Three cost-effective growth strategies that actually work | Lunch and Learn
2026-03-18 12:00 - 12:30 UTC
Think websites are expensive? Email’s dead? AI’s going to steal your job? Wrong, wrong and wrong.
If you’re relying solely on social media, wondering why you’re working flat out but not seeing growth, or convinced these “big business” strategies aren’t for you, this Lunch and Learn led by Kathy Ennis will change your mind.
She’ll cut through the myths and show you exactly why three foundations – a website that works 24/7, email marketing that converts and AI tools that save you hours – aren’t optional extras. They’re your ticket to consistent sales and sustainable growth.
You’ll walk away with practical tools, real-world examples and a clear plan for what you need (and what you don’t) to build a business that actually makes money.
Topics covered in this session:

Why a website isn’t an expense – it’s your 24/7 sales team (and how to build one that actually converts without spending thousands)
How email marketing delivers £36 for every £1 spent – and the simple automations that turn subscribers into customers while you sleep
Which AI tools save you hours every week on content creation, admin and customer engagement

How to sell more via WhatsApp and messaging apps
2026-03-18 13:00 - 13:30
As customer expectations shift toward “instant” communication, your business’s inbox is no longer just for support – it’s your newest shop-front.
In this updated session, Emma Watson dives into how small businesses are moving beyond basic chat to close real sales on the apps customers use every day.
Whether you’re a retailer, maker or service provider, you’ll learn how to transform a “how much is this?” query into a “payment received” notification – all from your smartphone.
Topics covered in this session:

Why messaging matters: Why customers prefer messaging over email and how to capitalise on it
The art of the soft sell: Techniques to recommend products naturally within a conversation
Taking orders in-app: Practical workflows for capturing order details and sending secure payment links
Efficiency hacks: How to use catalogues, quick replies and templates to manage 10 times the enquiries in half the time
Trust and personalisation: Delivering concierge-level service that builds lifelong loyalty

Responding to Tender Policy Requirements - Power of Procurement
2026-03-18 13:30 - 15:00
Public sector procurement in Scotland is guided by several policy requirements that were put in place so that organisations, operations, and procurement exercises achieve specific, desirable outcomes. So, what does that mean for suppliers?
During this training, you will get an overview of the most common policy requirements including Sustainability, Community Benefits, Fair Work Practices, Community Wealth Building and Net Zero targets. These topics are extremely important to buyers; so much so that the public sector expects businesses of all sizes to demonstrate how they are meeting these policy requirements in tender documents.
Please note: Even though a buyer may not specifically ask suppliers to provide evidence of how the business is meeting policy requirements, it is still expected to be included within a bid.
Policies can be daunting, but help is at hand for Scottish SMEs, supported businesses and third sector organisations through the Supplier Development Programme.
Join this webinar to become ‘tender ready’ and find out how you can provide the most up-to-date policies on your bids. You will also get advice on how to record and evidence what your business is doing to meet these requirements. By successfully providing evidence on how you are implementing policy requirements, you can improve how high your bid scores go and also stand out from competitors to buyers.
You will learn:

How to put the theory of the public sector’s common policy requirements into practical terms.
What sustainability is, as well as examples of what sustainability could mean for your business.
What Community Benefits are, and ideas for and examples of Community Benefits you could implement into your business.
What Net Zero is and how you can work towards meeting your Net Zero targets.
What Fair Work First is, what it involves, and tools available to help you implement the five aspects of Fair Work into your business such as the Living Wage and other practical steps.
How to record and evidence these key common policies into your bids.

You won’t just come away from this training course with good ideas: you will learn how to turn those ideas into a workable plan of action your business can use to get ‘tender ready’ for your next bid.
At the end of the session, there will be an interactive Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask SDP’s expert trainers any questions you may have and hear what other SME businesses in Scotland are asking, too.
This event is suitable for Level 2 (Intermediate), for businesses which understand bidding concepts but need to develop and refine specific knowledge and skills.

