Are you interested in training and upskilling your employees for free?
With the Flexible Workforce Development Fund (FWDF) you could access up to £5000 worth of training for your staff.
The fund is open to small to medium enterprises (SMEs) across the public, private and third sectors in Scotland.
UHI North Highland offers training in a variety of areas, from IT to Hospitality and can even offer training bespoke to your business needs.
Improve productivity, customer relations, team dynamics, and add value to your business with the Flexible Workforce Development Fund.
Register your interest online now UHI Flexible Workforce Development Fund
Trudy Morris, Chief Executive, Caithness Chamber of Commerce. Navigating business challenges and seizing opportunities as we look ahead to 2023.
As we embark on a new year, it’s natural to reflect on the past in order to reset and align our goals and ambitions for the future. In my experience, this is especially true of our local business owners, who are constantly seeking ways to improve, grow and sustain their enterprises, demonstrating extraordinary dedication, ingenuity, and resourcefulness throughout. The last few years have seen unprecedented challenges and uncertainty for businesses across all sizes and sectors, and as we step resolutely into 2023 this shows little signs of easing. Businesses faced with supply chain insecurity, inflation, rising costs and volatile market pricing of commodities will need to look at all options to maximise efficiencies and improve resilience.
It is encouraging to see that despite a decline in economic optimism and a turbulent outlook ahead, a significant proportion of businesses in the Highland region remain determined to achieve growth. In fact, 45% of businesses are actively pursuing goals such as introducing new products or services and entering into new markets[1]. Agile, forward-thinking entrepreneurs who can identify and captitalise on new opportunities could find successes within the current economic environment.
The North Highlands is renowned for its innovation and flexibility in approach to business. This has been consistently exemplified through our strong track record in manufacturing, advanced engineering, new technologies, unique tourism portfolio and thriving food and drinks industry. According to a new study from Virgin StartUp, a quarter of adults within Scotland are considering launching their own business within the next year. This trend suggests a significant level of entrepreneurial activity in the country and it’s no surprise to see this reflected in our own region.
Whilst running a business can be an inspiring and a rewarding experience, it is a significant undertaking that requires careful planning and consideration of the risks and rewards. Regardless of their size, sector, or stage of establishment, it is inevitable that all businesses will face challenges. In the current climate of rising costs businesses will need to look at innovative solutions to build resilience. It’s not always about large scale solutions which can be overwhelming and cost prohibitive, for example changing a heating system to reduce energy bills. It is sometimes looking for the more affordable smaller interventions which can see a positive accumulative impact on reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Centered at the heart of the North Highland business community, Caithness Chamber of Commerce is here to support businesses at all stages of their development journey. As an active part of the global chamber network, we help businesses grow, connect, and succeed. Caithness Chamber of Commerce connects businesses locally, nationally, and internationally with decision makers and opportunities. Representing the North Highland business voice on a national level by lobbying governments on key issues, informing policy and helping to shape the decisions that affect our region.
Caithness Chamber of Commerce offers a diverse range of support to business in the North Highlands. From access to funding, through to our business support mentoring programme we offer a unique opportunity to access expert knowledge, advice and network opportunities and encourage businesses to reach out.
The View from the Board – Ian A Neale CEO & Founder of Myconsultant.biz How to Strengthen your business big or small
We enter the New Year with challenges never seen before and it is a good time to discipline ourselves to review our businesses to ensure we are maximising our opportunities. Irrespective of size, every company needs to take time out to review their company’s position in terms of performance, how we can do things better and what is next?
Are you supporting your business with a 3-year plan? You may say, my business is too small or I don’t have time. Well, every successful and growing business has a plan to help deliver the value and results you and your investors are looking for. The plan can assist you in so many ways, from budgeting to objectives and structure. The plan can also focus on costs, marketing, sales and even operational needs. The more detail the better. There are many business books and online templates to get you started if you have never done one before. Those of you who haven’t updated your information since you opened the doors, it is time to dust it off and bring it up to date.
Having a clear strategy is so important if you want to grow and increase your market share and profitability.
