Search for Scotland’s Greenest Businesses Continues

In this post, we welcome Gillian Bruce, VIBES chair, who tells us more about the Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland Awards and how green Scottish companies can get involved.

The race is on to find the country’s most environmentally-aware businesses as the Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland Awards (VIBES) opens for the fourteenth year.

VIBES is Scotland’s leading Government-backed environmental awards scheme. It aims to recognise businesses that have improved environmental performance and its bottom line through incorporating best practice into the management of their operations; or through the production or supply of environmental products and services.

For more than a decade, the free-to-enter awards have produced winners from across Scotland, drawn from a range of sectors including: manufacturing; food and drink; transport; oil and gas; environmental services and leisure.

The aim of VIBES is to recognise businesses operating in Scotland that are trying to help make the country more environmentally aware and that are working towards Scotland’s 2020 carbon reduction targets.

There will be a total of ten awards this year, including two new categories: the Hydro Nation Award and the Circular Economy Award. Details of the award categories can be found at: www.vibes.org.uk/categories

The deadline for this year’s entries is Friday, 5 July at 5pm.

VIBES is a strategic partnership between Energy Saving Trust, Green Business Partnership, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Government, Scottish Water and Zero Waste Scotland.

For more information or to obtain an application form for the VIBES Awards visit www.vibes.org.uk

Join the converstation:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/VibesAwards

Twitter: @VibesAwards #VIBEScot

Just a thought

I was working in Scottish Enterprise's Dundee office yesterday. Sitting in a different

location with a stunning view of the Tay was a great way to break up the working week and shake up my routine.

On my borrowed desk for the day I found this list:

Five Global Consumer Megatrends

1) The Inmates Have Taken Over the Asylum
How have you given your customers more control over your brand?

2) Know Your Sausage
What's the most potentially dangerous ingredient in your sausage?

3) Send Lawyers, Guns and Money
Who will be the public face of your business if there's a crisis?

4) Strange Bedfellows
Say hi to the person sitting next to you. Discuss what opportunities you have for collaboration.

5) All Hands on Deck
What's the problem? How can you make your customers part of the solution?

At first glance I just thought it was just a funny list. But the more I considered it, I realised it's great advice for all organisations regardless of size or sector. 

So, that's my thought for the week. Despite, or maybe because of, the amusing titles I think it's powerful stuff.

My question for you is: what would you add to this list? 

Note: I'm not sure where this list originates so I'm unable to properly give credit. If anyone knows please let me know: elizabeth.mcneil@scotent.co.uk.

March blows in

March gets off to a windy start with a funding opportunity in the offshore wind sector. But be quick the deadline is just around the corner!

Offshore wind funding call

The large-scale development of offshore wind represents one of the biggest opportunities for sustained economic growth in Scotland for a generation. 

Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have launched a research and development funding call to support project ideas with the potential to reduce the cost of producing energy from offshore wind.

Under this call Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are primarily looking to support project ideas that develop novel offshore operation and maintenance approaches including:

• higher wind speeds, and minimising the corrosive effect of saltwater which makes structural and component failure more common offshore, especially where off-the-shelf components designed for onshore applications are transferred offshore
• the most frequent outages are due to sensor, wiring and control system faults
• gearboxes, generators and blades are the source of highest unplanned maintenance costs

Whilst these ideas form the core of near term priorities, they also welcome any project idea that meets the objectives and addresses wider industry challenges.  

Who can apply?

Assistance is available to businesses of all sizes located within the Scotland and those planning to establish a base here.  

How to apply 

Interested companies should express interest by completing the online form.

The closing date for expressions of interest under this call is Friday, 29 March 2013.

More information

Please visit the Scottish Enterprise website for full details or call 0845 607 8787 or offshorewind@scotent.co.uk with any questions.

Interested in business partnering opportunities in Renewable Energy? Join us on 18-19 March for a Business Partnering Event at the Scottish Renewables Annual Conference.