Future-Proofing Your Business: Next Steps and Practical Tools
2026-03-18 14:00 - 15:00
Final webinar in the megatrends series brings together the key themes from across the programme & focuses on what your business can do next.

This final session will concentrate on practical tools and techniques that you can use to anticipate future change, test strategic options and respond with confidence in an uncertain environment.
It will also feature the ACS Group’s business growth journey, exploring how they have proactively responded to emerging trends and opportunities in their market.
This free session will:

Introduce practical futures tools and techniques used by leading organisations
Help you turn insight into action
Explore real world examples of transformative change
Support longer-term strategic thinking and resilience

The webinar will be introduced by Ewan Mearns of Scottish Enterprise.
The webinar will be led by Alister Wilson of Waverley Management Consultants and author of the UK Government’s Futures toolkit. Alister will discuss practical approaches to futures thinking.
This session is ideal if you’re looking to prepare your organisation for future change, including:

Those responsible for strategy, innovation or long-term planning
Anyone looking for practical ways to prepare their organisation for future change

Social media essentials: Facebook
2026-03-18 14:00 - 16:00
Get to grips with Facebook – the world’s most popular social networking platform.
In this webinar you will:

Learn how to get the most out of Facebook and how it could fit into your business’s digital marketing strategy
Better understand the algorithm behind Facebook, and how to create great content that achieves a bigger reach and impact
Learn from the stats and data you can get from the system and discover who your most interested customers/clients are
Understand the power of Facebook advertising, and other selling options available to you
Discover other business opportunities presented by Facebook, including how to promote and sell products and services
Be introduced to ‘Business Suite’ – a free Facebook dashboard to manage all your business activity

Soil Health: Beyond NPK
2026-03-18 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for an exploration into a biologically active soil; truly going beyond the usual NPK analysis.
Regular soil analysis, including soil organic matter (SOM) is now a requirement for all farmers and crofters receiving Basic Payments.
Join us for an insightful and interactive session!
FREE and open to farmers, crofters, growers and land managers. Booking required.

How to write funding applications
2026-03-19 10:30 - 12:30
Securing funding can be a game-changer — but writing a strong application takes more than just filling out forms.
This webinar will offer tools and insights to help improve your chances of a successful application, including:

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

Employee vs contractor: Avoiding costly mistakes
2026-03-19 11:00 - 12:00
Hiring in any business moves quickly, but misclassifying workers can create serious legal and financial exposure.
In this session, LegalVision’s Comfort Nkang, Practice Leader, will explain how employment status is assessed across common business settings.
The webinar will cover typical role classifications, key legal obligations, and practical steps businesses can take to reduce risk.
Key takeaways from this session:

How the legal test for employment status applies in practice
Key rights and obligations for employees and contractors
Practical steps to reduce misclassification risk and liability

Understanding the Procurement Act
2026-03-19 12:00 - 13:30
Are you an SME looking to understand the changes to public procurement and contracting brought about by the Procurement Act 2023?
Want to know what you need to be aware of when contracting with public sector under the new rules? Well, this event organised by Deloitte will address all of it.
Why attend? You’ll gain valuable insights and guidance on the Procurement Act 2023, helping you to navigate the evolving landscape of public sector procurement.

Understand the background and aims of the Procurement Act 2023 and the key changes it introduces.
Discover the implications of these changes for you as an SME and how they affect how you engage with public procurement processes.
Learn about the new approaches to transparency and how public sector opportunities will be advertised, helping you identify relevant contracts more effectively.
Get insights into the future landscape of public procurement, including themes for SMEs emerging from the 2025 government consultation.

Who should attend? This webinar is aimed at SMEs that provide goods or services to the public sector and are:

interested in understanding the new Procurement Act 2023 and its impact to public procurement
processes that they need to engage with
looking to adapt their strategies or processes to align with the new regulations
keen to continue identifying and understanding public sector contracts under the updated rules
seeking to enhance their knowledge about how public procurement opportunities are published

Don’t miss this opportunity to better understand how to work with public procurement rules and processes.

