Business Finance Viability
2023-09-07 09:30 - 11:30 UTC
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.

Planning & scheduling your online content
2023-09-07 14:00 - 16:00
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.

How to start a business: The basics
2023-09-07 18:00 - 20:00
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

Blogging for business
2023-09-08 10:00 - 12:00
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 rankings
Understanding analytics and measuring the impact of your blog

Instagram for business
2023-09-11 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.

The basics of trading on eBay, Etsy and Amazon Marketplaces
2023-09-11 14:00 - 16:00
As a consumer, you’ve almost certainly purchased online from one of the global marketplaces such as eBay, Etsy or Amazon, so why wouldn’t your customers do the same and buy from you?
We will cover:

Why to sell via a Marketplace, your own website, or both
Choosing the right Marketplace – looking specificly at eBay, Etsy and Amazon

Understanding Profit Margins and how Marketplace fees affect them

An overview of some of the rules and regulations enforced by these platforms
Trading internationally – what’s possible?

You’ll leave with a better understanding of how online marketplaces can help you reach your target audience, which marketplace is best for you, and how to get started selling quickly and easily.

Online Sales: Improve, develop & make more money
2023-09-12 10:00 - 12:00
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

Meet the Buyer North 2023
2023-09-12 10:00 - 16:00 | The Music Hall, Union Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1QS
The Supplier Development Programme will hold the 6th Annual Meet the Buyer North as an in-person, face-to-face event
Focusing on one-to-one in-person networking, Meet the Buyer North 2023 will allow your business to connect with “real” buyers from the public sector operating in the North and Islands of Scotland, as well as private contractors with supply chain opportunities and business support providers, all under one roof.
This event is designed to support micro, small and medium sized businesses in the North of Scotland, including the Highlands and Islands, to engage with business opportunities in the public sector. Businesses of all sizes are welcome to attend Meet the Buyer North. Non-SME suppliers are also eligible to attend, and all must register a free account with SDP to book a place.
Speakers from across government, Q&A sessions and a get “tender ready” training workshop
You will have unlimited in-person networking whilst being able to join in with the conversation during the formal agenda.

Build your brand and promotional graphics
2023-09-13 09:00 - 11:00
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

Taxation and the EOT
2023-09-13 10:00 - 11:00
Are you considering the Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) as an exit strategy for your business? If so, this webinar will provide you with vital information about the tax implications of this move.
Since its introduction in 2014, the EOT has proved to be a feasible exit option for business owners.
It’s a flexible option, and by making the right choices, you can ensure you meet the requirements for the tax incentives and deliver the best results for the seller, the company and the employees.
Aimed at professional advisers, this session gives attendees the opportunity to hear directly from tax experts Richard Jones from ICAEW and Nick Wright from Jerroms Miller. They will cover the following topics:

Legislative requirements for CGT exemption & bonus payments
The HMRC approvals process
Inheritance tax and the EOT sale
Personal tax planning
Taxation on an EOT exit

They’ll also give their views on the current EOT Legislation Consultation and any potential amendments.

Google Analytics – Understand how your website performs
2023-09-13 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.

Managing People - Sustaining Employee Engagement
2023-09-13 16:00 - 18:00
Participants will learn how to create and maintain a happy, productive and engaged workforce.
As finding and employing new, valuable staff can be difficult, this session aims to help members of management and business owners review their current practices and implement new ones.
Doing so with hope of achieving employee engagement, satisfaction, loyalty and longevity, reducing employee turnover and the need for continuous recruiting.

Community Development Programme of Support - Introducing the Development Trust Approach
2023-09-13 18:00 - 19:30
Angus Council Vibrant Communities, in collaboration with Angus Rural Partnership, have commissioned a programme of events for community groups and organisations.
The new programme of workshops will help local groups and organisations:

successfully form a sustainable group
plan their projects
apply for funding
deliver their aspirations

Workshop Three:
There are now over 350 groups all over Scotland taking the development trust approach to improving quality of life for local people in their communities. But what are these community-led organisations all about?
Come along to this online workshop with Pamela Barnes, Membership & Engagement Officer from Development Trusts Association Scotland, and find out what is involved in being a development trust, what can be achieved, the challenges to look out for, and the support available if you are interested in exploring and taking the next steps on this journey.

