With 15.6% of people in Caithness and Sutherland employed in the accommodation and food services, the second highest employing sector in the region, showcasing careers pathways for entry and development into the sector is key.
In our third Talking Tourism event, we are inviting businesses and communities from across our region to discuss the different career pathways into the tourism and hospitality sector and the support available to develop your workforce. Joining Venture North will be representatives from:
- The Caithness Collection Hotel Group
- Developing Young Workforce
- North Highland College UHI
Presentations will be followed by a Q&A and discussion with our panel of speakers.
Now more than ever, discussions are being made around sustainability and in particular how the tourism sector can contribute in delivering “green tourism”. But what exactly does this mean? How can tourism and hospitality businesses in our area make a difference in achieving the nations net zero targets?
Joining Venture North in our second Talking Tourism event on net zero and sustainable tourism will be representatives from:
- Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- Caithness Chamber of Commerce
- North West Highlands Geopark
- North Highlands and Island Community Hub
Presentations will be followed by a Q&A and discussion with our panel of speakers.
Joined by representatives from our board of directors and key funders, the event will include:
- Short presentations about our key roles and a review of our first year as the destination management organisation for Sutherland and Caithness.
- Q&A and discussion on future activities you would like to see from Venture North.
About this event
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) is pleased to provide an opportunity to discover more about the Horizon Europe Civil Security for Society work programme. With security challenges rapidly evolving, and the nature of criminal activity becoming more and more complex, security research has never been as important and vital as it is today. Through new technologies and knowledge, it is possible to move from a reactive to a proactive response to criminality. The Civil Security for Society work programme offers opportunities for such research and innovation to contribute to the safety and security of citizens and communities.
The Civil Security for Society work programme spans six ‘destinations’:
- Better protect the EU and its citizens against crime and terrorism
- Effective management of EU borders
- Resilient infrastructure
- Increased cybersecurity
- Disaster-resilient society for Europe
- Strengthened security research and innovation
This webinar will provide an opportunity to find out more about how to apply for Horizon Europe funding.
What will be covered in the event?
- Introduction to Horizon Europe
- Civil Security for Society 2022 calls
- Optimising partner searching
- Proposal preparation and application process
- Legislation and finance
- Q&A
Sign up to attend this event using this link.
As the country emerges from the pandemic, Productivity Club Scotland’s hybrid conference explores how new ways of working may be adopted and embraced to boost business performance and productivity.
Full Day Event: 09.00 – 18.00
In-person Location: RBS Conference Centre, Gogarburn, Edinburgh
Online Platform: Zoom
This day-long free conference has been designed specifically to address some of the complex issues facing the commercial sector following a difficult and demanding two years. The conference promises to provide support, practical advice and plenty of innovative ideas to aid business recovery and improved productivity, and with expert enterprise input will consider the challenges to productivity posed by Scotland’s unique geography.
Guest speakers and session facilitators will help us:
- Assess how productivity in Scotland is affected by geography and socio-economic factors, and how we can overcome barriers
- Discover the role played by digital leadership and data in business growth and planning
- Analyse how HR, legal and health & safety requirements might affect new ways of working
- Learn from businesses on how they: implemented creativity and innovation processes; started their net zero journey; introduced a 4-day week improving productivity and employee engagement
As well as offering practical advice and space for forward thinking, our conference will provide time for networking, and a session exploring the vital importance of mindfulness and wellbeing for ourselves, our colleagues and staff, as we continue on the road to recovery.
Speakers and Panel Members:
- Ms Kate Forbes MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy;
- Nico Simeone, Director, Six by Nico;
- Kirsty Thomson, CEO, The Circle;
- Lesley Smillie, Partner, Deloitte;
- Matthew Kennett, Director, Productivity – People and Transformation, NatWest;
- Jackie Brierton, CEO, GrowBiz;
- Robert Thorburn, Partnership Director – Scotland, Openreach;
- Carolyn Currie, Chair, Productivity Institute Scotland, CEO, WES;
- Lee Ann Panglea, Head of CIPD Scotland and North Ireland, CIPD;
- Sean Duffy, CEO, The Wise Group;
- Anthony Burns, COO, ACS Clothing;
- Prof. Patricia Findlay, Professor of Work and Employment Relations, Strathclyde University;
- Sara Thiam, CEO, SCDI;
- James Bream, CEO, Katoni Engineering;
- Samantha Bedford, Mindfulness Teacher;
- Susan Galashan, Senior Consultant, Employment Law & HR, NatWest Mentor;
- Katie Bryant, Senior SHE Advisor, NatWest Mentor;
- Mark Wilkinson, Head of Business Development, The Data Lab.