A business plan can also demonstrate to a bank or an ‘angel’ investor that you have thought through your business module and you have a strategy for success.
Look to increase your awareness by attending networking and supplier events. You only need one good contact who can expose you to more leads and opportunities to assist the company. Through networking, you can even explore partnership marketing opportunities with non-conflicting businesses (two companies that don’t directly compete but have a likeminded customer base).
If market conditions continue to be challenging, don’t be slow to speak with your competitors as there are many examples where collaboration can work on so many levels, from putting two struggling businesses together to making one solid partnership – sharing resources, equipment, and customers through partnership marketing.
All businesses need to have great communications both internally and externally; never be afraid to ask for help or advice even from your own staff, colleagues, or other business owners and not forgetting networks like the Chamber of Commerce.
Make sure you find time for your business planning and strategy, as these are your masterplan to a successful 2023 and beyond.
[1] HIE Business Pannel, published October 22
DASA has launched a new innovation focus area (IFA) on behalf of dstl. This funding opportunity aims to investigate generation-after-next advanced materials for Defence. There are two challenges i) intelligent materials and structures and ii) materials for enhanced thermal management. There are multiple areas within these two challenges based on different domains. TRL at finish varies as does the length of the project and funding available (maximum £300k). It’s quite complicated but we have provided a useful summary table in the information:
This IFA will run for two cycles of the DASA Open Call. These cycles close midday 22 February 2023 and midday 25 April 2023. If you are interested then please send a 500-word EOI to Deb (What the idea is? Who might use the idea and how? What advantage the idea offers?) and she will ask the customer if they are interested in assessing a full proposal.
As ever, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to drop us a note.
Many kind regards,
DASA Scotland
Deb (djcarr@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Linda (lgalloway@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Anis (amourad@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Access to Mentoring and Finance Partner
We are pleased to announce a new DASA market exploration.
To remind you, these are effectively pre-competition market surveys and allow our customers to decide whether they will run a future DASA competition; they offer you an opportunity to influence that. The submission process is much shorter than applications for a DASA competition.
This market exploration, which closes at midday 20 January 2023, is about anti-submarine warfare technologies. Specifically, we are looking for innovative systems and technologies that could deliver persistent, deployable uncrewed maritime assets. Areas of interest include:
- Sensors
- Platforms
- Analysis
- Communication i
- Launch and recovery solutions
- Power sources
- Station-keeping and propulsion
- Navigation
- Data
- Maintenance and sustainment options
- Training
- Validation
More details are here
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dasa-seeks-deployable-anti-submarine-warfare-technologies
Many kind regards,
DASA Scotland
Deb (djcarr@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Linda (lgalloway@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Anis (amourad@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Access to Mentoring and Finance Partner
DASA is delighted to announce a new Themed Competition on whole body vibration (WBV). We have £2.5m to investigate three challenges:
Challenge 1: Define the size and nature of the problem
Challenge 2: Quantify exposure to WBV
Challenge 3: Establish the short-term effects of WBV on the performance of duties
£925k of the total £2.5m must be spent within the financial year 2023/2024 and deliverables must be planned with this in mind. We expect to fund between one and three proposals over a 47-month period. All contracts must complete by the end of March 2027. At least one funded proposal will be a multidisciplinary programme seeking to address all or the majority of the questions raised. Projects can start in the range of TRL1 to TRL5 but must progress to TRL6 by the end of the contract.
There is a webinar and general Q&A on 17 November 2022 and the opportunity to book 15-minute one-to-one sessions with the technical team on 22 and 29 November 2022. These will all be delivered by MS Teams. Eventbrite signup pages are provided in the competition document which is here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/competition-understanding-whole-body-vibration
Delighted to announce the launch of a new DASA Themed Competition seeking innovative technologies contributing to the development of a Novel Amphibious Craft concept to enable Commando Force to safely and rapidly insert themselves into high-threat environments. Future craft need to:
- travel at sustained high speed over a long-range,
- provide the ability to deliver personnel and light vehicles to a coastal access point with limited or no impact on operational speed/capability,
- relaunch from the coastal access point and
- operate with low signature across all spectrums (thermal, radar, visual, acoustic, etc.) to reduce the probability of detection.
