Invest in Angus

Your Business MOT - Drop-In Sessions
2026-02-23 10:00 - 15:00 UTC | 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.

Bookkeeping essentials
2026-02-24 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.

How to turn leads into clients | Lunch and Learn
2026-02-24 12:00 - 12:30
Most sales are won in the follow-up, yet it’s often the step that gets missed.
In this practical Lunch and Learn session, sales expert Leisa Pickles will walk you through a simple seven-step framework to help you stay organised, build stronger relationships and convert more leads into paying clients.
You’ll discover what makes follow-up effective, how to adapt your approach for different types of leads and which tools and templates can save you time.
Perfect for small business owners who want a structured, confidence-boosting approach to follow-up that actually works!
Topics covered in this session:

What makes follow-up effective
A practical seven-step follow-up framework
How to tailor your outreach for different lead types
Ways to improve your conversion rates
Simple tools and templates you can put in place
Analyse and optimise your follow-up process

Ditching the spreadsheet: When and how to switch to cloud accounting
2026-02-24 14:00 - 15:00
Still managing your accounts in spreadsheets? It’s worth knowing that as your business grows, manual bookkeeping can quickly become time-consuming, error-prone and stressful.
Join this free Tech Hub webinar to discover when it’s time to move on from manual processes and how cloud accounting can transform the way you manage your finances.
We’ll explore practical ways to simplify your admin, stay compliant and reduce manual work – all while gaining better visibility and control over your business performance.
What you’ll learn:

Recognising the signs: How to tell when spreadsheets are holding your business back
Making the switch: What to look for in cloud accounting software and how to get started smoothly
Simplifying financial admin: Tips to manage digital records efficiently and cut down on repetitive tasks
The future of finance: Discover Sage Copilot, an AI-powered tool designed to streamline workflows and support smarter, faster decision-making

Whether you’re a sole trader, a small business owner or an accountant supporting clients, this session will help you take the next step towards a simpler, smarter way to manage your finances.

How to start a business: The basics
2026-02-24 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

Where trees meet bees: Agroforestry for pollinators
2026-02-24 19:00 - 20:00
Join this free Soil Association webinar exploring the potential of agroforestry as a pollinator friendly farming practice.

Environmental science community webinar: UKRI investment approach
2026-02-25 09:00 - 10:00
Following the spending review, which provided a record four-year settlement, UK Research and Innovation is changing the way some of its investment is directed. This is to align with national priorities and contribute to economic growth across the UK.
The webinar is an opportunity for the environmental science community to hear from NERC leadership about what these changes mean. Professor Louise Heathwaite, NERC Executive Chair, will provide an overview. This will be followed by a question and answer panel featuring Rupert Lewis (Deputy Executive Chair, NERC) and Kate Hamer (Director of Strategy and Performance, NERC).

Business expenses – What can I claim?
2026-02-25 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar focuses on the main areas of spend that many businesses might incur, and provides a detailed and HMRC backed overview of what can and should be claimed.
This webinar will cover:

What constitutes a business expense
The HMRC rules around business expenses
What you can claim and more importantly what you cannot when submitting an accurate tax return
The main expenses that are claimable, what can be claimed and how they should be calculated

Heat Seminar 2026
2026-02-25 12:00 - 16:00 | Scottish Renewables’ Office, 24 St Vincent Place, Glasgow, G1 2EU
A quiet revolution is reshaping Scotland’s energy future: the shift from a market-led energy system to one that is strategically planned. Post-2030, the electrification of heat and transport will be pivotal in transforming the electricity system. But despite ongoing developments with strategic planning and transmission networks, decarbonising heat remains the missing piece of the puzzle.
There is an urgent need to address the lack of strategic planning for low-carbon heat, resolve the growing disparity between gas and electricity prices and determine what’s needed from government to enable the large-scale adoption of low-carbon heat – all critical steps in building a secure, affordable, clean energy system.
This event will bring together leading experts, policymakers and key decision-makers to examine the role of heat in an electrified system, tackle the difficult questions and discuss the urgent policy interventions needed to significantly increase the deployment of low-carbon heat.
Secure your place today and be part of the conversation that will shape the next decade of heat decarbonisation.

A whole farm approach to system change: Going organic
2026-02-25 12:30 - 14:00
Join us for a practical look at how one farm approached the organic conversion process and what support is available.
Rachel Ives transitioned her farm five years ago from an intensive arable system to organic livestock and rotational grazing.
Hear how reducing inputs has helped soil health and nature thrive, and how moving to a holistic system has reduced the need for livestock treatment.
If you are interested in organic conversion or curious about how organic principles could be implemented on your farm to reduce inputs and help nature thrive, join us for a practical look at how one farm approached the conversion process and what support is available.
FREE and open to farmers, crofters, growers and land managers.

