Forthcoming FREE workshops from Dundee College…..
Business and Technology Planning
Tuesday, 12 March 2013 at 10:30
Business & Technology Planning is a course focussed on assisting IT leaders, executives and business owners in developing, monitoring and evaluating their ICT strategies for business growth. Strategically planned and well implemented ICT can deliver operational efficiencies, improved communication and management information, greater transparency and enhanced customer service levels. This course was developed in conjunction with partner institutions and is focussed on understanding ICT strategies from different stakeholder perspectives.
Key content will include:
- Introduction to the EFQM Excellence framework as a development model.;
- Translating business needs to technology choices
- Implementation of action plans including change management, communication, risk and mitigation strategies.
- Calculating return on investment of ICT strategies.
- Working with suppliers and developers.
Delegates who attend this course will be able to:
- Evaluate development models and their applicability to their organisation.
- Create effective ICT strategies aligned to their business goals.
- Calculate return on investment of their ICT strategies and projects.
- Prepare tender and contract documents with suppliers and developers.
This is a high participative workshop which uses a wide range of inputs, examples of best practice across all ICT disciplines, business sector best practice, case studies and live demonstrations.
To book, go to http://businessandtechnologyplanning-estw.eventbrite.co.uk
World Leading Business Growth Techniques
Tuesday, 12 March 2013 at 13:00
Every business owner knows that they need to take time to work on their business not in it. Yet what is the most productive way to do that and where do you go to get the best advice, tips and guidance. In the fast moving world we live in its not long before our skills and knowledge can get a little out of date, yet the Internet has amazing resources which are at the end of everyone's finger tips if only you knew where to look. You can access leading edge techniques from your office or home and put them together to develop you and your organisation.
This workshop explores Internet resources; many of them free, to put together an ongoing development plan for you and your staff. It also gives valuable advice on constructing a training needs analysis linked to your business needs.
Key content will include:
- Training needs analysis- getting it right.
- Finding and accessing online material.
- Using YouTube, Linkedin and others to develop your skills.
- Working with colleges and universities.
Objectives:
Delegates who attend this workshop will be able to:
- Understand how to create an effective training plan.
- Source training and development material online.
- Understand how colleges and universities can help your business.
Techniques and methods
This is a highly participative workshop, delivered by Stewart Bell from Edinburgh Napier University, which uses a wide range of input sessions, examples of online training resources and live demonstrations.
The workshop will take place in Lecture Theatre 2 at Gardyne Campus.
To book, go to http://worldleadingbusinessgrowthtechniques-estw.eventbrite.co.uk
Scottish Business Crime Centre Spring Newsletter February 2013
- Using social media, but not getting the results you want?
- Like to know more about the legal aspects of social media platforms?
Making Money from Social Media – 27th March 2013 at 9.30 am – 11.30 am – FREE
Want to learn how to make money from social media? Are you using social media but not getting the results you expected? If the answer is ‘yes' then why not come along to ‘Making Money from Social Media', a FREE workshop by Chat Marketing. Crammed full of useful hints and tips, this workshop will show you how to make social media work for you and deliver real measurable business results
Both workshops will held at the Angus Centre for Enterprise, Keptie Street, Arbroath, Angus DD11 3EA.
For more information, or to book, please visit
http://dundeecollegeenergyefficiency.eventbrite.co.uk
Annual Tourism Conference
"Building the Journey"
Thursday 7th March 2013
Balmoral
9.30am – 4.30pm
(Registration and refreshments from 9.30am)
The conference will be of interest to anyone who has a tourism related business, works in the industry or has an interest in the sector. The event will feature a good mix and blend of topics as well as interactive sessions and provide any opportunity to network with fellow attendees.
Pre Booking is Essential
Partner Rate @ £30 + vatNon Partner Rate @ £40 + vat
Cost includes conference events, refreshments, lunch & afternoon tea.
(Please advise if you have any special dietary needs or other requirements).
For help or assistance with booking please contact
We do hope you can join us and look forward to seeing you at the event.
"Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms – Leading business organisation for tourism, supported by private/public sector funding".
Tartan Day Scotland Conference
4 April 2013
Help us develop a skilled workforce for Tayside's energy sector - and reap the benefit!
Provide a work placement for our industry-experienced, skilled trainees, and you can:
- Increase your workforce at NO COST
- 'Try out' potential skilled recruits
(Our training programmes cover welding and fabrication, micro-renewables and multi-disciplinary engineering).
Employers offering permanent employment to trainees after placement may receive a financial incentive through Jobcentre Plus.
Welfare Reforms: An Update for Employers: 27th February 2013, 5:30pm start – 8:00pm. Carnoustie Golf Hotel The Links, Carnoustie DD7 7JE
Universal Credit is a new single payment for people who are looking for work or on a low income. Universal Credit will help claimants and their families to become more independent and will simplify the benefits system by bringing together a range of working-age benefits into a single streamlined payment. This reform will mean a lot of changes for employers therefore this event aims to provide information and support on how to manage these changes.
Are you an employer? Do you operate PAYE? Are you ready for Real Time Information?
HMRC is introducing a new way of reporting PAYE - called Real Time Information, or RTI. RTI is one of the biggest changes to payroll legislation since 1944.
From April 2013, employers will be legally required to report PAYE in real time. This means that information about all PAYE payments needs to be submitted to HMRC online each time a payment is made as part of the payroll process, rather than at the end of the year as they are now. Returns will include details of all employees' pay, tax and deductions.
What does RTI involve?
Employers will be required to submit ‘real time information' on their employees' tax, national insurance contributions and other deductions when or before their wages and salaries are paid – in other words, on a weekly or monthly basis, rather than annually. These filing deadlines are strict and must be met, regardless of whether your payroll manager is sick or your IT systems playing up.