Market Research Made Simple
2026-03-19 18:00 - 19:30
Are you feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start you’re your market research? Not sure how to stand out in a competitive market?
Market research doesn’t need to be complicated. This workshop will give you the tools, structure and confidence to understand your target market, analyse competitors and spot real opportunities so you can make smarter business decisions and grow with clarity.
You will learn:

What market research is and why it matters
The difference between primary and secondary research
How to clearly profile your target customer
How to analyse competitors meaningfully
How to identify trends, gaps and opportunities
How to turn research into practical business decisions

Book your place now and leave knowing exactly how to gather useful insights and turn them into confident next steps.

InspireHER: Practicalities of business planning and money
2026-03-19 19:00 - 20:00
We understand the practical side of business can be daunting. Especially when it comes to money.
Together, we’ll break this down starting in a way that feels manageable; from shaping a simple viable offer to understanding how money mindset and money mechanics work together.
You’ll explore how to build something that supports your energy, fits into real life (starting with just two hours a week), so it feels steady rather than overwhelming.
Participants who attend all 4 sessions in the series will have the opportunity to apply for a two hour 1:1 coaching session with Nic. More details on how to apply will be shared once all 4 sessions are completed

Nailing your pitch to investors | Lunch and Learn
2026-03-20 12:00 - 12:30
Most entrepreneurs have a brilliant business but a boring pitch.
If you have 60 seconds to impress an investor, a client or a potential partner, are you ready?
At Articulate Digital Business, we strip away the “corporate-speak”. We help you build a pitch that’s authentic, backed by data and, most importantly, memorable.
This isn’t a lecture – it’s a high-impact builder session where you’ll leave with a ready-to-use deck and the confidence to deliver it.
Topics covered in this session:

The “hook” framework: How to grab attention in the first 10 seconds
The narrative arc: Turning your business data into a compelling story that investors crave
The financial slide: How to present your numbers (even the early ones) with authority
Body language and delivery: Mastering the “soft skills” that project executive presence
The “live fire” round: Real-time feedback in a supportive, high-energy environment

Your Social Value is Your Business Superpower
2026-03-23 10:00 - 11:00
Your Social Value is Your Business Superpower is a practical masterclass designed to help SMEs and CICs recognise, articulate, and leverage the social value they already create, turning purpose, impact, and community connection into a clear competitive advantage for growth, funding, and contracts.

Meet the Advisor - Marketing Surgery
2026-03-23 10:00 - 16:00 | Business Gateway Arbroath, Unit 9 Harbour Visitor Centre, Arbroath, DD11 1PS
Whether you’d like to discuss market research, marketing strategy or would even just like an impartial review of your website or social media page, this is an opportunity to book a one to one appoint over Zoom with our marketing specialist, Stuart Milne.
After you have booked your space, a member of our team will reach out to arrange a time for your 1-2-1 appointment, these appointments can happen in person or via Zoom.
These appointments are for businesses based in Dundee, Angus or Perth.

Managing neurodivergent individuals in the workplace | Lunch and Learn
2026-03-23 12:00 - 12:30
One in seven people are now estimated to have a neurodivergent condition, such as dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder.
Neurodivergent people can bring valuable strengths, ranging from deep focus and analytical thinking to creativity and innovation.
Without the right understanding and support, however, they may struggle within narrow definitions of “typical” performance and communication, leading to challenges which may affect them in the workplace.
By putting in place practical measures to recognise and support your neurodiverse talent, you can unlock your workforce’s full potential, increasing engagement, productivity and overall performance.
Topics covered in this session:

Recognising and understanding neurodiversity traits
Practical adjustments that allow neurodiverse people to thrive
Steps you can take to build a more inclusive and high-performing workforce

Unlocking Growth: Going Global
2026-03-23 14:00 - 15:00
Join Scottish Enterprise’s virtual export event on 10 March 2026 to celebrate International Women’s Day with ambitious female entrepreneurs.
Want to learn from ambitious growth-minding female entrepreneurs on their international growth journey? And how they started out to trade in multiple global markets?
During the event, you’ll hear how global opportunities have helped drive and unlock growth, where they succeeded, the pitfalls they have encountered, and challenges they have faced specifically as female entrepreneurs, lessons learnt and what’s next for their company’s plans to scale up.
Please join us for this unique opportunity to hear from this exciting panel on their exporting journey.

