We’re delighted to announce the workshops that will be taking place at our conference on Thursday the 22nd of May at the Assembly Rooms. ?Ticket sales close at 5:30pm on Monday the 19th of May so it’s not too late to book at ticket, the event is open to members and non-members, click HERE to go to the booking page where you can also see the full programme for the day. ?We also have a limited number of subsidised student tickets available in light of our commitment to engaging with the next generation of aspiring entrepreneurs, click HERE?for more information about the student tickets.

Our speakers this year include?Peter Lederer CBE, our very own Entrepreneur of the Year 2013,?Dougie Walker?of Claymore Security Solutions and Claymore Afghanistan and?Bill Jamieson of Scot-Buzz. ?Additionally, our 2013 Award winners will be on the panel ready to take your questions about “Growing an Award Winning Business” before we move on to a selection of 8 workshops on a variety of topics relevant to business owners and founders.

Attendees at the conference have the opportunity to attend 3 workshops on the day and are asked to rank each one in order of preference. ?Every year we have managed to allocate everyone to their preferred options and we hope to do the same this year. ?Read on to find out more about who is running our masterclasses this year …

WORKSHOP 1:? REACHING A LOCAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE

HOST:??Gordon White, Managing Director of?fatBuzz, New Media Breakfast partner for WeDO Scotland. Winners of the?2013 WeDO Scotland High Growth Company of the Year Award, fatBuzz offer a full range of online and offline communication services to a wide range of businesses. ?The agency offers all of the marketing skills required for the 21st century; brand journalism, social media management, web design and video production sit comfortably alongside their expertise in branding, design for print and traditional marketing – hence the company’s strap line, “An agency like no other…”

The internet has made the world a smaller place and many companies now have the opportunity to reach a global audience using web sites and social media platforms. ?However, many businesses struggle with the problem of how to reach a local audience using global platforms. ?Others find it difficult to extend the reach of their content beyond their local audience – every business faces its own particular set of challenges.

WHAT WILL BE COVERED:

• How to determine which tools to use to reach your target audience.
• How to find and engage with key people of influence within your target market (locally and globally).
• How build a local, national and international community.
• How to encourage your community to share your message.

WORKSHOP 2:? WIN MORE BUSINESS WITH THE WORLD?S NUMBER ONE B2B SALES TOOL

HOST:??Iain Swanston.? Iain?s previous WeDO workshops have all received outstanding feedback hence we have asked him back. Iain was the former Lead Sales Trainer & Sales Coach at Microsoft Scotland Sales Academy & Associate Sales Trainer & Sales Coach at Edinburgh Napier University Sales Academy.?? Iain has 27 years experience of sales, sales management, sales training & coaching in both B2B and B2C markets in domestic and international markets.? He has worked with clients to fix under-performing sales teams and deliver lasting change with a particular focus on business development, account management & customer service.? He is soon launching his new business?Klozers?which is currently in beta.

We use it every day and it?s so convenient most of us have three ? one at home, one at work and a portable one.? It has a truly global sales reach, and allows sales people to connect, engage and cement relationships, deals and opportunities of all sizes.? It is more than 130 years old, but continues to be reinvented, updated and modernized.? ?It?s inexpensive, easy to use and there is more business conceived and concluded using this B2B sales tool than any other.?? So what is it?? Well Ladies and Gentleman ? we give you the humble?Telephone.? It may not be fashionable, and it may not be your own personal favourite, but nevertheless, it is the world?s number one Sales Tool.? Selling is nothing more than effective Communication and the telephone is the best communication tool ever.? Face to Face meetings which are arguably the second best sales tool, are second only because we need the Telephone to arrange the meeting in the first place.

Bring along your own prospect list with 5 names complete with telephone numbers, and Iain Swanston will make?LIVE?sales calls on your behalf to demonstrate the power of the telephone.?Names will be chosen at random from the lists delegates bring along.? ?This is guaranteed to be one of our most popular sessions at our conference this year and we will endeavour to ensure places for everyone who wishes to attend, places will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

WORKSHOP 3:? THE BUSINESS GROWTH JOURNEY

HOSTS:? The SME Advisory Team, from?Mazars?will form the panel for this session, chaired by WeDO member, Brian Hay Smith.? Mazars are a UK and International accountancy practice focused on supporting SMEs at all stages of their business growth.? They have 13,800 professionals operating in 72 countries worldwide.

• What are the business problems that keep you awake at night?
• Are you expanding into new markets?
• Are you spending more time internally focussed rather than looking for new opportunities externally
• So you need funding to take you to the next level?
• Are you aware of all the tax reliefs available to you and your business?

WHAT WILL BE COVERED:

• Looking at the stages of business growth from start up to expansion to exit.
• Examining the challenges associated with the various growth stages.
• Understanding finance options to support growth.
• Tax ? issues and opportunities that arise at each stage and how to minimise liabilities.

Free 1 hour tax planning or business advisory voucher for every attendee.
All attendees will also be entered into a Prize Draw to win a case of wine!