Five easy ways you can be more innovative

At its core the Enterprise Europe Network offers free business and innovation support for SMEs looking to access new and exciting markets. In this blog post we have asked our valued colleague Mamta Singhal to give us her throughts on how you can be more innovative. Mamta is an Innovation Advisor for Scottish Enterprise and has worked for exciting companies like Mars and Dyson. ...she’s also got lovely eyes.

1) Be honest, upfront - don’t have structural boundaries.

This is about being open to change, options and views. Some of the best ideas come when people are relaxed and enjoying what they are doing. Every firm needs a level of structure however many new firms are taking a casual approach to this and hierarchy isn't important, it's more about freshness and reaching business goals.

2) Be around creative people who know how to have fun. No grey or beige.

Yes, having fun at work is possible. The old school view of wearing grey and having beige walls has long gone. It's about being bright, bold, brave and brash. If you have a talented creative person on your team you will be surprised how much energy and unique ideas they have and the commercial sense that it will make.

3) Have creative hobbies - dancing, music, art, etc.

Outside of work do some exciting and expressive hobbies. Let your mind play and explore. The people you will meet and they way you see the world will change. Learning golf or fishing may be your thing but try something new and different like salsa dancing or photography, your work will be more creative as a result.

4) Understand and appreciate the short and long term benefits - feel the passion. Think like the Dysons & Apples of the world (I worked for Dyson!).

All too often we aim for short term results but is it best long term?  Do both!  Think like the great designers of the world who never gave up until they had a great product or service, for them it wasn’t the short term goal it was the longer term vision of making a difference. Master strategic thinking and see how short term goals will benefit your longer term vision.

5) Be you. Be unique. Have morals. Don’t just go for the result - do what feels right.

You are unique and use those skills. Every person in a team should have the freedom and time to add to a firms creative goals. Ditch the 'barcode code' diary that is just meeting after meeting and have more team based activities. Equally always do ethical business - morals and integrity is important for long term loyalty with staff plus have a fun personality coupled with self awareness and refined social skills.  Always follow what feels right.


If you would like to get in touch with the Enterprise Europe Network in Scotland please e-mail us at info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com. 

Your Enterprise Europe Network team places in European Competition

Okay, so not quite what you thought...

You may be familiar with the Enterprise Europe Network podcasts (and if not, I strongly recommend you have a listen!).

We started podcasting last March, highlighting how Scottish companies can take advantage of Enterprise Europe Network services. Since then, the podcasts have evolved to also include features with our colleagues at Scottish Enterprise, holiday specials around Christmas and Halloween, and even include a dream sequence and time travel.

Our podcasts were entered into the European Podcast Awards for 2011. To all those who voted, thank you very much!

The results were announced on Thursday, 15 March 2012 and we're delighted to inform you that the team finished with a podium place! Out of 40 UK entries, EEN Scotland finished 3rd in the Non-Profit Category and 14th overall in Europe in the same category.

The approach has been described as "quirky but informative" by a number of stakeholder organisations, including the EUREKA Directorate in Brussels and, since last March, there have more than 11,000 visits to the podcast website.

Not satisfied with a podium place at National Level, EEN Scotland plan to take the Awards by storm again this year, confident that they are now equipped to conquer not only the UK but to take the main European Prize!

If you haven't had the pleasure yet, please listen to the EEN Scotland podcasts.

If you have any comments, or suggestions for topic you’d like to here us talk about, please get in touch with me at elizabeth.mcneil@scotent.co.uk.

Would like to meet...

The Enterprise Europe Network offers a range of services to companies in Scotland, one of which is providing support to find European business partners. In this blog, Elizabeth McNeil highlights upcoming opportunties for you to meet your ideal customers, suppliers or partners.

With Valentine’s Day next week our thoughts turn to finding or renewing connections with loved ones. But have you ever considered matchmaking for your business?

Often described as “speed dating”, our matchmaking events allow you to book pre-arranged meetings based on a profile submitted to the event’s website. This gives you the opportunity to meet potential customers, suppliers or partners face-to-face to explore business opportunities through targeted meetings.

Over the coming months Enterprise Europe Network is hosting a number of matchmaking events and we invite you to join us and find your perfect match!

