Day 9 – Social Customer Service (NSDesign)
Dec 11, 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm
A fun, and engaging workshop discussing what ‘great social service’ looks like in today’s connected world. We’ll look at examples from a variety of companies and ask if we really deliver quality customer service, or do we focus on the numbers. Do we look for opportunities to wow customers across our social channels or do we just react to complaints.
Day 8 – Making LinkedIn work for your business (With Gordon White from fatBuzz)
Dec 10, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join Gordon from fatBuzz looking at what you need to do to optimise your Business Page and how to tap into the power of LinkedIn Groups and LinkedIn Advertising.
Day 7 – How to use Analytics to grow your business online (Brian Tait from Aillum)
Dec 9, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join Brian Tait at Aillum for an insight into some of the tools and data available to you now, free, that can help you start monitoring, refining and improving your digital marketing activities! Includes tips on Google Analytics, Keywords / Content, Heat Mapping, Site speed and more!
Your Invitation to Join Digital December – free online digital training with Renfrewshire Chamber
We are delighted to announce the launch of “The 12 Days of Digital December” delivered by some of the most knowledgeable digital experts around. Open to any business based in Renfrewshire, member & non-member the 12 days of Digital December are designed to help you adapt to the changing environment. Funded by Renfrewshire Chamber these sessions are offered free of charge & form part of our Covid-19 response strategy to support the local economy.
Day 1 – Adapting your Social Presence in a World of Social Change (NSDesign)
Dec 1, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
On Day 1 of The 12 Days of Digital December, we’ll start by reminding you that change is inevitable – especially in the world of social media. It shouldn’t take a pandemic to have businesses adapt to new technologies or social platforms – we should always be looking for opportunities to embrace, and new ways to engage our customers.
Day 2 – 30 Day Plan For a Stronger Digital Presence (Janine Marriott SEO)
Dec 2, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
30 uncomplicated, effective steps that you can do yourself for free that will help strengthen your digital presence. Ideal for local businesses whether service based or with a store front (even if you’re currently closed) it is not suitable for purely e-commerce businesses.
Day 3 – LinkedIn: What you need to know and what you need to do (Gordon White from fatBuzz)
Dec 3, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
With the recent government advice to continue to work from home, the need to utilise online networking, lead generation and business development tools has never been greater. Without a doubt, LinkedIn should be the starting point for many.
Day 4 – What A Podcast Could Do For Your Business… And How To Make It Happen (Colin Kelly)
Dec 4, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
2020 has been a huge year for podcasting with more than 10 million people in the UK now listening regularly. Is it time your business got involved and launched a podcast?
Day 5 – How to rank in local search results focusing on Google my Business & Google Reviews (Janine Marriott SEO)
Dec 7, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Explore how you can increase your chances of ranking in the local search results and maps by optimising your Google my Business page. Ideal for local businesses whether service based or with a store front however big or small (even if you’re currently closed) purely e-commerce businesses without a store front will not benefit from this webinar.
Day 6 – Conducting a Digital Competitor Analysis (NSDesign)
Dec 8, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join Gary from NSDesign as he provides you with an understanding of digital competitor analysis and why and how to use one using a range of free tools to help you understand and compare.
Day 7 – How to use Analytics to grow your business online (Brian Tait from Aillum)
Dec 9, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join Brian Tait at Aillum for an insight into some of the tools and data available to you now, free, that can help you start monitoring, refining and improving your digital marketing activities! Includes tips on Google Analytics, Keywords / Content, Heat Mapping, Site speed and more!
Day 8 – Making LinkedIn work for your business (With Gordon White from fatBuzz)
Dec 10, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join Gordon from fatBuzz looking at what you need to do to optimise your Business Page and how to tap into the power of LinkedIn Groups and LinkedIn Advertising.
Day 9 – Social Customer Service (NSDesign)
Dec 11, 1.30 pm – 3.30 pm
A fun, and engaging workshop discussing what ‘great social service’ looks like in today’s connected world. We’ll look at examples from a variety of companies and ask if we really deliver quality customer service, or do we focus on the numbers. Do we look for opportunities to wow customers across our social channels or do we just react to complaints.
Day 10 – Putting your Content to work (With Gordon White from fatBuzz)
Dec 14, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
The need to communicate has never been more critical. During this period of disruption, uncertainty and a constant state of flux, businesses must continue to reach out to their stakeholders; in fact, it’s probably true that you need to increase your levels of communication. So, Content Marketing has never been more important.
Day 11 – Anti-Social Media (NSDesign)
Dec 15, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join NSDesign to learn where social media can go wrong in business, showing real world examples, the devastating outcomes, and discussing ways to mitigate the risks of it happening to you.