How to Write Outstanding Tenders - The Invitation to Tender (ITT) Stage
2026-02-25 13:30 - 15:00
Understanding what a buyer is looking for and creating a response to show how you are the best candidate for the job can be tricky.
At this training, you will learn what skills are needed for your business to write a good tender response and stand out from your competitors. One of SDP’s expert trainers will also explain how to analyse the tender documents and how to find hidden clues in the tender documents to help you develop a well-round response.
Overview of what you will learn:

What work can be done pre-tender to make the process of creating a bid less stressful?
How can use Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) and Public Contracts Scotland-Tender (PCS-T) to submit tenders?
What work needs to go into preparing for the ITT before the tender documents are released.
Which skills do you need to have in your bid team to write winning bids?
What good looks like in a bid response

At the end of the session, there will be an interactive Q&A session where you will have the opportunity to ask any burning questions you may have. As well as have the chance to hear what other SME businesses in Scotland have to say.
This event is suitable for Level 2 (Intermediate), for people who know about bidding but need to develop specific knowledge and skills.

The Race to Security
2026-02-25 14:00 - 15:00
Learn what you need to do to boost your cyber resilience from EY Cyber Security Practice Leader Rick Hemsley.
Understand the global megatrends shaping Scotland’s future economy and hear from industry and Scottish Enterprise experts on the actions you can take to help future proof your business.
It’s never been more important to ensure your cyber security measures are strong enough to protect your organisation. Led by EY Cyber Security Practice Leader, Rick Hemsley, this webinar will focus on what you need to do to boost your cyber resilience.
Global trends can often disrupt markets and destroy business models. But they can also quickly open up new opportunities for adaptive countries and companies.
This webinar series focuses on how businesses can anticipate future change and take action to grasp new opportunities and become more resilient in the face of business risks.
This webinar will focus on the ‘race for security’, where geopolitical tensions, cyber threats and resource scarcity are leading to growing economic nationalism and fundamental shifts in global trade takes place.

How to strengthen online security and protect your business in 2026
2026-02-26 12:00 - 13:00
Small businesses across Scotland are increasingly targeted by cyber criminals, often facing phishing scams, ransomware, data breaches, and online fraud. With limited time, budgets, and in-house expertise, the impact of an attack can be serious – but there are practical steps that can make a real difference.
This panel discussion will explore the most common cyber threats facing small businesses today and share clear, cost-effective actions owners and teams can take away. Our experts will focus on building strong cyber hygiene, helping staff spot and avoid scams, and understanding whether your systems and suppliers are secure enough.
You’ll also hear what to do if the worst happens, learn about affordable tools and trusted resources that can help strengthen your digital defences, and gain practical insight into preparing your business for the years ahead.

Biochar: Taking commercial British apple production to Net Zero
2026-02-26 13:00 - 14:00
Find out more about Biochar as a solution to ‘end of orchard life’ wood and understand why LCA shines a light on packaging materials.
Commercial apple is a low emission crop but there are challenges at end of orchard life and in terms of the lifecycle carbon analysis (LCA) of the crop production. This Innovate UK funded project considered these and other challenges with actionable results for all growers.
Learn more about Biochar as a solution to end of orchard life wood and understand why the LCA shines a light on packaging materials.

Make the Most of the Scottish Thistle Awards
2026-02-26 14:00 - 14:30
Join us just before entries open for the 2026 Scottish Thistle Awards and discover what makes these awards different from any other in the industry.
Learn how to showcase your excellence, what judges are really looking for, and how winning can bring real benefits to your business.

Training your own AI: How to build custom AI tools for daily tasks
2026-02-26 14:00 - 15:00
Today’s businesses are surrounded by AI tools, but many people are unsure how to use them in a practical, meaningful way.
Off-the-shelf AI agents like Microsoft Copilot, Gemini and Claude can dramatically improve productivity, efficiency and creativity when they’re set up with the right use cases, prompts and guidance.
Join this free Tech Hub webinar to explore how your small business can configure AI assistants to support its everyday work, without needing technical skills or complex systems.
You’ll hear about common small business scenarios and how you can tailor popular AI tools to your workflows, tone of voice and goals, from handling customer questions to supporting marketing, planning and admin tasks.
This session focuses on real world examples and clear explanations, helping you understand what’s possible today and how to apply it responsibly in your own business.
What you’ll learn

What AI agents can and can’t do: Setting realistic expectations for off-the-shelf tools
High-impact use cases: Practical examples for productivity, efficiency and creativity
Configuring your AI assistant: How to guide tools like Copilot, Gemini and Claude to work for you
Prompting and guardrails: Teaching AI your context, tone and boundaries
Using AI responsibly: Accuracy, privacy and human oversight

