The importance of appropriate customer service in retaining customers

TikTok for Business
2024-03-15 10:00 - 12:00
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 video content which will spark interaction with your brand.
Part of the session will look at planning video content and production and different methods to use.

e-Commerce with Shopify
2024-03-14 18:00 - 20:00
Shopify is a powerful all-in-one e-Commerce website builder that makes setting up an online store simple and straightforward. In this webinar, we will explore Shopify’s features and pull together the building blocks for your first e-Commerce website.
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:

Understand the essential features that a website needs to have to sell physical and digital products online
Understand what Shopify is and how to use the features it offers to build a secure and powerful e-Commerce website
Use the Shopify page builder and work with free themes to get the design and style of your website on-brand
Understand how to manage orders and deliver great customer service
Understand how to launch your new e-Commerce website and ensure all essential building blocks are in place using a pre-launch checklist

DBT’s Australia and New Zealand Roadshow 2024 - Dundee
2024-03-14 13:30 - 16:30 | Malmaison Dundee, 44 Whitehall Crescent, Dundee, DD1 4AY
Australia and New Zealand offer significant trade opportunities for UK businesses. This is your chance to explore these with trade experts.
You’re invited to join the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade (DBT) in Dundee on 14 March for a Scottish Food and Drink Industry event, highlighting opportunities in-market and practical tips for routes to market. You will have the chance to hear from in-country trade advisors, businesses successfully exporting to these markets, and more.
This is a great opportunity to:

Hear directly from a wide range of speakers including our DBT teams based in Australia and New Zealand
Join interactive sessions on the opportunities for selling products and services
Understand the benefits of the Free Trade Agreements for your business
Network with other businesses and specialists from DBT

Canva
2024-03-14 10:00 - 13:00
This course covers editing pictures, designing cover photos and collages, and making professional-looking images without needing a designer.
You’ll pick up quick Canva tips, shortcuts, and best practices for free, understand the importance of good graphic design for building your brand, and discover how to create quality graphics. The goal is to help you quickly and effectively produce engaging content, saving time and effort.

An introduction to business websites & what you need to consider
2024-03-14 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Using AI for business and international growth
2024-03-14 10:00 - 11:00
This webinar will help you understand artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential business uses.
Get an introduction to AI technology, see practical steps for using it, and learn about its limitations.

Planning & scheduling your online content
2024-03-13 18:00 - 20:00
Businesses who plan their content in advance, aligning their channels with actual business objectives, customer themes and national events, and then schedule it to ensure it reaches the target market at the right time, on the right platform – hugely increase the chances of achieving impact.
In this webinar, you will learn how to:

Plan content based on your business and your customer needs
Evaluate current social media dashboards and management tools
Create a social media content calendar and schedule updates automatically
Reach more people through automating your blog and email newsletter content
Implement simple automation techniques to increase efficiency

Having great content is just the start. This webinar will help you better organise and setup your content strategy through simple planning and effective scheduling, to achieve great business results.

March Open Age Inclusion Workshop
2024-03-13 13:00 - 16:00
Age Scotland’s Age Inclusion for Managers workshop is a 3-hour interactive virtual workshop which will provide an opportunity to learn about Age Inclusion and to develop skills around managing difficult conversations.
The purpose of the workshops 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
• develop skills in handling challenging workplace conversations around age
The workshop will provide you with some research data and ideas for developing your knowledge, skills and understanding further. There will be time for questions at the end of the session.

Accounts and tax - top tips for new businesses
2024-03-13 12:00 - 13:00
This is an essential event for new business owners, those starting their own business, or anyone who finds accounts and tax challenging. It will be conducted via Zoom.
In this one-hour session, Katie Gilmour, an expert in accounting and taxation, will demystify the complexities of business finances. This training will provide you with fundamental knowledge and practical tips to manage your business’ financial aspects with confidence.
Key aspects of the session:

Understanding financial statements. Katie will explain the basics of a balance sheet and how it differs from a profit and loss account, helping you understand the core of business financials.
Types of taxation explained. Get clarity on different types of taxes including corporation tax, VAT, personal tax, and PAYE. This knowledge is crucial for legal and efficient business operation.
Profit versus cash flow. Learn the difference between profit and cash flow, and why understanding both is vital for your business’ health.
Avoiding common financial mistakes. Katie will highlight common financial pitfalls that new business owners often encounter and how to avoid them.

Kickstart your Marketing
2024-03-13 10:00 - 12:00
The workshop will cover the basic principles of marketing, including target audience identification, competitor analysis, value proposition, and the development of marketing strategies.
The workshop will also explore the importance of measuring the success of marketing strategies and how adhering to good business practice can positively influence Customer Generated Content
Overall, this workshop is ideal for businesses – new and existing – who want to gain a solid understanding of the basics. By the end of the workshop, you should have the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and execute an effective marketing strategy for your business.

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 2: Off page optimisation & technical considerations
2024-03-13 10:00 - 12:00
Join us as we take a further, more detailed look at how the Google search engines indexes and ranks websites based on a number of external (off-page) and technical factors. Implementing this learning will increase your chances of customers discovering your business through Google – the world’s leading research tool.
We will cover:

How to block or control what websites are allowed to ‘index’
The importance of a fast loading mobile website
How security and usability influence Google
What “off-page” optimisation means, and tactics to generate back-links
The importance of Local SEO, and why a “Google Business Profile” is vital

Photography for online business
2024-03-12 18:00 - 20:00
During this webinar you will:

Discover the basic ‘dos and don’ts’ of taking your own pictures, editing them and uploading them onto digital platforms.
See some real-life examples of posts that demonstrate good, bad and indifferent use for businesses.

The Basics of Starting a Business
2024-03-12 16:00 - 18:00
This webinar will give you the information needed to build a start up action plan. The plan will enable you to consider which actions are relevant to your plan, start building a set of SMART Goals, give thought to business skills development and provide a clear path for steps to launch your business.
You will also learn about the key considerations when starting a business and what steps you will need to take from legal, financial and strategic standpoints.
By the end of the webinar, you will have the information required to start building an action plan and be confident about understanding the next steps.
