FREE Business Development and Networking Events

November 2013

For continuous updates check: www.pkbem.co.uk #pkbem

Lunch provided at full-day events unless otherwise specified.

GOLD SPONSORwww.fairways-uk.com

For more information or to book a place visit:www.pkbem.co.uk

Binn FarmMon 28 Oct

Morning visit - 2 hoursAfternoon visit - 2 hours

Visitors will be welcomed to Binn Farm, home of Binnwaste, Binnenergy and Binnproduce for a fascinating tour of this innovative and unique site. Binn Eco Park, established in April 2009 is the first eco-innovation park of its kind to be established in Scotland. The eco-park is based on three major industries:

• Waste resource management and remanufacturing from recovered materials.

• Renewable energy production.

• Food production.

Situated on a large, well established, integrated waste resource management facility the waste and resource focus is on the production of raw materials from waste and the remanufacturing of products from recovered materials.

Please note times will be confirmed and are dependant on production/work schedules on site.

Highland SpringMon 4 Nov - Morning - 2 hoursTue 5 Nov - Morning - 2 hours

Highland Spring are delighted to welcome visitors to tour their headquarters in Blackford, home to their head office and busy production plant (bottling a staggering 232 million litres per annum). Highland Spring is the nation’s favourite bottled water and a tour around the prestigious head office and innovative bottling and distribution plant is sure to be an interesting and inspiring experience.

Please note times will be confirmed and are dependant on production/work schedules on site.

Site Visits

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Business Start Up Workshops

Tue 29 Oct, 1.30-4.30pm The Atholl Centre,123 Atholl Road, Pitlochry, Highland Perthshire,Scotland PH16 5BX. Tel: 01796 473044

Fri 1 Nov, 1.30-4.30pmCrieff Learning Centre, Lodge Street, Crieff.

Business Gateway offers practical advice and support to both start up and growing businesses. Starting your own business could be the best career move you ever make but it’s not something that you should just jump into without first taking advice. These workshops will provide you with the essentials to starting out on your own such as how to plan to succeed, how to gain an understanding of how successful your idea is likely to be and how you actually become registered as self employed.

These fully funded workshops provide an introduction into the full range of services provided by Business Gateway and which will be available to support you to start your business.

Start-Up Social Media Awareness Workshop and 1-2-1 Appointments

Fri 15 Nov, 9.30am-4.30pm

Enterprise and Business Gateway, Saltire House, Whitefriars Crescent, Perth

Social media can with comparatively little effort increase a business’s available market. If you are interested in finding out more about the different types of social media and how these can be utilised in business then booking onto this workshop is essential. This workshop is targeted towards business owners with only a basic level of social media understanding. Following the workshop, 1-2-1 appointments will be available to discuss individual business situations and applications.

Numbers are strictly limited so early booking is advised.

Growing Business Workshops

Advertising and Promotion WorkshopThu 31 Oct, 1.30-4.30pm

Blairgowrie Learning Centre,Beeches Road, Blairgowrie

This workshop is targeted towards businesses who are already trading and who wish to build upon current advertising and promotional practices. It will introduce new ideas to consider and discuss the importance of choosing the best channels for your business.

Online Marketing WorkshopWed 30 Oct, 1.30-4.30pm

Kinross Learning Centre,Swansacre, Kinross

Getting your online marketing right is crucial in order to support your business development and encourage more trade. We will highlight existing and emerging online marketing techniques and discuss options available to you at differing levels of budget.

One-to-One Social Media SurgeriesTue 12 and Thu 14 Nov - one hour slots from 5-9pm

Perth College UHI

These one-to-one appointments are open to all businesses and will provide a rare opportunity to receive individual advice on your particular query from experts in the field.

Only 16% of facebook posts are seen in people’s newsfeeds so the more engagement the better, regardless of likes etc. Find out the how and why from an expert.

Twitter is the 2nd largest social search engine after Google therefore if you either haven’t yet set up a twitter account or are not using it to its full potential, then this could be the best hour you have ever spent.

How do you make your LinkedIn profile stand out from the crowd? Most of us could do with a little help with this area.

Pinterest is now seen as a major player in the social media sector with the advent of Business Pages and might be something that you may want to make use of.

Business Development and Networking Events

Business Excellence Event - Perth Concert HallWed 6 Nov: 9-10am Registration, Exhibition and Networking.10am-12.15pm Oli Norman and Panel Session.Lunch1-3pm Afternoon session covering digital media.

A fantastic event to officially launch Business and Enterprise month, aimed at all ventures including start up, social enterprise, established and growing businesses across the region. Inspirational Speakers with an afternoon focussing on digital media with networking opportunities throughout.

