HiDigital Workshops - Dornoch

HIE and Business Gateway are hosting a series of workshops to help businesses make the most of the Internet and digital technology.  The next Sutherland event is being held in Dornoch on 16th/17th April 2013 and will cover the basics of social media, enhancing your web presence and using IT to produce meaningful financial information.  Places are limited and booking is essential.

For more inforamtion or to book a place, please email

Intrepid...

The Business Adviser must get through.....

Brora Artist Nominated for Scottish Variety Awards 2013

It's great to see that Lola Nicol, Artist, from Brora has been nominated in the Best New Scottish Artist/Designer category in this year's Scottish Variety Awards.

To see all the nominations and vote in any of the categories, follow this link:
Lola's website is here; Link

HIE Guide to Managing Community Funds

HIE have published a Guide to Managing Community Funds:

"...the new guide contains advice and guidance on how communities can manage the distribution of the income. Currently, communities are choosing areas such as investing in jobs, housing, new business starts, investing in energy efficient measures or addressing fuel poverty. 

Many communities use their own organisations to manage income from energy projects and some which are planning or already investing income back into the community have provided case studies within the guide....."

You can find out more  - and download the guide  - by following this Link

"Enterprising Sutherland " is Back in Business..

It's been a while but the technical isues are sorted ( I hope ) and the blog continues.....

Start - Up Workshop - 26/27 March 2013 in Brora

As they say in the entertainments industry, we are now taking bookings for the Free Start Up Workshop being held in Brora on 26th/27th March 2013. You can book direct with Lesley Allan on 01463 713889.

Here’s some information about the Workshop but, if you’ve any comments or queries, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The PTYBS Awards

Craig Dunlop, Elly Knight and PTYBS Regional Manager, Alithea Watson, at the Awards

What a great time we  had at the PTYBS (formerly PSYBT) Awards held on Tuesday at the City Chambers in Glasgow. 

Of the six Regional Finalists, Highland was represented by EllyKnight (no relation!) and Craig Dunlop from the Red Roof Cafe in Skye.  We didn't win but Elly and Craig took away a cheque for £750 and made quite a few new friends at the Event,  which was hosted by Fred MacAulay.

The overal Winner was Bright Care from Edinburgh.

For more information, contact PTYBS or in Highland, Alithea Watson on 01463 228340

Saturday Music - "Trespassers" by The State Broadcasters

Here's a video from The State Broadcasters (featuring Inverness's very own Gillian Fleetwood). the song is from their new album "The Ghosts We Must Carry".

Business IT Guide

If  you've an isssue with any aspect of IT in your business then this might be a good place to go....

"Digital Highlands and Islands have launched the Business IT guide, which has been created in partnership with e-skills UK. The guide is available at www.digitalhiguide.co.uk. 

The website contains 150 guides written by IT specialists, with a focus on helping Highlands and Islands businesses increase productivity and efficiency through the use of IT. 

In addition to the 150 guides, businesses and social enterprises with additional questions can also ‘Ask the Expert’ by submitting questions through the website, where they will be answered by an IT expert. 

The online IT guides and specialised ‘Ask the Expert’ functionality are provided at no cost to Highlands and Islands businesses and social enterprises, visit the website now and find out more..".

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.

UHI Business Idea Competition 2012

It's that time of year again....

"At CREATE we want to help all learners to acquire an enterprising mind-set. We seek to inspire and support students to realise their potential and to develop entrepreneurial behaviours and skills for business and self-employment. 

The UHI Business Idea Competition is an ideal opportunity for anyone who has an interesting and innovative business idea. The competition is open to all students enrolled at any UHI College, and to everybody aged 16 or over living in the Highlands and Islands, Moray or Perthshire. 

It is very straightforward to enter, with only four questions to answer. If you have more than one idea, why not submit them all? You may submit as many applications as you wish, and the on-line entry system allows you to have more than one entry in preparation at one time. 

 Completed entries must be received by the judges by 24 October 2012 to be eligible to win a share of the £7,500 prize fund...."

For more info and to apply follow this link: