Scottish Tourism Month: The Signature Conference
2026-03-10 09:00 - 16:00 UTC | Edinburgh International Conference Centre, 150 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EE
The flagship event of Scottish Tourism Month returns for 2026.
As always, the event will bring together leading voices and experts from a broad range of sectors for a day packed with speaker presentations, panel sessions and plenty of opportunities to network with all those connected to the industry.
Whether you’re a business owner or manager, supplier, or aspiring leader, this is an unmissable event, with attendees given access to the latest insights, trends and forecasts for travel and hospitality, the economy, and policy.
As always, this event will feature our popular exhibitor hall, with the chance to meet and make connections with trusted suppliers and supporters of the industry.

How to improve your Google search rankings - Part 1: On page optimisation
2026-03-10 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

Agritourism: Human Resource Masterclass
2026-03-10 10:00 - 16:00 | Cairns Farm Estate, Kirknewton, EH27 8DH
A human resources masterclass, come along and have all your HR questions answered.
We will also be focusing on how you best match your staff team to daily demand and stand down staff if demand is low.
Sophie Henderson from Greenburn HR will be joining us.
Thank you to Satellite Monitor Farmers, Caroline and Graham Hamilton for being our host.

How to create engaging content
2026-03-10 14:00 - 16:00
Producing quality content is an excellent way of helping your customers develop a meaningful relationship with your brand, services and products. In this webinar we will show you how to source and develop a variety of content for your website and social channels.
This session is ideal for businesses that already have a business website or use social media and now want to take it a step further, and develop the skills to show your audience that you are a trusted operator in your field.
We will help you:

Understand what kind of content your customers are looking for
Source, write and deliver that content
Amplify your brand and message and boost engagement online

Improving Your Bid Score - Increase Your Tender Win Rate
2026-03-10 14:30 - 16:00
Getting the highest possible score in your bid is essential to winning a contract, but it can be difficult to know exactly what the buyer is looking for.

Every supplier putting in a bid will tell the buyer they can do what it wants them to do. To improve your bid score and win bids, you need to go beyond the basic requirements and explain how your business can add value to the contract. At this training, SDP’s expert trainer will give you top tips on how you can sell the benefits of your business and why these benefits should matter to the buyer.
What happens if you haven’t scored as high as you thought you were going to? This session also covers the importance of asking for feedback on all your bids, how to ask for feedback, and what to do if the buyer isn’t forthcoming with feedback.
Overview of what you will learn:

How to understand and find ‘Hot Button’ issues.
How to sell benefits, not features.
How to use the evaluation and award criteria to elevate your bid.
How to manage your bid effectively
How to learn from your previous bids.

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.

Discrimination Law Case Update
2026-03-11 09:30 - 10:30
Discrimination law continues to evolve at pace, and keeping up with employer responsibilities has never been more important – or more challenging. With the margin for error often narrow, even well‑intentioned organisations can find themselves exposed to risk.
Join Andrew Wallace and Jillian McLaughlan, where they will break down some of the most significant recent discrimination cases and explore what they mean in practical terms for employers. By highlighting the latest trends, key judgments, and common pitfalls, our employment law specialists will equip you with clear, actionable insights to help you navigate this complex area with confidence.

EU Export Masterclass
2026-03-11 09:30 - 2026-03-12 15:30 | Discovery Point, Riverside Drive, Dundee, DD1 4XA
In partnership with the Scotland Office, you are invited to a two-day masterclass focused on European export readiness, featuring insights from sector bodies and trade specialists.
These sessions combine practical guidance on customs, regulatory compliance, product standards, and procedural requirements with market intelligence. Day one, delivered with the UK Business Centre Lille, focuses on export readiness for Scottish companies. Day two, in partnership with the UK Export Academy, focuses on market access and finance and includes speakers from UK Export Finance.
Why you should attend:
– Participate in 1:1 sessions with trade experts selected by UK Business Centre Lille.
– Explore European export opportunities and troubleshoot potential issues.
– Gain specific sector insights on life sciences and manufacturing, with a focus on agri-tech.
– Network with industry experts and government officials.
Networking Reception:
A drinks reception will be held on Wednesday, 11th March at 5:30 PM, featuring a short address by our Chief Executive, Alison Henderson. Further details will follow.
Event Details:
– Date: Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th March 2026
– Time: Wednesday : 9:30 AM – 4:45 PM | Thursday: 9:30 AM – 3:15 PM
– Venue: RRS Discovery, Discovery Point, DD1 4XA
– Catering: Lunch, tea, and coffee will be provided.
Secure Your Spot:
Spaces are limited to two people per company.