Morning – Speaker – Oli Norman

Oli’s first business, DADA, grew and achieved exciting results including Subo, Festival In The Sky and Brewdog - and in 2008 Oli was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. In September 2010, Oli launched itison which has enjoyed exciting growth. He also owns Sloans, Glasgow’s oldest bar and restaurant.

Panel Session with Rose Martin, Wee Pie Company, Tanya Ewing and Stephen Watson, Stepwell

Afternoon – Digital Media, Speaker – Chris Van Der Kuyl

Chris is Chairman of the Tayforth group and 4J Studios, a next generation video game development studio. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of brightsolid – online technology, the owners of Friends Reunited.

Chris is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs and is a member of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow Programme at the World Economic Forum.

Host for the day will be Gary Robinson who after an extensive career in radio recently launched his own event and talent management business.

Gary Robinson, Host

Oli Normanwww.itison.com

Chris Van Der Kuylwww.4jstudios.com

Tanya Ewing Rose Martin

Sustainability Day Fri 8 Nov, 9.30am-4pmBlue Sky Experiences, Methven

A packed day covering all aspects of creating an environmentally sustainable business, implementing green policies, renewable technologies, waste management and what grants and support are available.

John Ferguson, a renowned ecological consultant whose recent projects have included the Binn Eco Park, advanced gas plasma energy from waste systems and many clean technology research projects will host the day and speak about the exciting companies he has been involved with.

Case studies from a cross section of businesses – food, drink, packaging, hospitality and manufacturing (including the award winning Vegware). Find out how they have implemented and benefitted from renewables and green policies.

An overview of what renewable technology is out there from experts in the fields of hydro, solar, bio-mass, wind turbines, anaerobic digestion etc. Get information on the grants and support available to bring these technologies into your company.

Open to everyone looking to “green up” their business and their life!

FREE shuttle bus from Broxden Park and Ride, from 9am

For more information or to book a place visit:www.pkbem.co.uk

Inspiring Enterprise ConferenceMon 11 Nov: Registration from 9am, 10am–Noon Speakers, 1-3pm Entrepreneurial Workshops

Perth Concert Hall

Calling all established and budding entrepreneurs! A morning brimming with inspirational speakers who have each made their mark in business and are recognised leaders in their fields. Sir Brian Souter, the founder of one of the World’s largest transport businesses, Stagecoach; Gary McEwan, a former Queens Award recipient and UK Entrepreneur of the Year and Nick Kuenssberg, International Businessman, Business Angel and Chairman of Social Investment Scotland will share their experiences of what it takes to be a success in business today. Host for the event is entrepreneur Gavin Oattes who took the decision to leave behind a promising career in stand up comedy to become a recognised motivational speaker and in 2012 became Scotland’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Attendees may in addition book onto any of the four afternoon workshops which explore several of the attributes and skills needed to drive your idea or your business forward.

Event Host: Gavin Oattes

Events are FREE but spaces will be limited and early booking is advised.

Sir Brian Souter Professor Nick KuenssbergGary McEwan

Lunch is not included.

SILVER SPONSORwww.castlecroft.com

Business Breakfast - What difference can staff development make to your business? (Speaker followed by interactive taster sessions)

Tue 12 Nov: Registration 8-8.30am, Breakfast 8.30-9.30am,Taster sessions 9.30-10.30am and 10.30-11.30am

McDiarmid Park

Speaker - Chris Tiso

Chris is Chief Executive of Tiso Group Limited, Scotland’s leading outdoor clothing and equipment retailer. Tiso Group, includes the well known Tiso, Alpine Bikes and George Fisher brands and has a turnover of around £34m employing approximately 450 people across 23 outlets, with branches in Scotland, England and Northern Ireland.

Chris took over the day-to-day running of the family owned business in 1992 and has overseen the growth of the business from five shops with a £5m turnover to its current position. He has also been an active member of the Entrepreneurial Exchange since its early days. Chris was voted Young Business Leader at the Inside Elite Awards in 2008.

Taster sessions – attendees can choose 2 from 3 sessions:

• Team Building • Customer Care • Management

Chris Tiso

How to Start Selling into International Markets?Fri 15 Nov, 9.15am–noon (registration from 8.45am)Inveralmond Brewery

Are you a Scottish company looking to grow your business and profits? One way you may not have considered is to look at selling internationally.

Smart Exporter with Bob Hogg, Commercial Director of Inveralmond Brewery will be running a breakfast event on how companies can start selling into international markets. We will be discussing the opportunities and challenges businesses face in selling overseas, hearing from Inveralmond Brewery, already successfully selling into 6 markets, on how they got started along side other local exporters. You will also get the opportunity to speak to our experienced Smart Exporter Advisors on the free support available to you. Smart Exporter is a new international trade skills programme, designed to increase skills and knowledge amongst Scottish businesses. This initiative is delivered by Scottish Development International (SDI) and funded by the European Social Fund.