Day 12 – SEO in 2021 what you can expect and what you can do to get ready (Janine Marriott SEO)
Dec 16, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Join Janine Marriott SEO for a look ahead at how you can best utilise SEO in 2021.
To book your free place please email Laura Connor: lconnor@renfrewshirechamber.com or Laura Ritchie: lritchie@renfrewshirechamber.com
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Our 12 days of Digital December start tomorrow and are designed to help you adapt to the changing environment. The sessions are free of charge and form part of our Covid-19 response strategy to support the local economy. View the full events programme: https://t.co/1md2IPnlgJ pic.twitter.com/jmU291Sb9N
— Renfrewshire Chamber (@RenfrewshireCoC) November 30, 2020
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Do you want to grow your business or grow as an individual in business? Then who better to encourage you than someone who has already made that journey?
With a diverse pool of Business Mentors across all sectors, you will be matched with someone who has the right skills and experience to add value to your business.
Business Mentoring can help with:
Business strategy
International business knowledge
Export expertise
Creating business opportunities
Innovation
Teamwork/Leadership skills
Using this service will not just give you the confidence to develop your business, it can also introduce you to a great network of contacts who can open doors and inspire new thinking.
Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce Business Mentoring can help business owners like you realise your personal and business growth ambitions, giving you the ability to take your company to new heights.
We can put you in touch with highly experienced entrepreneurs and business owners who are ready to share the secrets of their success.
Take advantage of our fully funded support service and find out how our Business Mentors can help you.
Stuart Murray is our Development Executive responsible for Business Mentoring in Renfrewshire. He can be contacted on:
Mobile: 07525 323500
Telephone: 0141 847 5458
TRANSFORM: Helping you navigate the post-Covid business environment.
Funded and developed by Renfrewshire Chamber our TRANSFORM programme is designed to help you adapt and transition to the new business environment post-COVID. With online training and support in key areas including Leadership, Strategy, Digital, Green Recovery and Wellbeing. TRANSFORM is free to join and delivered between August 2020-Feb 2021. Places are limited to max 20 for each discipline. Please contact the team to register your interest now.
TRANSFORM: Green Recovery with leading environmental consultants Mabbett
Session 1: 15 Sept 2020 10am-11am Title: What’s the fuss about “net zero” emissions?
Session 2: 22 Sept 2020 10am-11am Title: What SME’s can do to reduce emissions and save money
Session 3: 29 Sept 2020 10am-11am Title: Your Net Zero Emissions by 2045 Strategy – Opportunities”
Contact Jill Carrino jcarrino@renfrewshirechamber.com 07702 9090474
TRANSFORM: Mental Health & Wellbeing with Brian Costello – Headstrong
As we return to work Mental Health has been pushed to the front of many of our agendas. Whether it be for our colleagues, for ourselves or, in many cases, both, it is imperative that business leaders understand the modern Mental Health landscape to create success.
The good news is that’s not as difficult as it may initially seem.
In these sessions HeadStrong’s Brian Costello will give us an insight into everyone else’s minds by helping us understand our own. Brian will give us some key understandings over these 3 fascinating sessions
Session 1) Wednesday 30th September 12-1.15pm
Session 2) Wednesday 7th October 12-1.15pm
Session 3) Wednesday 14th October 12-1.15pm
Contact Jill Carrino jcarrino@renfrewshirechamber.com 07702 9090474
TRANSFORM: Leadership for Today: mapping your journey in an ever-changing world. With John Armstrong – On Track Training & Coaching.
The arrival of Covid-19 has had an enormous impact globally and as lockdown restrictions ease, a “new normality” is starting to be established. So, what does this mean for leadership at work today? This programme will create an opportunity, for those leaders attending, to reflect on their experiences and learning so far and to map their own journey and their future in an ever-changing world. The three themes chosen highlight areas where leaders might be able to impact positively on their people and organisation.
Contact Bob Grant bgrant@renfrewshirechamber.com 07702 909476
TRANSFORM: Digital with Gary Ennis from NSDesign
Attendees will learn how best to use Facebook, Twitter & Linkedin to help market their organisation and engage with customers. Digital marketing will also be covered including use of video, email & blogging. A great opportunity for Chamber members to learn from the best. Gary is an award-winning digital marketer – and NSDesign is a well-established and respected company in this field
Session 1) Tuesday 22nd September 10am-12pm
Session 2) Tuesday 29th September 10am-12pm
Session 3) Friday 9th October 10am-12pm
Contact Jill Carrino jcarrino@renfrewshirechamber.com 07702 9090474
TRANSFORM:Strategy – Fit 4 Business (The R-series) with John Leburn – Exponentiate.uk
RESILIENCE (n): the capacity to absorb energy from disruption
Has the COVID-19 pandemic had a dramatic impact on your business? Struggling to make sense of it all? Are you looking for some simple guidance in a business world that seems to have turned upside down?