How to write and develop your business plan
2023-09-14 09:00 - 11:00
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

Selling your business masterclass
2023-09-14 10:00 - 12:00
Have you considered a succession plan for your business? It’s never too early to start thinking about your options. Employee ownership is fast becoming the preferred exit route for business owners.
Aimed at business owners considering an exit from their company, this session will give attendees the opportunity to hear structural and civil engineering experts Narro Associates and Executive Search Specialists Livingston James explain what they considered in choosing employee ownership and how things have worked.
Ewan Hall from Baxendale will talk through all ownership succession options before focusing on employee ownership and how to ensure the employee buyout is a smooth process.
Timings:
10:05am Welcome – Glen Dott, Scottish Enterprise
10:10am Ownership succession options – Ewan Hall, Baxendale
10:35am Employee ownership case study – Narro Associates
11:00am Employee ownership case study – Livingston James
11:25am Support available – Glen Dott, Scottish Enterprise
11:30am Q&A11:45am Close
Attend this workshop to learn how employee ownership offers a tax efficient exit route that protects your company’s legacy while providing a competitive price for the business.

Food and Drink Global Market Insights Event
2023-09-14 12:00 - 17:00
Get involved in the Food and Drink Global Market Insights event.
A great opportunity to meet and network with food and drink specialists from the Middle East, China, Hong Kong, and North America.
You’ll also meet Scotland-based trade advisors who can advise on the support available to help your company develop and grow international business opportunities.

How to build a digital marketing plan
2023-09-14 14:00 - 16:00
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

Kickstart your Marketing
2023-09-14 16:00 - 18:00
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.

Video production for social media
2023-09-14 18:00 - 20:00
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.

LinkedIn for business
2023-09-15 18:00 - 20:00
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.

The low-cost guide to marketing your business
2023-09-18 15:00 - 17:00
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

The essentials of bookkeeping and what expenses you can claim
2023-09-19 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

Community Development Programme of Support - Introducing Community Ownership
2023-09-19 18:00 - 19:30
Angus Council Vibrant Communities, in collaboration with Angus Rural Partnership, have commissioned a programme of events for community groups and organisations.
The new programme of workshops will help local groups and organisations:

successfully form a sustainable group
plan their projects
apply for funding
deliver their aspirations

Workshop Four:
How do community-based groups take a stake in, or ownership of, previously publicly owned land or buildings? What options are available to communities for acquiring private land or buildings through Community Right to Buy?
This online workshop offers an overview about what is involved in community ownership, and the range of support and advice on offer, from the first steps to the completion of an asset transfer or Community Right to Buy process.

Minewater Geothermal in Scotland
2023-09-20 10:00 - 11:00
Scotland is legally committed to reduce emissions by 75% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2045.
Join this webinar to find out more about the minewater geothermal opportunity in Scotland.

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 1: On page optimisation
2023-09-20 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

Digital fundamentals and future trends webinar
2023-09-20 11:00 - 12:30
Join VisitScotland’s Patrick O’Shaughnessy and Andrew Craig to learn more about the digital fundamentals tourism businesses should be considering. This will include:

being on the right social platforms
managing your reputation and reassuring potential customers online
setting up an online booking and distribution system.
some introductory advice on Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
the importance of creating relevant and authoritative appealing content
trends that we’re seeing in the tourism sector that you can take advantage of

It’s ideal for those who are beginning to use digital or want reassurance that they’re getting the basics right and will begin to give greater confidence that you are making good use of the time and money you invest in digital marketing.
You’ll also be able to ask questions and register for a digital follow-up with a member of staff from VisitScotland.

UKinbound Annual Convention
2023-09-20 11:00 - 2023-09-21 19:30 | Assembly Buildings, 2-10 Fischerwick Place, Belfast, BT1 6DW
This flagship event will bring together more than 250 travel trade professionals from all corners of the UK and all across the industry for two days of networking opportunities, seminars and workshops, one-to-one business meetings, and engaging discussions on the critical issues facing the industry.
The convention is a fantastic opportunity to meet all your travel trade business needs in one place.
Join this event to:

Meet and connect with new industry contacts and strengthen existing relationships
Generate new business through a major day business-to-business workshops with one-to-one scheduled appointments and free-flow session
Hear the latest insights and trends from industry experts
Be inspired by keynote speaker Jamil Qureshi – author of the acclaimed The Mind Coach and recognised leader in the psychology of performance and leadership
Share experiences and ideas with like-minded travel trade professionals
Celebrate the successes of our industry at the Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner
Discover the very best that Belfast and Northern Ireland have to offer through a range of exciting familiarisation trips

Photography for online business
2023-09-20 14:00 - 16:00
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.

How to protect and manage your intellectual property
2023-09-21 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

The Basics of Starting a Business
2023-09-21 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.
