Starter for 6 Roadshow - Inverness. 8th November 2012

If you're looking for support for your creative venture, here's a  message from the Cultural Enterprise Office about the 2013 Starter for 6 Programme:

"Starter for 6 is Scotland’s premier start-up and investment programme for creative industry entrepreneurs and is now in its seventh year. 

Originated by Nesta, the programme has been produced and delivered by the Cultural Enterprise Office since 2009. In that time Cultural Enterprise Office has developed the skills and talents of 162 businesses and 187 participants and awarded over £490,000 in investment to 88 new creative industry start-ups. 

This year's Main Programme will run in Glasgow/Edinburgh and Dundee The programme provides successful applicants with: 

• Four enterprise training sessions designed to provide you with the business skills to turn your idea into reality. The sessions cover  costing, pricing and marketing to pitching and presentation skills giving you confidence and providing you with the content to build a robust business plan. 

•  Peer mentoring or coaching. 

• The opportunity to network and share ideas with like minded entrepreneurs in training sessions and events. 

•  The opportunity to become part of the growing Starter for 6 Network. 

• The opportunity to pitch for up to £10,000 of grant funding at the end of the training programme in order to take your business forward. br />"

The Inverness Roadshow will take place at the Ironworks on the 8th November and details can be found here:

"Bye Bye B&B" - a new Book from Joan Campbell MBE

Author, tourism guru, Chair of  The  Federation of Small Business up here (and good friend of Business Gateway) Joan Campbell MBE has a new book out  - and its Highland launch is taking place in Waterstones, Inverness on 1st November.   If it's anything like her previous books - it will be very funny, informative and a damned good (Christmas?) present.

For more info about the book and its launch, follow this link to Joan's website.

Preparing to Export: 14/15 November

Here's a message from HIE about their Introduction to Exporting Event in Inverness 0n 14/15 November:

"Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in partnership with Scottish Development International, is offering a Preparing to Export - Introductory course. 

This is fully funded by Smart Exporter, an ambitious new international trade skills programme, and is targeted at Highlands & Islands companies that are thinking about exporting for the first time or are in the early stages of exporting. 

Delivered by Giraffe Consulting, the programme runs over two consecutive days. Benefits of attending include: 

• Understanding the basics of exporting & opportunities in international markets 
• Gaining the skills & confidence to succeed in highly competitive international markets 
• Developing a practical export plan to help your business to grow...."

Full Details from this Link

Advancing Your Social Enterprise, Helmsdale, 30 October

A message from HISEZ about a networking event being held in in Helmsdale on the 30th October 2012:

"This event, which includes lunch, digs into the details of everything you need to consider when developing your Social Enterprise, whether that is writing a business plan; working out your legal structure; expressing the vision clearly. 

Do you have a social enterprise challenge? 

Find out how Interface – The knowledge connection for business can help you. Interface provide a free and impartial service matching organisations across all sectors with Scotland’s Universities and Research Institutions making available world class knowledge, expertise and research facilities to help with your business challenge. 

 It’s aimed at those who already started a Social Enterprise and are at the next stages of development - where do you take it, financial planning and where can you get help. You will have the chance to sign up for one 2 one time with HISEZ advisers and find out what support is available to help you advance your Social Enterprise.

For more information: Link

Opportunities in WoodFuel Event in Ardgay

Here's an invite from the Scottish Agricultural College for their Woodfuel Demonstration Day:
 
 Date: 12th October 2012 Location: Culrain Farm, Ardgay 
Time: 10:00 - 15:30 
Cost: Free (includes lunch) 

The opportunity to reduce or negate the cost of heating and even potentially create an income from heating your home and/or business should not be overlooked.

With the increase in heating bills and other utilities, the opportunity to reduce or negate the cost of heating and even potentially create an income from heating your home and/or business should not be overlooked. The Renewable Heat Incentive scheme could do just that as essentially the government will pay you to heat your house and business. 

The meeting will give you the opportunity to: 

• Hear about funding opportunities under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) 
• See a domestic log gasification system in action and hear about Mr and Mrs Hendersons practical experience of choosing, installing and operating this system on the farm 
• Find out what to consider when choosing a boiler – do you go for log, chip or pellet? 
• See firewood processing machinery in action 
• Hear about managing farm woodlands for woodfuel 
• See a large scale woodchip boiler in action – what are the costs, pros and cons? 
• ‘Pick the brains’ of other farmers, forestry managers and woodfuel specialists 

he event is free but places are limited so early booking is recommended. To book a place or for further information, please contact us either by email charlotte.holland@sac.co.uk or phone SAC Consulting on 01463 233266.