Build It Right From the Start: The MOTION Framework for Sustainable Business Growth
2026-03-23 16:00 - 17:00
The first few years of running a business can feel like you’re making it up as you go … and most people are. In this practical, straight-talking Masterclass, Tracy will share the framework she wishes she’d had when she started out.
The MOTION Framework gives business owners a clear, simple roadmap across six key areas — Mindset, Objectives, Trust, Influence, Operations, and Nurture, so you can build solid foundations now instead of firefighting them later.
Getting these six things right early means you spend less time working in chaos and more time building something that actually grows. If you’re in the first couple of years of your business and you want to set yourself up for profit, sustainability, and eventual freedom, without burning out to get there, this session will give you a clear picture of what to focus on and why.

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 2: Off page optimisation & technical considerations
2026-03-24 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

Business Brainstorming & The Year Ahead
2026-03-24 10:00 - 12:00 | The Montrose Playhouse, The Mall, Montrose, DD10 8NN
Be part of a collaborative event where Angus business owners come together to network and brainstorm! This is your chance to engage in open discussions about the challenges and barriers your business is facing. Share your insights and discover what support you need to thrive.
We’ll explore how we can broaden our support, to make sure we are effectively addressing the region’s needs and better supporting your growth. This event is all about collaboration, innovation, and finding solutions together.
Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with fellow entrepreneurs, exchange ideas, and shape the future of our local business community. Let’s tackle these issues head-on and pave the way for success.

Scope Busting: Getting to Grips with Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions
2026-03-24 11:00 - 12:00
Confused about what we mean when we discuss scopes 1, 2 and 3? Join this webinar to find out how to reduce your carbon.
This Scottish Business Climate Collaboration Webinar will introduce the concept of scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions and outline the differences between the scopes.
This is aimed at organisations who are starting to look at their carbon reporting and want an introduction to the different types of emissions that contribute to an organisation’s carbon footprint.
Join this session to find out:

What we mean by scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions
What the difference is between the three scopes
How your organisation can start thinking about reducing and reporting your own carbon emissions and how reporting works across a supply chain.

Protecting your ideas, content and brand in the digital age
2026-03-24 11:00 - 12:00
Protecting intellectual property is essential for digital businesses creating content, software or online platforms.
In this session, LegalVision’s Sahil Verma, Practice Leader, will explain how to safeguard creative and brand assets, avoid common IP mistakes and manage ownership risks.
The webinar will also explore emerging challenges such as AI-generated content and how to protect your ideas in the digital age.
Key takeaways from this session:

The key IP rights relevant to digital businesses
Practical ways to protect content, software and brand assets
How to manage ownership and risk with AI-generated content

InspireHER: Overcoming obstacles
2026-03-24 12:00 - 13:00
Most woman who consider starting a business will encounter doubts. Usually it looks like self-doubt, imposter syndrome, perfectionism etc.
This session will reframe these obstacles not as signs to stop, but as part of the path forward. We’ll explore how your thoughts shape behaviour, why visibility can feel threatening, and how to regulate your nervous system when fear shows up.
You’ll leave with practical tools to reframe inner barriers, take imperfect action, and build resilience from the inside out.
Participants who attend all 4 sessions in the series will have the opportunity to apply for a two hour 1:1 coaching session with Nic. More details on how to apply will be shared once all 4 sessions are completed.

