Be part of something bigger

This workshop is aimed at new and existing businesses which are looking to use Xero to manage their bookkeeping or would like a refresher on how to use Xero.

Delegates will leave the course with a greater knowledge of what cloud accounting is and how it is beneficial for your business. We will look specifically at the accounting software Xero in detail including how to set up a Xero account, link and reconcile bank accounts, create and personalise sales and purchase invoices, view relevant reports and use contacts feature.

As a result of this session, delegates will be able to:

1. Set up a Xero account
2. Link and reconcile bank accounts
3. Create and personalise sales invoices
4. Create purchase invoices
5. View relevant reports (Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet, Aged Debtors and Creditors)
6. Use contacts feature

To book a place Click here

A fun, and engaging workshop discussing what great ‘social customer service’ looks like.

A fun, and engaging workshop discussing what great ‘social customer service’ looks like. We’ll look at:

Examples from a variety of companies and ask if we really deliver quality customer service, or do we focus on the numbers. Do we look for opportunities to wow customers or do we just react to complaints.

Customer service is the “new marketing” – with your next customer checking to see how you supported the last one. You’ve not judged on the complaint – you’re judged on how you respond. Be remembered for all the right reasons, and learn how to deliver outstanding customer service via your social media channels.

To book a place Click here

Producing quality content is an excellent way of helping customers develop a meaningful relationship with your brand, and ultimately boosting sales. Learn to understand, source and measure content.

Even if you are not traditionally in the business of providing content, it’s important to have good – quality articles or even nuggets of useful information on your website and elsewhere to drive customer engagement and help you stand out from your competitors. If you can provide easily accessible evidence that you are an expert in your field, or are able to provide an attractive “space” that makes customers more inclined to spend time with you, it’ll be easier for them to choose you when they’re ready to spend. This session will help you understand what kind of content your customers are looking for, how to find, write and package it, how to market it to them and how to measure how engaging it is for them. This workshop is ideal for businesses that already have a commercial website or use social media, and want to move to the next level of engagement. It will equip you to amplify your brand and message, and to boost sales and profits.

This is a “DigitalBoost” event which is funded by Digital Scotland and delivered by Business Gateway.

To book a place Click here

Both start up and growing business will require a business plan for getting a loan, grant or just to consider the direction they wish to go in.

This workshop will:

• Provide a structure for a Business Plan
• Review each section of what should be included within the Business Plan
• Understand when and how to use a business plan
• To understand cash flow within the business planning process.

To book a place Click here

A direct follow on from the “Build your Own Website Part 1” – we pick up where we left off, and continue creating our WordPress website.

A direct follow on from the “Build your Own Website Part 1” – we pick up from where we left off, and continue creating our WordPress website – this time adding your own specific text and images that you pulled together between the two sessions.

We’ll spend some time highlighting the importance of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), and show you how to ensure your own content is optimised, while flagging up the features of WordPress that can really help get you noticed on Google.

Firstly, we’ll look at taking things further – with the addition of WordPress plugins and widgets! We’ll show you how to add eCommerce functionality and integrate your social media into your website, as well as discussing the many other options available to you.

To book a place Click here

This workshop (previously called Website Analytics) unlocks Google analytics so you can clearly see where your website traffic is coming from and why, transforming your website’s effectiveness.

Google Analytics is an incredibly powerful tool for all businesses with an online presence, and by the end of this workshop you’ll be comfortable reading, understanding and actioning on analytics information.

You’ll be able to see at a glance where your website traffic comes from, and what this means for your company. Even more powerfully, you’ll be ready to use the data to improve your website’s effectiveness.

We’ll show you how often to check analytics, how to set goals and the most effective ways to implement analytics tools. So when you develop your digital strategy you can be confident you will see results.

Please note, participants must bring a laptop, tablet or smartphone to the workshop.

This is a “DigitalBoost” event which is funded by Digital Scotland and delivered by Business Gateway.

To book a place Click here

This course will assist new and existing small business owners who have little or no previous bookkeeping experience in developing a bookkeeping system that is suitable for their needs.

This course will assist new and existing business owners who have little or no previous bookkeeping experience in developing a bookkeeping system that is suitable for their needs. Delegates will have the opportunity to develop financial templates suitable for their own business bookkeeping use which can help reduce accountancy fees.

This workshop will:

• Important accountancy terms explained
• Which financial statement and statutory returns are relevant  to your business
• The Profit and Loss Account
• The Balance Sheet
• The Cash Flow Statement
• The nature of VAT
• Recording transactions using Microsoft Excel
• Accounting Software

To book a place Click here

Gain an advantage in the changing retail landscape. With the multiple pulling out of many high street and the internet share of market increasing.

The pace of changes in retail has been fast in the last 10 years. We will look at what is driving this and the real facts, and ways to work together to entice customers to our businesses and towns. We will also look at importance of:

• Creating an experience and how to develop a brand
• The USP’s of your product/service in ensuring return custom
• Having a strategy and plan for not only your business but the local area

We will look at what the statistics for retail tell us and hat opportunities this gives to the independent retailer and the service sector, what things are important to the customers today and how to design your business around this.

This course will be informal with time to discuss ideas and opinions and ideas for you to take back to your business and develop.

To book a place Click here

This workshop is the first of a 2 – part series aimed at people who are planning to start or have just started a business and need to know the basics of what to do.

This workshop is the first of a 2 – part series aimed at people who are planning to start or have just started a business and need to know the basics of what to do. You will leave the workshop understanding the skills you need and the actions you need to take to start their business.

This workshop will help you understand:

• The main reasons businesses fail
• The importance of planning for success
• The importance of market research and how to do it
• What resources you will require
• The basic requirements for setting up e.g registration, insurance, tax & VAT

This half day workshop will be practical and results-oriented. After introducing each topic and explaining the relevance, we will introduce tools that can be applied at that stage. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss and plan how they will implement these tools.

To book a place Click here

Find out how to use image sharing apps Pinterest and Instagram to grow your business. Learn how to shoot, process and upload photos.

Move from being a beginner to knowing enough to gain commercial benefit from the use of Pinterest and Instagram. Learn which type of audience you can reach via each platform and the factors and analytics such as cost and timing of posting images and how that can maximise impact.

Discover the basic ‘does and don’ts’ of taking your own pictures, processing them and uploading them onto digital platforms. See some real life examples of posts that demonstrate good, bad and indifferent uses.

This is a “DigitalBoost” event which is funded by Digital Scotland and delivered by Business Gateway.

To book a place Click here

Improve Your Online User Experience

Improve Your Online User Experience

To book a place Click here