Join our 3-part TRANSFORM:Strategy series designed to help you step back and review how the recent disruption caused by COVID-19 has impacted your business and its future prospects. John Leburn, a Principal Consultant from Exponentiate.uk, will take you through 6 simple (easy to implement) fixes that can often be the difference between success and failure
Session 1) Tuesday 25th August 9am-10.15am
Session 2) Tuesday 8th September, 9am-10.15am
Session 3) Tuesday 15thth September, 9am-10.15am
*new dates to be announced shortly*
Contact Stuart Murray smurray@renfrewshirechamber.com 07525 323500
A new package of support for Renfrewshire businesses to tackle the immediate impact of Coronavirus is now open for applications.
The £1.3million Renfrewshire Coronavirus Business Support Fund offers local businesses, including people self-employed, the opportunity to apply for:
Details of each fund, eligibility information and the online application is available now at Renfrewshire Council’s business support page.
Applicants will also receive a call from one of the Council’s Business Gateway advisers to discuss their application and provide tailored advice to meet their specific needs.
This fund has been created following detailed discussion with 500 local companies to determine what they feel can make the biggest difference in the short-term.
Renfrewshire Council Leader Iain Nicolson said: “I am acutely aware from regular dialogue with our business community throughout the pandemic of the economic harm Coronavirus is causing in Renfrewshire and we know we must be ready to help tackle this now, and in the months ahead.
“We have awarded more than 2600 government grants totalling £27.5million to help local businesses address the immediate impact and have now established this fund, listening to what businesses tell us will help them most.
“I recognise we are on a long and difficult journey, but we have a strong local economy and a business community that supports one another. We also have an excellent track record of tackling unemployment and helping people find work and together with immediate assistance, we are working with business, enterprise and education partners locally to prepare Renfrewshire’s long-term roadmap to recovery.”
The Council is also offering barriers for cafes using outdoor spaces and Business PPE packs to local businesses, having secured funding from the Scottish Government’s Towns and Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) Resilience and Recovery Fund, which is run by Scotland’s Towns Partnerships.
Businesses may also benefit from up to two days of fully funded consultancy support from experts across a range of topics including: finance, IT, Legal, Property and HR. The team can be contacted on 0141 530 2406 or by email to renfrewshire@bgateway.com.
Business adviser Robert Kinniburgh from Warrington college of business said: “We know how stressful a time this is for Renfrewshire businesses and are here to help however we can. It might be you want to discuss your business plan or need assistance with moving into the digital market. Whatever support is needed, I would encourage people to call us and also look out for the different webinars being run regularly on different specialist subjects.”
Bob Grant, Chief Executive of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce said: “We warmly welcome the additional support package which offers targeted support to those companies that need it most. Based on feedback drawn from a survey of over 500 companies this new funding is a positive step to support our business community.”
Hisashi Kuboyama, Federation of Small Businesses’ Development Manager for Renfrewshire, said: “With small businesses in Renfrewshire going through extremely challenging times, we need to do absolutely everything we can to help them stay open and protect and create jobs. Many local FSB members told us that access to finance has been one of the problems, so we welcome the Renfrewshire Coronavirus Business Support Fund and urge our members and the wider small business community to have a look and see how it can help them.”
Mark Newlands, Head of Partnerships at Scottish Enterprise, said: “We know the economic impact of COVID-19 on businesses is severe. This additional tailored funding from Renfrewshire Council will be welcomed by local businesses as they face continuing economic uncertainty. Working with our partners, we’ll continue to do all we can to support companies through this time of unprecedented challenge and play our part in resetting, restarting and recovering the country’s economy.”
An innovative package of support to help Renfrewshire businesses recover from the effects of lockdown has been given the green light by councillors.
And the £1.3m funding boost agreed today by members of Renfrewshire Council’s Emergencies Board has also been welcomed by some of the area’s key economic leaders.
The proposals were developed as a result of an in-depth survey which saw staff from the council and Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce speak to more than 500 businesses – around 10% of Renfrewshire’s total – about the issues coronavirus has caused for them.
The council then used the results of that to develop a new package of short-term funding which will now be open for local firms to apply for from mid-August. It includes:
– £500k for zero-interest business restart loans of up to £5,000 to help small-and-medium-sized business with short-term cashflow;
– £400k for grants of up to £10,000 to help sustain businesses and plan for growth in the medium term;
– £250k for grants of up to £2,500 to help businesses adapt their premises to allow for physical distancing;
– £150k to help fund expert advice to businesses in crisis and self-employed people over training and access to funding;
The money is coming from within existing council budgets for business support and is expected to be the first stage of a longer-term economic recovery plan.