- Willie Maltman, Director, Future Proof Learning.
Please click HERE for the full agenda and HERE to book.
Visitor attractions across Scotland are invited to join us in our latest webinar taking place on Thursday 27 January 2022 from 11am until 12 noon. The webinar will focus on the importance of benchmarking in achieving best practice standards using insight from our VisitScotland Quality Assurance (QA) Scheme.
QA is the name we give to our official grading system for tourism businesses. This membership scheme helps us drive up standards across the industry, you can find out more about our QA Scheme on our website.
Over the last 20 months our QA team has been working on refreshing the website and creating new content including a best practice directory, which you can explore at the visitor attractions QA section of our website. This has been created using insights from the QA Scheme for visitor attractions and will be a dynamic reference tool for informing and inspiring businesses on how to create outstanding visitor experiences.
Tune in and hear about how to make the most of this new resource. We’ve also got guest industry speakers lined up, who appear within the directory, to share some tips on the importance of benchmarking and using QA scoring and feedback to focus on improvements and creating a visitor experience that is consistent in quality across all aspects.
Secure your space by booking now.
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, reassurance plays a huge part in why visitors book through the travel trade. Travel trade is seen as a trusted source to book and protect holidays.
Join Rona Wallace, Senior Manager Intermediary Marketing and Caroline Robertson, Industry Relationship Manager at VisitScotland to find out how you can work with tour operators and other travel intermediaries. Find out how they can help you reach more visitors, particularly in overseas markets, and what unique agritourism experiences they are looking for to sell to their customers. You will also hear from Caroline Millar from Scottish Agritourism on their latest Go Rural campaign, how you can get involved in the group and the support provided to members of Scottish Agritourism.
This session will finish up with the chance to ask questions and find out more about how to make the most of the opportunity to work with the travel trade.
Book your place now using this link.
The Scottish Wholesalers Association (SWA) is working with the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) and Scotland Food & Drink to deliver a ‘Meet the Wholesaler’ event as part of the next phase of the ‘Delivering Growth through Wholesale’ programme.
Designed to facilitate opportunities for engagement and business between producers and wholesalers, the Meet the Wholesaler event will follow a series of workshops that will provide the tools and information needed to maximise opportunities when working together.
The event will now take place on Tuesday, 15 March which is different to the date that was originally communicated, this is to avoid a clash with another industry event.
Event Information
The Meet the Wholesaler will be in person and take place at Dunblane Hydro, 9:30-3:15pm.
The day will consist of a series of short one-to-one meetings in the morning, followed by a lunch showcasing Scottish produce, then a producer exhibition in the afternoon. One to one meetings will be agreed in advance of the event using a simple diary system, further details to follow on this.
As well as the one-to-one meeting that will be requested by wholesalers, producers will be also given the opportunity engage with wholesaler representatives during the exhibition element of the day.
The event is open to all producers and wholesalers in Scotland. Attendance is free with limited places and producers may be required to pay a deposit, repayable upon attendance. We would encourage wholesalers to register multiple representatives to maximise meeting opportunities with producers across the day.
Applications for the event close on Monday, 24 January—successful applicants will be informed of their acceptance by mid-February.
Scotland Food & Drink is pleased to share details of a ‘Meet the Convenience Retailer’ event, providing producers and wholesalers with opportunities to secure national and local listings.
Representatives from a variety of multiple and independent convenience retailers will be at the event, with attendance already confirmed from Scotmid and One O One Convenience Stores. We expect representatives with buying responsibility for over 350 stores to take part.
This virtual opportunity is open to producers and wholesalers interested in supplying independent convenience retailers across Scotland or in a particular area of Scotland.
Qualification criteria
- Scottish Food or Drink producer
- Salsa or BRC accreditation preferred but not essential
- All categories considered
Additional Info
- Food to Go is a growing market in this sector.
- Seasonal producers are encouraged to apply speculatively, even if their product is not in season at the time of the event.
- Convenience retailers are increasingly seeing the benefits of local sourcing. Their customers are open to new and interesting products. Accessible pricing is often a key consideration for them.
Event details
Date: Thursday 3 March, 9am-12pm
Platform: This event will be virtual and take place online with details given once companies are shortlisted.
How to register
To register your interest, please complete the application form by 5pm on Thursday 20th January. Shortlisted companies will be notified at least seven days in advance of the event with further info provided. Any questions on this event or the criteria, please email showcasing@luxevents.co.uk
Places are limited and, there is no fee to attend this event. Applicants who have ranges best suited to the needs of the retailers attending will receive priority