We have £1m to support this competition. We expect proposals to be between £100k and £350k in value. This competition has two themes.
Theme 1: Priority Challenges
Theme 1 aims to address the following technical challenges faced by the capability:
- Theme 1a: How to reduce the signature across multiple spectrums (thermal, radar, visual, acoustic etc.).
- Theme 1b: How to deliver the Commando Force (troops and vehicles) across the water gap and minimise the requirement for wading.
- Theme 1c: How to land onto/retract from an unprepared coastal access point.
Theme 2: Capability Design
Theme 2 aims to design a craft capable of delivering the complete capability defined above. This is a lower Technology Readiness Level (TRL) theme up to TRL4.
You can book one-to-one meetings with the Technical Team (using MS Teams) on 03 or 08 November. I’m sure these slots will go fast. The competition document (including Eventbrite links for the Teams meetings) is here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/novel-amphibious-craft
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions you might have.
Many thanks,
DASA Scotland
Deb (djcarr@dasa.service.mod.uk) Innovation Partner
Linda (lgalloway@dasa.service.mod.uk) Innovation Partner
Anis (amourad@dasa.service.mod.uk) Access to Mentoring and Finance Partner
Firstly a new themed competition – CHERI within Defence and Security. It is funded by Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Cyber Programme. There is £1.5 million funding available to experiment and trial the effects of the CHERI (Capability Hardware Enhanced RISC Instructions) based architecture extensions within the Arm’s Morello prototype System on Chip (SoC). We expect to fund a number of proposals up to £100k. The closing date is midday on 14th November. Further details can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/competition-cheri-within-defence-and-security
Secondly there is an opportunity to participate in a Novel Amphibious Craft Collaboration Day either in person in Newcastle or virtually. The aim is to give innovators the chance to network with others in their community and help shape a future DASA competition, Novel Amphibious Craft. There will also be an opportunity to meet with experts from across DSTL, DE&S and the Royal Marines Commando Force. It will take place on 10 October 2022. Note registration closed on Friday 30th September at midday. Details are below:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/novel-amphibious-craft-collaboration-day-tickets-425011499837
Beyond Line of Sight Communications (IFA036)
This IFA is being run on behalf of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) Communication and Networks programme, and is seeking Generation-After-Next (GAN) proposals, which explore and develop new / novel beyond line of sight (BLOS) communication options.
This IFA expects proposals to deliver a proof of concept at around Technical Readiness Level(TRL) 3/4 by the end of the project. DASA expects to fund proposals around £100K, (although this is not a hard limit) which provides a proof of concept within a maximum contract duration of 2 years.
Making Science Fiction a Reality: Future Directed Energy Weapons (IFA035)
DASA are seeking proposals which present ideas to contribute to the first generation of deployed Directed Energy Weaponhe first generation of deployed Directed Energy Weapons. We are interested in novel ideas to enhance the performance and/or reduce the size, mass and volume of the system and sub system areas associated with laser and RF Directed Energy Weapons. Full details are provided on our website.
For this IFA, DASA are seeking ideas between TRL 2-6, with suggested project values of between £50k-£200k, and a maximum project duration of 12 months.
Full descriptions of these IFAs can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-and-security-accelerator-dasa-open-call-for-innovation/open-call-innovation-focus-areas
The DASA Innovation Focus Area on Human Augmentation has been extended for another Cycle of the DASA Open Call. It will now close at midday 23 November. This IFA is seeking ideas that temporarily or permanently modify human performance. The call is very wide and covers everything from nutrition to exoskeletons. Projects will finish at TRL3 and last 6 months. The value of the contracts will be around £70k. Please find further details below.
Any questions, please get in touch.
Kind regards,
DASA Scotland
Deb (djcarr@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Linda (lgalloway@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Innovation Partner
Anis (amourad@dasa.service.mod.uk) – Access to Mentoring and Finance Partner