Business Week Provides Local SMES With a Menu for Success

Organisers of Dumfries & Galloway Business Week hope this year’s jam-packed timetable of events will attract even more people than last year.

Using their expert knowledge and connections, Dumfries & Galloway Council, Business Gateway and partners have devised 16 fully-funded seminars that will run from Monday, October 2nd until Friday, October 6th.

With events including seminars led by The Digital Garage from Google and a cookery demonstration and live Q&A with MasterChef: The Professional winner 2016, Gary Maclean, the week is set to give local businesses an easy way to connect with experts, enhance their skills, and network for free.

A celebration dinner held in Hetland Hall will close the week on October 6th, with Keith Murray – whose business produced knitwear for all Harry Potter movies and now supplies Warner Bros gift shops worldwide – providing the keynote speech.

David Gardiner, Business Gateway, said: “Last year we welcomed 860 people to Business Week. This October we hope to attract even more entrepreneurs and business owners looking to grow their enterprises in the region. Our timetable focuses on topics that are most important to local SMEs, including helping them achieve a greater digital advantage and highlighting new ways to gain market share overseas. Events have also been organised across the region and throughout the day, making it even easier for people to attend a range of seminars at a time and location most suited to them.”

Councillor Archie Dryburgh, Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee said: “Business Week provides a practical way for local businesses to connect with one and other and with organisations that can help support their growth. The week is inspiring, it builds confidence and helps highlight just how rich and diverse our local economy is. Each event has been designed to provide maximum benefit to those who attend, whether they are looking to forge stronger links with the media, collaborate with other tourism outfits or produce engaging online content, there is a seminar suited to their needs.”

All events taking place during Dumfries & Galloway’s Business Week 2017 have been organised by Dumfries & Galloway Council, Business Gateway and partners including: Scottish Enterprise, VisitScotland and the Crichton Foundation.

This year’s calendar includes:

Breakfast Launch Event – October 2nd, 8.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. in Zest Restaurant, Dumfries – Focusing on the importance of growing your business, Susan Fouquier, MD of Business Banking for Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, will talk about the regional and national economy. There will also be an opportunity to network. Early booking recommended.

MasterChef Live Demonstration – October 3rd, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton – Gary Maclean, winner of MasterChef: The professionals 2016, will use local ingredients from the region to create dishes and showcase Scotland’s amazing larder. He’ll also share his experience of taking part in the top television show.

Business Development Day in partnership with Scottish Development International and Google Digital Garage – October 4th, 1 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Easterbrook Hall, The Crichton – Find out from Google gurus how to gain a competitive advantage online. Sessions include how to tell your story online, attracting international customers using SEO and social media, how to reach new customers online, and the future of the web.

Dumfries & Galloway Women in Business – October 5th, 5.30 p.m. to 8 p.m., Threave Gardens Visitor Centre, Castle Douglas – This event takes a look at the best way to grow your venture, with ERIBE Knitwear’s owner, Rosemary Eribe, recounting how she took her business from the kitchen table to the global market.

DigitalBoost: How to get on page one of Google by producing engaging content online – October 6th, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Crown Hotel, Newton Stewart – This workshop will show you how to write engaging content, giving users a reason to visit your site and keep coming back.

Having attended three events last year, Scott and Emma Eden, of Dumfries-based Genesis OHS Ltd have used the knowledge gained to widen their client base, turning a higher percentage of leads into actual business and increasing the services offered to clients in a controlled and sustainable manner.

Scott said: “The guidance and practical help we have received from the Business Gateway Dumfries and Galloway over the last few years has been invaluable, and the networking opportunities provided at Business Week are exactly what a growing business needs.”

For Sarah Holmes, of Baird Windows, based in Newton Stewart, Business Week armed them with new connections and helped them focus on ways to grow their enterprise.

She said: “We found everybody who attended the same events we did last year incredibly welcoming and friendly, and in varying degrees, attending for the same reasons – to make connections, glean knowledge, and learn new skills. The events also gave us an opportunity to solidify the strong relationship we already had with our local Business Gateway team. We wouldn’t have been able to do half of what we do now without the training and support they’ve provided to us. This year’s programme looks like it will provide our company with even more networking opportunities as well as new ways to enhance our skills.”

Booking for Dumfries & Galloway Business Week events is essential. For further information visit www.bgateway.com/dumfries-and-galloway or phone 01387 808738