Supply Connect: Demonstrating social value
2026-03-24 13:00 - 14:00
Discover how to unlock your business’s potential for positive change.
This introductory webinar led by Jill Poet will help you understand what social value really means, set out some practical strategies you can apply to boost your own social impact and how to demonstrate it in tender applications.
It doesn’t matter if you’re only beginning to explore social responsibility or looking to strengthen your existing efforts. This session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to make a meaningful difference while benefiting your bottom line.
Topics covered in this session:

What social impact is and why it matters for your business
Practical approaches to building and strengthening your social value
How enhanced social value can open up new business opportunities and drive growth

How to Get Your Business Found on Google and AI Search (ChatGPT, Gemini & Beyond)
2026-03-24 13:00 - 14:00
Search is changing fast. Customers are no longer relying only on Google; they’re also asking AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity for recommendations, comparisons, and buying advice.
In this practical masterclass, you’ll learn how modern search really works today and what small businesses need to do to stay visible across both traditional search engines and AI-powered search results.
This session is designed for small business owners, founders, and marketers who want clarity, not hype, and a clear roadmap to stay competitive in the new search landscape.
This session is sponsored by BT Group.

Embedding public partnerships in MRC funding applications
2026-03-24 14:00 - 15:00
Medical Research Council (MRC) is encouraging its research community to consider how public partnerships can inform and improve research and be of mutual benefit.
By public partnerships we mean all the different ways that people and the research community can come together to shape and share scientific research.
Agenda:

why public partnerships matter
the difference public partners can make
when and how to include public partnerships: including considering opportunities throughout the research cycle and guidance on integrating public partnerships into research applications
questions to the panel

When registering for the webinar you can submit advance questions for the panel and you can use the question and answer functionality at the webinar.

Using Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) – How to Find and Bid for Opportunities
2026-03-24 14:00 - 15:30
Public Contracts Scotland is the national public sector tender portal for Scotland. It lists contract opportunities for all public sector bodies and has a “Quick Quote” function for lower value contracts. This webinar will help you to ensure that you’re not only comfortable using the PCS website but also know how to generate business from it.
This event is suitable for Level 1 (Beginners). This workshop is the first step to tendering for new or inexperienced bidders.
During this course, you will learn:

What is Public Contracts Scotland (PCS)?
How do I set myself up on PCS?
What functions do I need to use on PCS?
What is PCS-Tender (PCS-T)?
What is a Quick Quote?
How does e-invoicing work?

How to start a business: The basics
2026-03-24 18:00 - 20:00
Whatever your reasons may be for considering being your own boss, we are here to support you and help you decide if this is the right path for you.
We will cover:

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

How to make your business neurodivergent-friendly
2026-03-25 08:00 - 10:00 | Arbroath Football Club, Gayfield Park, Arbroath, DD11 1QJ
Creating an inclusive business isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a smart, forward-thinking strategy.
This workshop introduces the steps businesses can take to become more neurodivergent-friendly, both for their team and their customers. You’ll gain a clear understanding of neurodivergence, why inclusion matters commercially as well as ethically, and how simple, realistic adjustments can make a powerful difference.
The session is presented by James Cleves, founder of CleverVA, a virtual assistant agency supporting neurodivergent and disabled professionals. Drawing on lived experience and real-world business insight, James combines personal story with practical advice.
What we’ll cover:
• What neurodivergence really means and why it matters
• Why being ND‑inclusive benefits your business
• How accessible your business is today
• Ways to improve accessibility for your customers
• Effective accommodations and support options for your team
Book your place now and learn how to build an inclusive culture that strengthens your team and makes your business more accessible for every customer.

Bookkeeping essentials
2026-03-25 10:00 - 12:00
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.

Five essential contracts every business owner needs | Lunch and Learn
2026-03-25 12:00 - 12:30
Contracts are the backbone of any successful business, but most founders don’t know which ones they actually need, or when.
In this session, Patricia Wing cuts through the complexity and walks you through the five essential contracts every business owner should have in place, from day one to scaling up.
Whether you’re just starting out or growing fast, this practical session will help you protect your business, your people, and your future – without the legal jargon.
Topics covered in this session:

Knowing which contracts matter most: The five contracts that form the legal foundation of your business and why missing even one could leave you exposed.
Getting protected from day one: Which contracts to prioritise when you’re just starting out – before problems arise and before they become expensive to fix.
Growing with confidence: How your contract needs evolve as your business scales, so you’re always one step ahead legally at every stage of growth.