Social media essentials: LinkedIn
2026-02-26 14:00 - 16:00
No longer just an online CV, LinkedIn can be an incredibly powerful – and profitable – business tool.
During this webinar, you will:

Learn how to create a LinkedIn strategy to boost your business reputation via marketing and brand promotion initiatives
Learn the difference between personal and company profiles and how to optimise them for both maximum visibility and brand awareness
Understand that content is king on LinkedIn, and we’ll show you how to plan and produce captivating content that enriches your brand

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2026-02-27 10:00 - 12:00
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

Turn Every Customer Visit into a 5-Star Review
2026-02-27 10:00 - 15:30 | The Stag, 140-144 Castle Street, Forfar, DD8 3HX
Great customer service is essential for any business. Whether you’re in tourism, hospitality, retail, leisure or professional services, how customers feel at each stage of their journey directly affects loyalty, reputation and repeat business. And with online reviews shaping decisions more than ever, consistent and confident service is vital.
This workshop is for Angus businesses that work directly with customers, clients or visitors. We’ll cover first impressions, why customers return, how to build a consistent customer journey, the role of social media, how to handle complaints and negative feedback, and the core skills needed to deliver excellent service every time.
What we’ll cover:

Nailing First Impressions
Why Customers Return
Customer Needs vs Expectations
Designing a Smooth Customer Journey
The Power of Social Media
Handling Complaints and Reviews
Skills for Excellent Customer Service

Ideal if you want to improve customer interactions, turn reviews into opportunities and build a more consistent service approach.

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 2: Off page optimisation & technical considerations
2026-02-27 14:00 - 16:00
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

Google Analytics – Understand how your website performs
2026-03-02 14:00 - 16:00
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.

Floating Offshore Wind Conference 2026
2026-03-03 09:00 - 17:00 | One America Square, London, EC3N 2LB
The Floating Offshore Wind Conference: Technical Advances & Commercial Success is back by popular demand with critical updates in 2026.
Collaborate with key players such as developers, regulators, policymakers, engineers, technical leaders, supply chain officers, stakeholder managers, investors, insurers, consenters and more as they share unmissable insights from the front line on technological advancements to scale-up the floating wind industry.
Compare notes and gain practical takeaways from both structured and unstructured networking, plus join us the night before or after the conference at our informal get-together.

Tay Country Tourism Conference
2026-03-03 09:30 - 15:00 | Apex City Quay Hotel, 1 West Victoria Dock Road, Dundee, DD1 3JP
Join tourism and hospitality professionals from across Tayside and Fife for the Tay Country Tourism Conference 2026 taking place on Tuesday 3 March at the Apex City Quay Hotel in Dundee.
This is a key event designed to inspire collaboration, share insights, and drive sustainable growth across our regional tourism industry.
Programme:
08:30 Registration & Refreshments
09:30 Welcome: Caroline Warburton, Destination Development Director, VisitScotland and Alistair Heather, host for the day
09:45 ‘Capitalising on the Transformation Economy – Scotland’s Competitive Advantage’ Vicki Miller, CEO, VisitScotland
10:00 ‘The Visitor Economy – the Icelandic Way’. Jóhannes Þór Skúlason, Managing Director, Icelandic Travel Industry Association
10:25 In Conversation with Vicki Miller and Jóhannes Þór Skúlason – Alistair Heather
10:45 Short presentations from businesses across the region
11:10 Networking & Refreshments
11:30 Short presentations from businesses across the region – continued
12:30 Lunch
13:30 ‘Scotland’s Theatre in the Hills’. Dougie Cameron, Interim CEO, Pitlochry Festival Theatre
13:45 ‘Preparing your tourism business for the age of AI’. Sam Weston, Head of AI & Marketing, 80 Days
14:15 ‘Inclusive Tourism: A Lived Experience Perspective’. Carrie-Ann Lightley, Writer, Speaker and Content Creator
14:40 Final Speaker to be announced
14:50 Closing Remarks
15:00 Conference Close
You’ll also hear from innovative local businesses making a meaningful impact and enjoy valuable networking opportunities to connect with peers from across the region.
Whether you’re new to the tourism sector or an established operator, this is your chance to connect, learn, and shape the future of Tay Country tourism.

Meet the Buyer Tayside 2026
2026-03-03 10:00 - 14:00 | Michelin Innovation Parc, Baldovie Road, Dundee, DD4 8UQ
Don’t miss the annual Meet the Buyer Tayside event, on Tuesday 3 March 2026 (10am – 2pm) at the Innovation Hub at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, Dundee.
Dundee City Council and the Supplier Development Programme, invite local businesses of all sizes to this free, in-person event, which will take place at the Innovation Hub at Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc, in Dundee.
This Meet the Buyer event will provide suppliers with an opportunity to hear about upcoming contract, supply chain and sub-contracting opportunities across the Tayside region, from public and private sectors buyers.
Attendees will also have the chance to learn about the business support available, to help them expand their skills, grow their business and improve their chances of winning work.
Confirmed exhibitors include:

Dundee City Council
Angus Council
Fife Council
Perth and Kinross Council
Procurement for Housing (PfH)
Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA)
Supplier Development Programme

All suppliers are welcome, please register your place in advance.

