Marketing experts would have us believe that love is all around this month. As with other celebrated days, Valentines Day makes us realise how strong the powers of advertising can be. When else would we be persuaded to buy something just because it was red and heart shaped. How can we learn from it, how can we create our own marketing success story? Your challenge this month is not whether you can get away without buying a valentines card, but how you make people everywhere fall in love with your product or service.  

There is plenty to share with you this month. As well as Just Enterprise workshops there are details of a new Firstport workshop in Inverness and some Business Gateway workshops in Argyll and Bute and Inverness. There are some vacancies at Cothrom and Tagsa Uibhist in the Western Isles and Social Enterprise Academy courses too. 

This month we feature COPE Ltd in Shetland as Social Enterprise of the month. It is likely that you will have heard about COPE already as they have become very well known in our sector. 

What's not to love about HISEZ this month!
Just Enterprise Workshops 


Thursday 27 February 2014 – Business Planning
9.30am - 3pm Atlantis Leisure, Dalriach Road, Oban, PA34 5JE

This introductory business planning workshop covers the stages involved in developing a business plan, as well as the tools and techniques that can be used to gather and assess information.

It is aimed at managers and staff of third sector organisations who have limited previous knowledge or experience of strategic business planning. 

To book click here to complete the on-line registration form.

 
 

Wednesday 2 April 2014 - Introduction to Selling
9.30am - 4pm The Spectrum Centre, 1 Margaret Street, Inverness, IV1 1LS

Today’s economic climate is forcing Social Enterprises to become less grant dependent and more self-reliant. This full day introductory workshop is ideal for those responsible for generating income on a day-to-day basis or those who must now adapt to the "new economy".

To book click here to complete the on-line registration form.

 
 

Wednesday 30 April 2014 - Costing and Pricing
9.30am - 4pm The Spectrum Centre, 1 Margaret Street Inverness, IV1 1LS

This is a full day participative workshop, split into a morning session on costing and an afternoon session on pricing.

The morning session explains how you can accurately cost your services on a full cost recovery basis. 

The afternoon session will show you how to price your services and explains a variety of techniques used in product pricing.

This is a practical workshop requiring delegates to bring along a calculator and writing materials. It is aimed at individuals within third sector organisations who have budgetary responsibility.

Please note that the content of this workshop is covered during Day 2 of the “Finance for Practitioners” course which is also offered via the Just Enterprise programme.

To book click here to complete the on-line registration form.

Places for all workshops are limited and are offered on a first come, first served basis so please book early to guarantee your place. All workshops are free of charge for members/staff of third sector organisations.

Just Enterprise is a Scottish Government funded programme specifically designed to assist the growth of Scotland’s third sector. Visit www.justenterprise.org or telephone 0141 425 2939 for details of the full range of support available.

Fine tuning your Social Enterprise                    

 
 

Fine tuning is a full day event packed with short and sharp workshops delivered by professional experts and completely FREE to attend.  Join Firstport on Friday 21st March at the Spectrum Centre in Inverness and brush up on your skills in a variety of topics including employment law, intellectual property, applying for funding, IT and social media. Workshops delivered by Harper Macleod, Luma IT, Highland Opportunity and more.

For further information and to book your place click here 

Business Gateway Workshops

Argyll & Bute


Social Media
Workshop 1: Introduction to Social Media
This workshop will give you an overview of how you can use sites like Facebook, Twitter and Linked In to interact with your customers to promote and grow your business. 

Workshop 2: Developing a Social Media Strategy
For those already using Facebook, Twitter or Linked In, this practical and interactive workshop will show some of the tips and tricks that can make Social Media a business tool. 

Monday 17 March - Mull
Tuesday 18 March - Iona
Thursday 20 March - Islay 
Monday 24 March - Coll
Tuesday 25 March - Tiree
Wednesday 26 March - Colonsay

E-Commerce
Build Your Own Business Website - Learn from scratch how to build and manage an attractive and effective website for your business.
Tuesday 25 February - Islay
Tuesday 18 March - Tiree

Improve Your Website Performance - Aimed at small businesses that already have a website.
Wednesday 26 February - Islay
Wednesday 19 March - Tiree

Procurement
Is the Public Sector Right for You? - This workshop aims to provide you with enough information to decide if this market is for you. It provides an overview of the tendering landscape and some tips on successful tendering.
Friday 21 February - Inveraray

Quality Management Policy - The objective of this workshop is to show the standard of your business processes in relation to carrying out a contract and to improve your ability in the tendering process on the basis of quality management credentials.
Thursday 27 February - Inveraray

Tender Portals Made Easy - This workshop will cover all aspects of using portals, specifically Public Contracts Scotland (PCS). 
Tuesday 11 March - Inveraray

To book any of the above please call 01546 605459 or email: business.gateway@argyll-bute.gov.uk

Inverness

Doing Business in China - Wednesday 5 March - Inverness
Highlands and Islands Enterprise, in partnership with Scottish Development International (SDI) and the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), invites companies to find out more about the increasing number and variety of business opportunities that exist in China at this FREE one day event in Inverness.