If you require further information about how this will affect you, contact the free FSB Member Tax Advice Line on 08450 727 727 or for online legal advice visit FSB Legal Information Online:
www.fsblegalinfo.org.uk.
We will be running an information session on RTI and what it means to you in early 2013: if you wish to attend , please contact
Catherine Ward and details will be forwarded to you in January.
Survive and Thrive
The most competent entrepreneurs sometimes lose focus and drive. The current economic climate is challenging business people to adapt and change to fit the new 'normal'. Often all that is needed are some fresh ideas and some guidance on changing business tactics to get back on track. The Survive and Thrive programme operated by the Business Gateway across Grampian(across Dundee and Angus / across Perthshire), can provide practical advice and support on areas such as strategy, business stabilisation, access to finance, marketing and business planning. Over the last three years, over 300 businesses have been assisted.
The programme provides:
- Up to 10 days of fully funded advisory support for SME's.
- Confidential support which can range from an outline discussion on areas of opportunity or difficulty to the development of business plans or facilitated engagement with a bank.
- A team of experienced business advisors with specific sectoral and business knowledge including retail, food and drink, sales, marketing, finance and banking.
For further details, contact the Survive and Thrive team on 01382 443400 or email
info@enetrust.com.
Training Courses Available from Dundee College
Dundee College has been awarded funding to run 3 transition training programmes to be delivered in January over a 6-week period. These programmes will give currently unemployed welders/fabricators, plumbers & electricians, and Engineering Graduates the opportunity to re-enter the job market in their particular area. The college is now working in partnership with local businesses to get them involved with candidate selection, attend informal information sessions to provide information on possible job opportunities, provide work placements, give mock interviews and ideally recruit these candidates before the end of March.
There will be no cost to businesses to participate in this programme.
A number of programmes commencing in January, with a combination of in–College training and industry-based work placements;
- Micro renewables – with a view to transitioning time-served plumbers/electricians into an Energy Adviser role or to work in Facilities Services/Management – 4 weeks College training & 2 weeks industry-based work placement
- Multidisciplinary Graduate Engineers – to enable them to gain practical skills to work in the Engineering/Energy/Renewables sectors on or off shore - 5 weeks College training & 1 week industry-based work placement
- Welding/Fabricators – to work in the Fabrication & Welding sectors on or off shore – 5 weeks College training & 1 week industry-based work placement
The candidates the college are hoping to attract through Job Centre Plus will come from Tayside and North East Fife and will ideally be time-served welders/fabricators, plumbers/electricians, and Engineering Graduates who are currently unemployed and are looking to improve their career opportunities. The training courses will consist of the following units:
Generic Skills & Training (7 days) – for all candidates
- Workplace Safety including Risk Assessment & COSHH (2 days)
- Introduction to working at heights (1 day)
- Manual Handling (0.5 day)
- Abrasive Wheels (1 day)
- Engineering Drawing & Communication (1 day)
- Interview Techniques (0.5 day)
- CV Writing (0.5 day)
- Presentation Skills (0.5 day)
Welding/Fabrication training (18 days) – for welders/fabricators;
- Energy Overview & Technology (1 day)
- Engineering Drawing BSEN 22553 Welding Symbols (0.5 day)
- ASME 1X/AWS D1.1/EN 287/BS 4872 Welding in either Mig/Mag or Tig/Tag or MMA process (10 days)
- Weld Procedure Specification & Testing (0.5 day)
- Gas Safety Passport (1 day)
- Fabrication & Platework (4 days)
- Non-destructive & Destructive Testing (0.5 day)
- Thermal Cutting Skills (0.5 day)
Multidisciplinary Technician (18 days) – for Graduate Engineers;
- Energy Overview and Technology (1 day)
- Instrumentation & Control (1 day)
- Pneumatics & Hydraulics (2 days)
- Computer aided draughting/Design for Engineers (3 days)
- Bench fitting Skills/Engineering Practical Skills (3 days)
- Machining Skills & Component Manufacturing (2 days)
- Basic Welding Skills (1 day)
- Assembly & Disassembly Skills (2 days)
- Materials Selection (1 day)
- Business Awareness & CPD (1 day)
- Project Management; Managing a project (1 day)
Micro-renewables (13 days) - for Plumbers & Electricians
- Domestic Rainwater Harvesting Systems
- Domestic Greywater Re-cycling Systems
- Domestic Air Source Heat Pumps
- Domestic Ground Source Heat Pumps
- Domestic Solar Hot Water Systems
- Mechanical Heat Recovery Ventilation Systems
- Photovoltaic (PV) Arrays
For further details, contact Chris Cooke, Business Advisor, External Relations, Dundee College Mob: 07590 307615 / Email: c.cooke@dundeecollege.ac.uk
Funding for Training
Flexible Training Opportunities gives Scottish businesses with under 75 employees the opportunity to apply for up to £5,000 towards employee training costs.
The types and levels of training that are eligible for support:
Qualifications including individual units
Masterclasses
Learning based on National Occupational Standard
Industry recognised qualifications
First line supervisory management
Workshops
Taster sessions
Funding is available for up to 10 employees per business and comes in the form of a refund of up to 50% of each episode of employee training up to a maximum of £500 for each employee. For example, if an episode of training costs £1200, you will receive a refund of £500. If it costs £300, the refund would be £150.
Click this link for more information from Skills Development Scotland
AngusWorks
The Angus Reputable Traders Scheme
A scheme to give Angus residents information on reliable traders in the county has now been launched by Angus Council, with co-operation from Tayside Police and the Federation of Small Businesses.
The Angus Reputable Traders Scheme (ARTS) will make finding a trustworthy trader from both the retail and service sectors a lot easier for local people.
(Learn more...)