Events

As small business owners we want to be “seen to be green” and would like to do more to help the plant but often we don’t know where to start and just don’t have the time to do things differently.

You will leave this workshop with top tips that all businesses can use for adopting more sustainable practices in your business that aren’t just good for the planet but could also work wonders for your brand reputation and your bottom line!

To book a place, click here.

This session will let you understand the sales ladder for success and how to apply it to every phone call and every online opportunity that arises.

For any business to sustain and grow you need to embrace the skill to create opportunities and persuade people to buy. In 2025, we have all sorts of channels to sell through – in particular on the phone and online. This session will let you understand the sales ladder for success and how to apply it to every phone call and every online opportunity that arises. The lessons apply to everyone who represents you online and with the written word.

What is covered:

• The Sales Ladder template – a step by step guide to great sales.
• Working well on the phone = tips and techniques to sound great and take orders.
• Working well online – how to persuade using the written word to create orders.
• Key pointers when writing quotes.
• Asking for orders – the call to action.
• Discussion of proven online formats.
• Getting the team to engage – writing the sales manual.
• A1 – an early discussion.

Outcome

Practice the lessons and it will bring you increased sales – the fuel which drives your business after all.

Webinar Format

The programme is being run as a webinar, so there is no need to travel. Just click the link, watch and learn for a couple of hours. If you have questions about selling – be that when to say, when to say it, confidence in selling etc, just store the questions up and we shall try to answer them.

Russell Ferguson who leads this course, has been running a small business for over 40 years, so has had to be able to become good at selling across a variety of sectors.

To book a place, click here.

Pricing is the basis of your business, get it right it becomes the best marketing tool you can have, get it wrong and your business may face making a loss.

This webinar considers a number of techniques to review pricing, what considerations you need to take to deliver a successful pricing strategy.

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

1. Pricing your products or services correctly is the path to profitability.
2. Using a range of tools and techniques this course will consider how best to look at the cost of your service or product and how you can then price for success.

A 2 hour webinar which will be practical and results-oriented. Working with a set of core presentational slides the core content will be a mix of knowledge delivery, discussion and the presentation of your approach to pricing.

To book a place, click here.

Learn five actionable tips to optimise your website for AI-driven search results, ensuring better visibility and relevance in the age of intelligent search.

As AI continues to shape how search engines deliver results, optimising your website for AI-driven search is essential for maintaining and growing your online presence. From tools like ChatGPT and Gemini to advanced alogorithms in Google and Bing, search is becoming more intuitive, personalised and conversational.

In this workshop, we’ll explore:

• The evolution of AI in search and its impact on SEO.
• Five essential tips to ensure your website is optimised for AI-driven search results.
• Strategies for creating conversational content that aligns with user queries.
• The importance of structured data, E-E-A-T signals, and topical authority in AI optimisation.

By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to adapt your SEO strategy to meet the demands of AI search and future-prof your website for the next generation of search engines.

Outcome of Attending

Participants will:

1. Understand how AI influences search rankings and results.
2. Learn five practical techniques to optimise websites for AI-driven search.
3. Gain insights into crafting conversational, intent-driven content.
4. Walk away with actionable steps to stay competitive in an AI-dominated search landscape.

To book a place, click here.

A good business reputation is important for potential consumers since it indicates trustworthiness and honesty. Customers are more likely to revisit and recommend you to others.

How to build a positive reputation, particularly if you are at the early stages of your business life. During our workshop we will help you:

• Understand what makes positive reputational content, and how you can build your own positive reputation (for either yourself or your brand).
• Be aware of the necessity and benefits of trusted and reputable online marketing content.
• Receive tips on gathering reviews, and how best to respond to reviews, both positive and negative.

To book a place, click here.

Join us for a practical workshop discussing all things social media, as we examine the ways tools like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok can help (and hinder) your business objectives.

Social Media is much more than just a promotional tool. Used effectively, you can truly engage and influence your target market audience and achieve better business objectives. Used wrongly, and you’re likely just wasting your time hoping for some vanity likes.

This session aims to ensure you remain “business focused” with your own usage of social media and will cover:

• The current social landscape.
• 2026 trends and tactics to take advantage of.
• The power of social influence.
• Creative social media business examples.
• The business dangers of social media.
• Practical Tips and Tricks.

There will also be plenty of time for questions, and some live audits of attendee social media profiles (with advice and recommendations given).

To book a place, click here.

Curious to understand how Pinterest could help you grow your business online? Then this webinar is for you!

A commonly used tool for those researching products and services for personal life (clothing ideas, holidays inspiration, cooking alternatives!), but how can it benefit your business? Move from being a beginner to knowing enough to gain commercial benefit from the use of Pinterest.

During this webinar we’ll help you better understand:

• Who is using Pinterest and what are they looking for?
• How to setup your business profile.
• Key features to use within Pinterest.
• Measuring success and engagement.

To book a place, click here.

Protecting your Business Information, Name, Product and Website is important to businesses. This webinar will show you what and how to protect these business elements using Intellectual Property.

The information which your business generates and the product or service being offered are business assets and should be known about and protected as much as possible. Intellectual Property can be used for this protection but is not always fully understood or known about by new businesses or even some established businesses. In addition to Intellectual Property there are other means by which you can protect your business information, product or service.

We will cover:

This webinar will explain will explain what means of protection is offered by Intellectual Property and other methods of protection available to the business and what you can do about it. The event will cover:

• Why protection is necessary.
• What is Intellectual Property?
• Its context within a business.
• Other means of protection.
• Ownership Protection processes.

Webinar Outcomes:

We aim to successfully understand the importance of identifying valuable intellectual property and how to take steps to protect it.

There will also be information on additional services from Business Gateway and details of other workshops which might be appropriate for you.

To book a place, click here.

This is an introductory webinar aimed at people who are interested in creating a podcast for their business or appearing as guests on other people’s podcasts.

It will give you all the information you need to get started and a slight understanding of what podcasts can do for your business.

Your trainer, Colin Kelly, is a former broadcaster and journalist best known for his work with BBC Scotland and BBC Radio 5 Live. He also produces his own successful podcast and will share with you the secrets of success and the equipment that can help, even if you’re on a very limited budget. We’ll cover the basics such as how to set up and publish a podcast, simple steps that you can take to improve the sound quality and how to use your voice and other techniques to keep your audience engaged. Simple production elements such as basic editing and adding music will be included.

You don’t need to bring anything with you as equipment will be provided on the day.

To book a place, click here.