Scottish Food & Drink Ambassadors – Open Hour Info Session
2026-03-03 12:30 - 13:30
An informal online session for current Ambassadors and anyone curious about getting involved.
Who this session is for

You’re a current Scottish Food & Drink Ambassador and would like a refresher or a chance to reconnect
You’ve recently registered as a Scottish Food & Drink ambassador and are unsure what to do next
If you’re curious about volunteering as a Scottish Food & Drink Ambassador and would like to learn more before deciding

What the session will cover

An introduction to the STEM Ambassador programme and the role of Scottish Food & Drink Ambassadors in inspiring young people
An overview of how the programme works in Scotland and how we support you to get involved
A practical walkthrough of the STEM Learning platform, including how to get started, find opportunities and record your activity

What you will take away

A clear understanding of how the Scottish Food & Drink Ambassadors programme works
Confidence to get started or feel reconnected as an Ambassador
Practical know-how on using the new STEM Learning platform
Clarity on where to find opportunities and how to record your activity
Answers to your questions from the team supporting the programme

Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The Net Zero Summit
2026-03-04 09:00 - 2026-03-05 16:00 | QEII Centre, Westminster, London, SW1P 3EE
On 4-5 March 2026, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The Net Zero Summit returns to the QEII Centre, London, co-located with Sustainability LIVE: The Net Zero Summit. This major two-day conference and expo brings together senior procurement and supply chain leaders to tackle today’s biggest challenges: supply chain resilience, cost efficiency, risk mitigation, and long-term value creation.
With 1,000+ in-person attendees across both events, it delivers practical strategies, peer-led insights, and high-value connections to support smarter, more sustainable operations.
Featuring more than 50 expert speakers, 10 focused content tracks, and 4 executive workshops, the agenda is tailored for decision-makers leading transformation across global supply networks. Whether your focus is reducing supplier risk, improving operational agility, or building a more responsive and future-ready supply chain, this is where strategy turns into execution.

Making Tax Digital Explained: Businesses With Over £50k Turnover
2026-03-04 10:00 - 11:30
Whether you’re a sole trader, landlord, or small business owner, this friendly, no-nonsense session will get you up to speed.
If your combined income from self-employment and property is £50,000 or more, you’ll be required to follow the new rules from April 2026. We’ll cut through the confusion, explain what’s changing, and show you how to stay compliant without the stress.
This session will be presented by Rebecca Mackellar from Red Tag Bookkeeping and Training Service..
By the end of the session, you’ll be able to:

Understand who MTD for Income Tax Self Assessment applies to and when it starts
Know exactly what you’ll need to submit to HMRC – and how often
See how cloud accounting can save time and make things easier
Get tips on choosing the right digital tools for your business
Feel confident about taking your next steps toward compliance

This session is a must to small businesses that meet this level of turnover – so please do come along to find out more.

Delivering profit to drive growth
2026-03-04 10:00 - 12:00
The course covers financial analysis, strategic decision-making, resource allocation, and the role of innovation and scalability in leveraging profit for long-term success.
We will cover:

Getting to know your financials
Controlling growth
Improving decision making
Opportunities
Cash is king
Controlling change
Pricing strategies for maximum profit
Measuring profit

Why your business needs a blog
2026-03-04 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

SCOTO Gathering 2026
2026-03-05 09:00 - 2026-03-06 17:00
For SCOTO’s fourth annual Gathering, we’re excited to be heading to a city location for the very first time! This year, the SCOTO Gathering will take place at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, just a short walk from Queen Street Station.
An inspiring programme is coming together, and we can’t wait to welcome both familiar faces and new networkers to join us in Glasgow. With support from Scottish Community Alliance, Glasgow Life and the Glasgow Convention Bureau, the event will showcase an inspiring range of community-led tourism initiatives from across Glasgow.
While previous Gatherings encouraged the sector to pause, reflect and reimagine, 2026 is about taking confident, coordinated steps forward.
Communities across Scotland are already leading the way in Europe – revitalising local places, building regenerative visitor experiences and demonstrating how tourism can be a force for good in local communities. What is needed now is a shared direction: a framework rooted in your experience but aligned with national ambitions.
The 2026 Gathering will bring together community organisations, social enterprises, policy leaders and partners across the tourism sector to explore how we move from ideas to developing a blue print for wider change.