Accounting for Limited Companies
2026-03-11 10:00 - 12:00
This webinar is designed to outline the key accounting and statutory reporting requirements for a limited company and explain the main differences between operating as a sole trader versus a limited company.
We’ll cover:

Advantanges and disadvantages of setting up as a limited company
Company set-up
Accounting requirements
Record keeping and employing staff
Paying directors and shareholders
Corporation Tax
VAT
Software
Management accounts
Incorporation

By the end of the webinar you should have a solid basis of deciding if a limited company is the correct structure for your business, and have an understanding of what is involved in accounting for a limited company.

Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Your Content Marketing
2026-03-11 10:00 - 12:00
During this learning session we’ll be looking at ways in which you can specifically use ChatGPT to assist you in your business.
You’ll discover how AI can identify specific needs, allowing you to create targeted content that speaks directly to your customer base, fostering strong connections and driving local business growth.
By the end of the session you’ll understand more about how AI can help you with some practical suggestions for your business. Plus we’ll cover some of the following:

Master creating custom content that wows your customers.

Stay ahead of the game by using AI for smart, focused marketing.

Get tips to make your business smoother and in turn potentially earn more.

How to maximise your time so you can work more efficiently.

This session will be delivered by GrowBiz Learning and Development Manager Alison Finlay and by Clair Smith Deputy CEO of GrowBiz. Both have a marketing background and will be able to demonstrate to you their experiences of using AI.

Accelerating delivery in high impact sectors
2026-03-11 12:00 - 13:00
Energy, transport and retrofit are the sectors where local authorities can make the biggest impact. Yet despite strong cases for action, delivery often faces familiar obstacles around capacity, coordination, financing, and the need for innovation in practice.
This webinar will focus on factors helping the Net Zero Living Programme places build confidence in and unlock local delivery.

An introduction to business strategy
2026-03-11 13:00 - 15:00
This webinar is practical, outcome driven, and designed to fit with the needs of small businesses in both B2C and B2B environments. It will help you develop a strategically led approach that can turbo charge business growth, identify the core growth strategy(ies) that are right for your business, and develop an action plan.
We will look at:

Your business today – identifying your strengths and areas for development
The key pillars of a business and why balancing all areas is essential for success
Personal and business ambitions and using these to guide strategy development
Ansoff’s Matrix as a tool for identifying core growth strategies
The core components of your business delivery
How to develop a methodical, strategic approach to developing your business for future success

After the webinar, you will understand:

How to undertake a balanced review of where your business is that helps identify areas for development
Ansoff’s Matrix and how to use it as a core strategic planning tool
How to create a strategic plan for growing your business

Branding & Pricing: Set Your Business Up For Growth
2026-03-11 13:00 - 18:00 | Forfar Community Campus, Kirriemuir Road, Forfar, DD8 3TG
Our Branding & Pricing workshop is great for business owners who want to build a strong foundation for their business. In this session our experts will guide you through creating a clear Branding Framework and an aligned Pricing Strategy Blueprint. By the end, you’ll have a personalised plan to define your brand’s unique value and price it for profit and growth.
In a competitive market, your brand isn’t just a logo; it’s a promise. And your pricing isn’t just a number; it’s a key part of your brand. This workshop brings these two essential elements together, ensuring they work in harmony.
You’ll work through a series of structured exercises to build a comprehensive blueprint for your business.
This workshop is highly interactive and provides a dedicated template that you’ll complete as you go, with plenty of time for group discussions, peer feedback, and one-on-one support.
What You’ll Learn

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

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

Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) Innovation Notices and Guidance
2026-03-11 14:00 - 15:00
Scotland has a vision of becoming one of the most innovative small nations in the world over the next decade. This is key to our efforts to transform the economy, improve our Public Services and drive lasting improvement in Scotland’s economic performance. Public procurement can play an important part enabling innovation in our public services. Scottish Government policy note SPPN 03/2023 (Supporting innovation through procurement) makes provision for new functionality on Public Contracts Scotland to improve our procurement processes and reporting for the purposes innovation. Staff from SPPN will provide an over view of the functionality and guidance relating to the Policy Note.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Scottish Government experts, as we discuss this recently added functionality to Public Contracts Scotland (PCS), which is the portal used by all Scottish Public Sector buyers to alert the market of ‘relevant calls for competition’. These new notice types are designed to help Scottish public sector to procure innovation more efficiently.
This short call by Scottish Government staff outlines those changes to PCS and guidance. Feel free to come along to the call and learn about the developments.

