Green Deal and Microrenewables Update Events

INVERNESS BID INVITES YOU TO ATTEND A FREE WORKSHOP 
(OPEN TO BUSINESSES OPERATING IN THE INVERNESS BID AREA)

Social media is now regarded as one of the most powerful ways to get your message across.
At our Workshop, Rene Looper of Tuminds Social Media will explain how easy yet effective it is to use Twitter, Facebook etc to market and promote your business.
If you are a complete novice or want to learn how to use your social media sites more effectively then book your FREE place now!
The Introductory Workshop will be held at Ramada Encore, Academy Street on Monday 16th April from 5.45pm till 7.15pm.
Teas/Coffees & Sandwiches are complimentary
To book your place or for more information telephone Margaret on 01463 714550 or email margaret@inverness.uk.com
Places are limited and are available only to businesses operating within the Inverness Business Improvement District area.
Supported by  
www.invernessbid.co.uk

Week commencing 16 April 2012
A variety of exciting events are planned to run all week across Inverness College and in the surrounding area to inspire innovation and enterprise for all. 

Most of these events are exclusively for the students and staff of Inverness College UHI, however on the Wednesday there is a Public Lecture by Professor Alistair Fee, Visiting Professor, Queen's University Belfast 

PUBLIC LECTURE: DARE TO INNOVATE - THE TIME IS NOW - 5.30pm for 6.00pm, G20 Lecture Theatre, Longman
If you would like to attend and have not yet reserved your place, please email helen.miller@inverness.uhi.ac.uk
Or call Helen on 01463 273267.

To guarantee your space, please reply before Monday 26March as this event will be promoted more widely thereafter.
The event will commence at 5.30pm with “mocktails” and canapés and an opportunity to network with other guests, staff and students of the college.

There will be a short presentation by John Spencer, Principal and CEO of Inverness College UHI, followed by the main lecture with opportunities for Q&A, sponsored by LifeScan Scotland Limited, and delivered by Prof. Alistair Fee, Visiting Professor, Queen’s University Belfast.

Further details about the Public Lecture and information on other events taking place during Highland Innovation Week 2012 can be found on the CREATE website:  http://www.createhighland.com/enterprise-skills/system-integration-(1).aspx

Check out the full range of products: www.ness-soap.co.uk

Sat 24th March 2012
Craigmonie Centre, Drumnadrochit.

This motivating event will aim to explore realistic alternatives for communities and businesses to tackle fuel poverty; 
focusing on the positive outcomes that sustainability can bring – green gold!

Key Speakers
Andrew Millson - Scottish Business in the Community
Chris Perkins - Highland Birchwoods
Dr Peter Dennis - The SEAM Centre, Inverness College UHI
Richard Jones - HBS Ring Ltd           
Workshops
As well as a programme of inspiring speakers, delegates will have the opportunity to choose from a selection of workshops: 

• Getting the most out of wood fuel. 
  
• Using a thermal imaging camera to tackle fuel poverty. 
  
• Developing a business model for a low carbon economy. 
  
• Practical ways to reduce fuel poverty in my community. 
  
• Making Renewable Energy work for you.

Click to download the booking forms and detailed programme. Book now as places are limited – Deadline 5th March 2012. The AGM will take place after the conference at 4pm – all welcome!

Highlands and Islands Enterprise commissioned GEN to undertake a sector profiling exercise and supporting research looking at the social enterprise sector in the Highlands and Islands. The research will explore the size and nature of the sector, future growth opportunities, constraints to growth and the support needs of businesses operating in the sector. 

The information will assist HIE to provide the best support for the sector, ensuring it continues to grow and play a key role in the local economy. 

How you can help? 
The participation of local organisations is crucial to the success of the study. GEN are engaging with social enterprises in several ways; you may already have been asked to take part in an online or telephone survey. GEN are now looking to bring Social Enterprise’s together. This will add depth to the survey findings and allow you to have your say! 

GEN are holding a series of focus groups. These will involve discussion of: 
The research findings (to date) 
The support needs of your organisation 
Different options for supporting Social Enterprises - types of support and the delivery mechanisms that may be most beneficial in future 

The meeting will also offer you a chance to meet other organisations working in your sector or in your local area. 

Where?
Inverness - 20 or 27 January 2012
Stornoway - 27 January 2012
Kirkwall - 1 February 2012 

If you would like to take part or need any further information about the research, please get in touch with Laura Thorpe at GEN 
0845 644 5407 or email laura.thorpe@ekosgen.co.uk 

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is delighted to announce it’s sponsorship of the Social Enterprise Exchange event at the SECC in Glasgow.

The Social Enterprise Exchange 2012 is the result of an exciting partnership, which brings together the two leading social enterprise events in the UK and Scotland respectively:  Voice and S2S.  This unique initiative between Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) and Social Enterprise Scotland, delivered in partnership with CEiS, will create the world’s largest social enterprise event in 2012.

The name Social Enterprise Exchange signifies what the event seeks to achieve:

• A business exchange with a focus on trading by and with social enterprises
  
• An exchange of best practice and practical experience between Scotland, the UK and the world
  
• An exchange of leading-edge ideas and policy thinking on social enterprise

In 2011, Voice had 130 exhibitors and over 1300 delegates, while S2S had over 100 exhibitors and 600 participants.  Year-on-year, both events attract not only hundreds of social enterprise participants, but also organisations and individuals from across the charity, public and private sectors, from senior cabinet ministers to small voluntary groups, from local authority leaders to private sector buyers.

Social Enterprise UK and Social Enterprise Scotland believe that bringing these two events together will build on this collective track record to create the most visible, well attended and talked-about social enterprise event of the year in 2012.

HIE’s sponsorship package includes the opportunity for social enterprises from Highlands and Islands to have a stand at the exhibition free of charge.  8 stands are available as follows:

• 3x2m exhibition stands (includes 1 delegate ticket per stand)
• 2x2m exhibition stands (includes 1 delegate ticket per stand)

Travel bursaries for those wishing to take up the opportunity of a free stand will be available.
To register your interest in an exhibition stand, please contact:  fiona.robb@hient.co.uk 
For further details of the exhibition please go to: www.socialenterpriseexchange.com