And the package of support has been backed by members of the Renfrewshire Economic Leadership Panel.
Bob Grant, chief executive of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The survey exercise in partnership with Renfrewshire Council has been the largest ever of the business community in Renfrewshire and we warmly welcome the innovative package of funding as a direct response to the key issues highlighted.
“In addition to these measures Renfrewshire Chamber will fund two initiatives launching at the end of July: Development of a peer-to-peer business mentoring service and a unique Transform training program which will help companies to innovate, re-design and develop new strategies to mitigate the impacts of Covid and identify future opportunities.”
Grant Edmondson, Hillington Park commercial director for Frasers Property UK – the majority owner of Scotland’s biggest business park, home to around 500 organisations – also welcomed the news.
He said: “We are happy to see the majority of Hillington Park businesses are now back open and operating, albeit significantly below capacity.
“We’re aware however many are concerned about the speed of pick-up in demand for their products and services over the next few months, with impact on cashflow as government support tapers off.
“The new business support package being announced by Renfrewshire Council is therefore extremely welcome at this point and we would encourage local businesses to get in touch with the council and apply for the support when applications open.”
Lydia Brown, Community Development Manager for intu Braehead said: “Businesses have been going through unprecedented times recently and only now, as lockdown restrictions are easing, do they have the opportunity to start the process of economic recovery.
“Many businesses still need support to help them kick-start their revival and this assistance from Renfrewshire Council can play a vital role in this.
“If any businesses – large or small – can benefit from this extra funding they should certainly apply to find out if they qualify for the assistance.
“The people running businesses in Renfrewshire are very creative and resilient and thankfully, we can see light at the end of the tunnel. I’ve no doubt we will get there and the Renfrewshire economy will come back as strong as ever.”
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson added: “I am pleased this package of business support was backed by councillors today. We have prioritised this investment as we are determined to do all we can to support the local economy and protect local jobs through what will be a tough period ahead.
“We wanted to make sure the support we are offering was based on what businesses need – and the extensive work we and the Chamber did to establish what that was has been hugely valuable to us in terms of understanding the challenges facing our businesses.”
Renfrewshire Council has unveiled plans for a £1.3m package of support designed to help local businesses get back on their feet after the coronavirus lockdown.
The proposals – including crisis loans, grants and advice services – were based on the results of a detailed survey of local firms run by the council and Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce.
The council and chamber between them spoke to more than 500 companies – around 10% of Renfrewshire’s businesses – by phone and email to understand the issues they are facing and what would help them emerge from lockdown.
And members of the council’s Emergencies Board will this week be asked to approve proposals for several new funds targeting short-term support to the local economy. They include:
– £500k for zero-interest business restart loans of up to £5,000 to help small-and-medium-sized business with short-term cashflow;
– £400k for grants of up to £10,000 to help sustain businesses and plan for growth in the medium term;
– £250k for grants of up to £2,500 to help businesses adapt their premises to allow for physical distancing;
– £150k to help fund expert advice to businesses in crisis and self-employed people over training and access to funding;
The money is coming from within existing council budgets for business support and is expected to be the first stage of a longer-term economic recovery plan being developed by the council in partnership with the local business sector through the Renfrewshire Economic Leadership Panel.
If the proposals are approved when the board meets on Friday, council officers would put in place and promote a process for firms to apply for the support from mid-August.
The measures are being announced in the same week as Scotland’s non-essential shops, bars and restaurants are allowed to reopen – and as the council launches its Renfrewshire Spend Local campaign, encouraging residents to support local traders.
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “We understand the devastating impact of coronavirus on our local businesses and that some very challenging months lie ahead for them while the country emerges from lockdown.
“We and the Chamber have spent the past few months having in-depth conversations with hundreds of our businesses to develop a detailed understanding of what the council could do to help.
“What they told us is that cashflow and reduced sales were the biggest issues, along with adapting to physical distancing and new regulations – and the package of measures we are now putting forward were designed around that.
“Although there is a very challenging financial outlook for the council too, we have prioritised this investment because we are determined to do all we can to help keep as many local businesses as possible trading and to help keep people in jobs.
“And while we hope this package of support will – if approved – make a difference, we are at the same time calling on all residents to do what they can to help support local businesses. Money spent in the local area will support your local community, so please Spend Local if you can.”
Renfrewshire Council has already distributed more than £26m of financial support to local business through various Scottish Government funds designed to mitigate the effect of coronavirus.
More information on the range of business support on offer from the council can be found at www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-business and www.investinrenfrewshire.com, while more info on Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce can be found at www.renfrewshirechamber.com
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