How to generate and increase sales
2026-03-12 13:00 - 15:00
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

Preparing for travel trade shows
2026-03-12 14:00 - 14:30
Join us to gain an overview of the travel trade show activity for 2026/27, available to Scottish tourism businesses looking to work with the travel trade.
This session will share practical guidance on how to prepare for attendance, including the knowledge you need and the collateral to take.

An introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) for small businesses
2026-03-12 14:00 - 16:00
You’ve heard of Artificial Intelligence, but do you know how it can help you as you run your business? This practical webinar will explore how AI can help improve your business marketing to be more efficient and cost-effective, through the automatic creation of content for all your digital platforms; as well as helping you better understand your customers and business opportunities.
This webinar will cover:

What is Artificial Intelligence
Current AI tools and systems to use right now (including ChatGPT and MidJourney)
Automating digital content for blogs and social media
Using AI for business strategy and customer profiling
The pros and cons of AI for small businesses

This webinar will help you understand how you can integrate AI into your existing marketing, looking at the potential consequences (good and bad) of Artificial Intelligence, and its impact on small businesses and their customers.

Social media essentials: Instagram
2026-03-12 18:00 - 20:00
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

Business expenses – What can I claim?
2026-03-13 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

Cut your Energy Costs & Carbon
2026-03-16 11:00 - 12:00
[Energy costs are one of the biggest financial challenges for small and medium enterprises leading to tighter margins. Find out from Business Energy Scotland how you can reduce your energy bill and take advantage of energy efficiency support measures available for Scottish businesses.
Cutting energy contributes to the overall Just Transition to meet Scotland’s target for Net Zero by 2045. Scotland’s new Draft Climate Change Plan to 2040 sets out requirements on businesses to cut emissions and adopt carbon plans, this webinar will cover how small and medium businesses can cut energy costs and emissions through:

switching to renewables through green energy tariffs
energy saving technology
energy efficient measures such as building fabric insulation, double glazing, lighting upgrades and efficient heating
installing solar/wind power
upgrade heating (such as through heat pumps)]
decarbonising building heat systems
creating community warm hub spaces

Business Energy Scotland provides free, impartial support and access which has already achieved £200 million of savings for Scottish organisations.
This webinar is part of a collaboration between Business Energy Scotland the Scottish Business Climate Collaboration, who are both backed by Scottish Government and businesses.

How to build your brand
2026-03-16 14:00 - 16:00
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

Simple Steps to Get Your Business Online
2026-03-17 10:00 - 12:00 | The Montrose Playhouse, The Mall, Montrose, DD10 8NN
Discover straightforward ways to get your business noticed online. Everything is explained in plain language, with quick ideas you can put into practice right away.

No digital experience? No problem. This workshop is for absolute beginners, and we’ll guide you through everything at a relaxed, easy pace. You’ll learn simple ways to help people find your business online and keep them coming back.
You’ll learn:

How to keep customers informed and engaged online
What to post, how often, and how to increase reach
Simple promotions and ideas to encourage footfall
How to build customer loyalty and repeat business
Quick online improvements you can implement right away
Tools, templates, and content ideas to support you

Book now and get fresh ideas, useful tools, and a plan you can use straight away.

Earned Settlement: What employers need to know
2026-03-18 09:30 - 10:30
The UK Government has announced significant changes to the path to settlement for most international citizens. This will impact sponsored workers and also their sponsors, who now face an extension of sponsorship costs and compliance obligations for workers on a longer path to settlement.
Join Rebecca Engel-Morton and Catriona MacDonald to find out what we know so far and what steps sponsors and employers should take now.

A step-by-step guide to building your business plan
2026-03-18 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

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

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

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.

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

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.
