Tourism Events in the North Highlands

North Highland Tourism have organised the following networking and information events in the North Highlands:

9th March:    "Springle", Lairg Community Hall, 10:30am - 12noon
More Info:  Link

13th March:  "Putting the Buzz Back into Your Business": MacKays Hotel Wick, 10:00am to 1.00pm
More Info: Link

14th March:  "Putting the Buzz Back into Your Business": Assynt Leisure, Lochinver, 10:00am to 1.00pm
 More Info: Link

26th March: "Getting Inside Your Customer's Head", Fortrose Leisure Centre, 10.00am to 1.00pm .
More Info: Link

28th March: "Getting Inside Your Customer's Head", Timespan, Helmsdale, 10.00am to 1.00pm More Info: Link


For background and contact details, visit the North Highlands Tourism website: Link

Public Procurement Event - 9th February, Thurso

The Highland Council’s Procurement Team will be in Thurso on Thursday 9th February; running a free event to help enterprises supply to the Council.

Businesses which already supply, or wish to supply to the Council are encouraged to come along to talk to staff, find out about upcoming contract opportunities, discuss the tendering process and any concerns they might have. Typical subjects might include:
• Advertising of Contracts
• Pre-Qualification Questionnaires
• Invitations to Tender
• Evaluation

Date:     9th February 2012
Venue:  Main Building, t3|UK Campus, Janetstown Industrial Estate, Thurso.

Businesses can book a 15 minute slot with a member of staff between 9.00am and 11.45 am - or can just drop in between those times.

To book, or for more information, contact: procurement.unit2@highland.gov.uk

On the same day, and in the same location, Caithness Chamber of Commerce are hosting a free event to help businesses learn more about contracting with the public sector. This starts at 12.30 pm – please contact Marcus Mennie on info@caithnesschamber.com or 01847 896508 for more details.

Creative Industries Newsletter - January 2012

Here's a link the latest edition of HIE's Creative Industries Newsletter - packed with useful information about opportunities and events.  This issue includes registration details for GoNorth 2012.


Creative Industries Team Newsletter (pdf 343kB)

Business Gateway National Campaign 2012

Here's a taster of Business Gateway's new Press Campaign...

 For more info, visit www.yourbusinessgateway.co.uk

Business Gateway Music - The Duplets

Here's something appropriate from the Duplets...

The Duplets: A Man's a Man...

Food & Drink Event - Wick, 2 February 2012

Caithness Chamber of Commerce are hosting a Food & Drink event at MacKay’s Hotel in Wick on the 2nd February from 10:30 to 4.00pm.

From the Chamber:

The event will be attended by food and drinks producers from Caithness and Sutherland alongside local hoteliers and restaurants. The aim of the event is to come together to discuss the food and drink sector in the area and how it may be possible for Caithness Chamber of Commerce and local agencies to assist with the sector requirements. The three facilitated workshops in the afternoon will look at local examples and an example of a co-operative organisation from outwith Caithness and Sutherland.

Outline Programme

10.30 Registration, tea & coffee

11.00 Welcome – Caithness Chamber of Commerce

11.05 Jim Royan – Moray Perspective

11.30 Business Gateway – a few words about what they are doing

11.35 HIE – a few words about what they are doing

11.40 Scotland Food and Drink – a few words about what they are doing

11.45 Jim Royan – Facilitated workshop with all delegates

12.30 Lunch

13.15 Facilitated workshop

14.00 Facilitated workshop

14.45 Break, chance to speak to Caithness Chamber and agencies

15.15 Facilitated workshop

16.00 Next Steps / Close

For further information contact info@caithnesschamber.com

Business Gateway E-Newsletter

The January edition of the Business Gateway E-zine is now available and contains loads of information about new initiatives, client case studies and useful tips and advice.

Follow this link to see the newsletter: Link

Ward Forum - 28th January 2011 - Lairg

The next Highland Council Ward Forum for North, West & Central Sutherland (Ward 1) will be held in Lairg on 28th January.  All are welcome.  The main topic will be access to affordable housing in the Ward.