Invest in Perth DayWed 13 NovVenue - tbc

Perth is Scotland’s newest city and one of its fastest growing. Since the granting of city status in 2012 Perth and Kinross Council and its partners are pushing forward confidently with ambitious plans for the city’s future, as laid out in the recently published Perth City Plan. The City Plan outlines the key development and investment opportunities in the city and the plans for the city’s growth over the next ten years. The Invest in Perth day will showcase to investors from out with the area exactly what Perth has to offer as a business location and highlight the key investment opportunities contained within the city plan. A key feature of the day will be an Angel’s Share pitching event designed specifically for businesses who may consider Perth for their growth ambitions. The Angel’s Share initiative is unique to Perth and connects investors with businesses in search of funding. www.theangelsshare.org.uk

Further updates and details of the programme for the day will be posted on www.pkbem.co.uk

Meet the Buyer EventWed 20 Nov, 10am–4pm

King James Business Centre, Riverview Business Park, Perth

In Scotland around £9bn of public sector goods and services are tendered each year and contracts range from less than £1,000 to over £20 million. The procurement process can sometimes appear confusing and that many businesses are unclear how to meet local buyers from the public sector. Perth & Kinross Council would therefore like to invite any businesses that are looking to find out more about bidding for work from the public sector to their free Meet the Buyer event.

Buyers from many Tayside Public Sector organisations will be in attendance, including the Tayside Procurement Consortium. They will be available to meet with potential suppliers and discuss the tendering process for their organisations. Short information sessions will also be delivered throughout the day.

To book a place at any of the events visit:

www.pkbem.co.uk

Seminar - Alternative Ways to Finance your BusinessMon 18 Nov, 9.30am–4pmBirnam Arts and Conference Centre, Dunkeld

Putting the right capital and investment in place is critical for the success of any growth plan, no matter the type or size of business. Previous recessions have shown that demand for finance is at its highest during the recovery stage, but while almost all businesses will need access to banking services, not all business finance needs to be raised through the banks.

Join us at this free seminar to hear more about alternative sources of finance. The event will consist of short presentations from business owners who have accessed alternative finance, as well as experts and providers. The day will also include an Angel’s Share event. The Angel’s Share is an entrepreneur/investor matching service. As well as a live pitching event, experts will be on hand to talk about angel investing and preparing your business for investment.

DIARY OF EVENTS

Please note that there are limited

places on these events, therefore

early booking is recommended.

OCTOBER

Binn Farm - Site VisitMon 28 OctMorning visit - 2 hoursAfternoon visit - 2 hours

Start Up WorkshopTue 29 Oct, 1.30-4.30pmPitlochry Learning Centre

Growing Business Online Marketing WorkshopWed 30 Oct, 1.30-4.30pmKinross Learning Centre

Growing Business Advertising and Promotion WorkshopThu 31 Oct, 1.30-4.30pmBlairgowrie Learning Centre

NOVEMBER

Start Up WorkshopFri 1 Nov, 1.30-4.30pmCrieff Learning Centre

Highland Spring - Site VisitMon 4 Nov - Morning - 2 hoursTue 5 Nov - Morning - 2 hours

Launch EventWed 6 Nov: Registration, Exhibition and Networking 9-10amPerth Concert Hall

Sustainability Day Fri 8 Nov, 9.30am-4pmBlue Sky Experiences, Methven

Inspiring Enterprise ConferenceMon 11 Nov: Registration from 9am, 10am–Noon Speakers, 1-3pm Entrepreneurial WorkshopsPerth Concert Hall

Business Breakfast - What difference can staff development make to your business? Tue 12 Nov: Registration 8-8.30am, Breakfast 8.30-9.30am,Taster sessions 9.30-10.30am and 10.30-11.30amMcDiarmid Park

One-to-One Social Media SurgeriesTue 12 NovThu 14 Nov One hour slots from 5-9pmPerth College UHI

Invest in Perth DayWed 13 NovVenue - tbc

How to Start Selling into International Markets?Fri 15 Nov, 9.15am–noon (registration from 8.45am)Inveralmond Brewery

Start-Up Social Media Awareness Workshop and 1-2-1 AppointmentsFri 15 Nov, 9.30am-4.30pmEnterprise and Business Gateway, Saltire House, Whitefriars Crescent, Perth

Seminar - Alternative Ways to Finance your BusinessMon18 Nov, 9.30am–4pmBirnam Arts and Conference Centre, Dunkeld

Meet the Buyer EventWed 20 Nov, 10am–4pmKing James Centre, Riverside Business Centre

For more information or to book a place visit:

www.pkbem.co.uk