To find out more and to sign up click here.


Preparing to Export - Wildlife and Tourism Workshop
Wednesday 19 and Thursday 27 March - Inverness

Are you new to developing international tourism markets? Wild Scotland and Highlands & Islands Enterprise are hosting an introductory workshop designed specifically for wild life and adventure tourism businesses across Scotland.

This FREE two day workshop, is aimed at businesses which are at the very early stages of developing or growing their international tourism markets.

To find out more and to sign up click here.

COTHROM JOB OPPORTUNITIES               

Enterprise on the Edge is an exciting new programme to launch young people into enterprise in their local communities funded by a RBS Inspiring Youth Enterprise Grant.
 
Enterprise Worker 17.5 hrs for 12 months
 
We are looking for a dynamic and enterprising individual to support 40 young people on their enterprising journeys, working closely with community land trusts and other partners across the Western Isles.
 
Support Worker (Modern Apprentice) 28 hrs for 12 months 
 
You are aged 16-19, you will support the team and the young entrepreneurs, including through social media.  You will gain significant work experience and enterprise skills.
 
Both jobs will be based at Cothrom’s Learning Centre at Ormicleit on South Uist.
 
For an application form and further details contact Cothrom on 01878 700910 or
e-mail: enquiries@cothrom.net. The recruitment paperwork is also available from www.cothrom.net
 
Applications should be returned to Barbara MacDonald, Cothrom Ltd, Ormiclate, South Uist, HS8 5SB by 5pm on Monday 17th February 2014.
 
Cothrom operates an Equal Opportunities Policy

 



Tagsa Uibhist Graduate Placement - Fundraising

 

Tagsa Uibhist seeks to recruit a graduate for a 12 month fundraising role based at the Tagsa Uibhist office in Benbecula. This is a full time post, 35 hours per week, and attracts a salary of Â£18,813 per annum.

 

The sussessful graduate will be responsible for increasing funding by researching and targeting charitable trusts/organisations whose criteria match the company's aims and activities as well as raising the awareness of the organisation and the work it does.

 

For further information please please follow this link or contact Murdina Naylor, Tagsa Uibhist on 01870 603881.
 

The closing date for applications is Sunday 16 February 2014.

 

This post is part of the ScotGrad Graduate Placement Programme and part funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and European Regional Development Fund.


Social Enterprise Academy Courses



Starting Your Social Enterprise â€“ Inverness – starts March 1st & 2nd

Action Learning â€“ Shetland – starts March 6th & 7th

Leadership Award (Gaelic Medium) â€“ Glasgow – starts March 6th & 7th

Leadership Award â€“ Skye – starts March 27th, 28th & 29th 
For crofters and other people active in food production and retail. In partnership with Scottish Crofting Federation.

Action Learning â€“ Inverness – starts March 31st & April 1st
For entrepreneurs and social entrepreneurs.

Advanced Leadership Practice â€“ Inverness – April 9th & 10th 
For people who have previously completed an Academy programme.

Measuring Social Impact â€“ Inverness – April 24th


For more information contact Kate at the Academy: kate@theacademy-ssea.org or phone 01463 238088.

 

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OF THE MONTH
 

COPE Ltd is a well established organisation based in Shetland with a proven track record of sustainability and innovation over its 14 year history. It has a strong social purpose supporting the development of peoples skills towards employment and is well supported by its local community.

Businesses established and run by COPE Ltd include: The Shetland Scrapstore; the Shetland Soap Company; Cope Trees and Shrubs; and Cope Catering. 
 

Over the past two years COPE Ltd has increased its social purpose by initiating joint working relationships with other social enterprises and small local businesses within the Shetland Community. It has carefully developed  these relationships to complement their products, promote their commitment to quality and give other small business/ social enterprises a retail outlet they would not otherwise have.


COPE Ltd General Manager Ingrid Webb said: "We hope to continue this work into the future and show that people with disabilities can be  enterprising and produce high quality products and services."

For further information go to: www.cope.ltd.uk. Please note that the website is being re-developed at this time.

 
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