?WORKSHOP 4:? SCOTTISH ENTERPRISE

HOST:? ?Scottish Enterprise.? Many of our members are already on the High Growth pipeline or are account managed, however to those who are not, the process to engage with SE can be a complicated one which is hard to navigate.? David Quinn, Product Team Leader with SE will be hosting this workshop for us.

WHAT WILL BE COVERED:

• Overview of Scottish Enterprise & the services we provide.
• The access process ? how do we work with you & how do you engage with us?
• Key support & intervention we offer to include:
  • Strategy
  • Innovation
  • Investment
  • Business efficiency
  • Organisation development
  • Leadership & management development

There will also be the opportunity to ask David your questions during this session.? Please note that attendance at this session is not limited to those who are not on the High growth pipeline or account managed, it is very much open to all.

WORKSHOP 5:? SCOTTISH DEVELOPMENT INTERNATIONAL

HOST:?? Scottish Development International helps foreign companies to invest and thrive in Scotland, and Scottish companies to make the most of international trade and global markets.? From finance to premises, specialist advice to market information, there?s not much that they don?t offer.? All delivered via their 27 offices in 15 countries across the globe.? They also work closely with the GlobalScot network.

Steve Turner, an Export Adviser with SDI and a colleague will be hosting this session for us.

The Smart Exporter programme offers free practical advice and support to guide you through every step ? from researching potential export markets, finding the best routes to market and overcoming challenges to accessing finance and setting up overseas.

WHAT WILL BE COVERED:

• Overseas opportunities for Scottish companies.
• The implications of international trade.
• Case studies of Scottish companies operating globally & how we have helped them.
• Overview of the GlobalScot network.

There will also be the opportunity to ask questions during this session.

WORKSHOP 6:? RELEASE THE BEST IN YOU, YOUR TEAM, YOUR CUSTOMERS & YOUR SUPPLIERS

HOST:? Gavin Cargill, co-founder of Value the Person International. Global research blended with personal experiences to shine a light on your value, uniqueness and potential. In 1999 and 2001 Gavin introduced to Scotland the ground-breaking research into the dynamics of a great working team and the elements of personal uniqueness through The Gallup Organization’s ‘First Break All the Rules’ followed by ‘Now Discover Your Strengths’. This research gave independent evidence that only the person who receives and gives the experience of being valued can give and receive the BEST!

Research ‘Pittsburgh and Kigali’ into the human heart, mind and spirit has resulted in the innovation of ‘The Bucket, the Pearl & the Starfish which Gavin calls ‘serious fun’. The intention is a very serious effort to enhance the quality of a person?s life and attain ‘best’ results. The results will be even better if its implementation is fun!

3 QUESTIONS:

Where is the highest level of client loyalty?

Do you know who you are?

Do you know who ‘they’ are?

WHAT WILL BE COVERED:

• Success discoveries made between ?Pittsburgh and Kigali?.
• Key questions that make the difference.
• VITAL needs of each person.
• The POWER of METAPHORS ? the Bucket, the Pearl & the Starfish!

WORKSHOP 7:? FUNDING SOURCES TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH OF YOUR BUSINESS

HOST:??Raymond McLellan, Scotland Regional Manager of?Angels Den. Raymond inherited his work ethic from his parents who owned and ran pubs and hotels and “encouraged” him and his brothers & sister to help out at every level. After winning the bob-a-job cup 3 years in a row in the early 70s Raymond has started a variety of businesses involving beer/wine importing, restaurants, hairdressing salons, coffee shops and a travel agency. ?At one time he employed 150 people before selling that business after receiving an offer he could not refuse. He has invested in a variety of businesses since then and loves to see good ideas flourish.

Raymond has a law degree and a legal diploma from Edinburgh University with a specific interest in intellectual property. ?He is the?author?of?3 business books?and the?co-founder?of the?Copyright Protection Agency. ?He believes outsourcing and delegation are one of the keys to a successful business life.

ABOUT ANGELS DEN

?16 million of investment raised.

20 experts in 10 offices worldwide.

6,000 investors, online community of 4,000 investors worldwide.

Since 2007, Angels Den have been leading the way in making investment? accessible for all with their monthly?SpeedFunding?events,?Business Funding Clinics?and?Angel Clubs.? Now their online Crowdfunding platform has widened the door to a broader range of business ideas and made investing easier than ever before.

Angels Den identified an investor in 2010 for Larosco/Bongomagic whose co-founder, Dave Young won our Lifetime Achievement Award 2013 and WeDO member Laura Sullivan, co-founder, runner-up in our 2013 Most Innovative Business Award.? They have also in the last month, crowdfunded the investment required by WeDO member Ian Le Bruce of Cappuccino Ads.

WHAT WILL BE COVERED:

• What are the best sources of funding available?
• The pros and cons of angel funding versus crowdfunding.
• What should I do to ensure my business is investor ready?
• How much equity should I be offering?

This will be an interactive session and Raymond will be happy to answer your questions.

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