Find out what’s hot in sustainable energy

Sustainable Energy: Challenges and Opportunities for the Supply Chain is the focus for this year’s sustainable energy event on 20 and 21 March at Edinburgh’s Napier University. Companies with green interests at heart can connect with like-minded companies at the industry-led brokerage event.

Participants are urged to create an online profile prior the event to highlight their capabilities and to maximise the chance of finding their perfect business match. The free event will provide a platform for Scottish companies to meet international contacts to talk about their innovative products and services.

For more information or to register for the brokerage event please visit the website.

Fish around the global seafood market

Companies within the food and drink industry are already cooking up their plans for the largest seafood trade fair in the world, the European Seafood Exposition, which takes place 24 to 26 April in Brussels.

Again this year the Enterprise Europe Network team will be hosting a matchmaking event. Last year’s event attracted 104 organisations - from sole traders to multinationals - from countries including Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Turkey and Iceland.

To find out more or to register please visit the ESE Brokerage Event website. 

Tap into the latest technology advances

The Scottish Technology Showcase consistently brings together some of Europe’s top industry minds. Technology leaders will flock to Glasgow on 12 June to take part, offering a chance to network with over 1,500 like-minded experts.

Enterprise Europe Network is keen for Scottish companies to make the most of the associated matchmaking event and forge potential partnerships and business links. Keynote speakers will also discuss the latest technology developments and how these can impact on your business.

For more information or to register please visit the matchmaking website. 

For more information on these matchmaking events please e-mail me at elizabeth.mcneil@scotent.co.uk.

On the Roadshow

The Enterprise Europe Network aims to help all companies, of all sizes, across Scotland. In this blog, Michelle Wemyss, tells us a little bit more about the very successful Highland Roadshows of 2010…and what to expect in 2011!

Last year I worked with Business Gateway to deliver a Roadshow for local business folk in the Highlands & Islands. We travelled to Aviemore, Wick, Fort William, Buckie, Dornoch, Skye and of course Inverness, and….despite the best efforts of the weather….we managed to run all the events with great success.

While planning these events, there was consensus with our lovely colleagues at Business Gateway that the Roadshow should focus more on the companies themselves, rather than the organisations hosting it. Part of this was to ensure that events were a PowerPoint free zone!

So the format went something like this…

Events kicked off at around 4pm with a mini trade fair. At this, companies had the opportunity to show their wares, network with other local businesses, and meet potential customers and suppliers. In advance of the event they were encouraged to fill out a profile form (detailing a bit about who they are, what they do etc) which was included in a catalogue that we circulated to attendees prior to the event – this ensured that people were able to turn up with a bit of a “hit list” of people they wanted to speak to or companies of interest. Basically, ensuring their networking was as focused as possible.

After the trade fair, there was a bit of a group discussion.

Here, we again wanted to let those attending see real life examples of companies who had already been helped by ourselves, the Gateway, or both. With that in mind, we approached companies with whom we had previously worked and asked them to come in, give a little testimonial and answer a few questions.

I should say that both the Business Gateway advisers and the Enterprise Europe team were also on hand to answer questions and contribute where appropriate – we weren’t just there for the free lunch….

Speaking of which….the day was finished off with a buffet supper and more networking until around 7pm.

I felt this structure created a relaxed atmosphere which really allowed attendees to focus on networking and interaction, and I’m pleased to say that the positive feedback was indicative of this.

The events were such a success that we are doing it all again this year!

The plan is to follow the same format, with a few additional experts involved in the group discussion.  For the first event we have Jill Fryer from Ledingham Chalmers and the procurement team from the Highland Council.

This time around the Roadshows will be visiting:

•    Thurso – 21 September
•    Skye – 5 October
•    Inverness – 19 October
•    Fort William – 3 November
•    Ullapool – 16 November
•    Elgin – 29 November

If it’s coming to a town near you and you would like to attend then please book on our website via those links above or, alternatively, call me (Michelle Wemyss) on 01463 715 400 or email me at mailto:enterprise.europe@highland-opportunity.com