Time: 11am - 2pm
Venue:  Lairg Community Centre

For more details: http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/yourward/ward01/wardforum/

Employ: Grants

 Here's a message from the Highland Council about their new employment initiative:

The Highland Council, supported through the European Social Fund, is pleased to launch the Employ Grants Scheme to encourage and support businesses in the creation of additional posts for unemployed people including people in receipt of benefits, returners to the labour market, disabled people and young people.

Targeted at Small and Medium sized enterprises who employ fewer than 250 people, a wage subsidy is available for 26 weeks, (or a maximum of 52 weeks towards recruits who are aged 16-19) to create additional and permanent posts.

Businesses in all sectors of industry located within The Highland Council area are eligible and may be private companies, co-operatives or social enterprises.

Follow these links to obtain The Operational Guidance document and the application form

but, before completing an application, please contact the Employability Team on 01463 702912 for an informal discussion.

Assynt Enterprise Club - HMRC Workshops in Lochinver

Sharon Bartram, of the Assynt Enterprise Club,has organised workshops to be presented by Janet Campbell, Business Education and Support Officer from Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs (HMRC). 

These 2-hour sessions, aimed at both new and existing enterprises, will be held on the 9th February at 2pm and 5pm and will cover the basics of tax and national insurance  - with plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion.

Janet's sessions are incredibly informative  - and she is excellent at explaining what is thought by many to be a complicated and, for small businesses, a worrying subject.

The venue in Lochinver will be confirmed later but, for more information, contact Sharon at the Assynt Learning Centre 01571 844123 or email: assyntlearningcentre@gmail.com

Clachtoll Broch

An interesting, if irreverent, look at the Clachtoll Broch dig.  Video by Bill Ritchie.  (Note the organised rock-relocation activity).


the clachtoll broch dig from Bill Ritchie on Vimeo.

UHI Advisory Support for the Food & Drink Industry

Here's some information from UHI:

People in the food and drinks sector are being invited to a free information session to find out about opportunities to receive advice from industry experts.

The University of the Highlands and Islands Management School is holding a lunchtime meeting on Thursday 26 January to introduce two new programmes.

The first of these is a joint venture between Scotland’s Food and Drink Skills Academy and Investors in People Scotland which helps companies to ensure their staff have the right skills to meet business goals.

Organisations which take part in the “people route map for your business” programme will meet with an industry specialist to identify key business objectives and create a people and training action plan to achieve these - all free of charge.

The Management School's information session will also give an overview of the University’s new business leadership programme which will support managers, particularly in the food and drinks sector, to grow and develop their businesses.

Taught by experienced business leaders, the postgraduate certificate covers marketing, strategy, decision making and performance excellence and can be undertaken anywhere in the Highlands or beyond.

Speaking about the route map and postgraduate programmes, Management School Head, Euan Black, said: “There are many fantastic businesses in the Scottish food and drinks sector so we are delighted to be able to offer support and advice to help them grow and develop. By providing businesses with opportunities to meet industry experts, we hope to help individual businesses achieve their potential and continue to strengthen our thriving food and drinks sector as a whole.”

The University of the Highlands and Islands Management School information session will take place at Cowan House in Inverness from 11am to 2:30pm on Thursday 26 January.

Lunch is included and the event will also include an opportunity to network with representatives from Scotland’s Food and Drink Skills Academy, Investors in People Scotland and the University of the Highlands and Islands as well as other attendees from the food and drinks industry.

To book a place or find out more about the event and opportunities, contact Fiona Ryan on 01463 279347 or at fiona.ryan@uhi.ac.uk

Business Gateway Music - Rachel Sermanni

Here's a brand new video of Carrbridge's very own, Rachel Sermanni, performing "The Fog" from her forthcoming EP "Black Currents".

 

For more info, see Rachel's  website: www.rachelsermanni.net.

To order the EP: http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/stores/rachelsermanni/

 

Happy New Year from Business Gateway!

Well, we're back from the festive break, thoroughly refreshed, over-indulged -  and Open for Business.

Here's to a great 2012!