In conversation with Wild Harris

In this episode of the Business Gateway Connections podcast, our host Danny Gallagher speaks with Rebecca Pick, founder of Pick Protection. He hears about her journey, from being a student at the University of Strathclyde to launching her wearable alarm business, inspired by an incident which happened close to her home. Rebecca also shares how Pick Protection evolved from offering wearable alarms to now being an app-based business, highlighting that a business can be a success even when it changes direction. Join us for an inspiring conversation packed with valuable advice for business owners at any stage of their journey.

Starting up and succeeding in business is an exciting and challenging journey that requires a combination of vision, dedication and practical skills. Join our host, Danny Gallagher, as he speaks with Andy Hadden of Lost Shore Surf to find out the challenges and triumphs of Andy’s own journey as he launches his unique business. Andy shares valuable insights and advice on the value of thinking outside the box, exploring why innovation is important for all businesses.

In this episode, we speak to Kate Lewis, Co-founder of Wild Harris, offering guided wildlife walks and activities on the Isle of Harris.   Our host Danny Gallagher, Business Gateway Highland Manager, delves into the inspiration behind the business, sheds light on the year-round outdoor activities showcasing the awe-inspiring island for residents and visitors, and discuss the challenges of rural tourism.

In the wake of covid-19, the energy crisis, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, there has never been more pressure on businesses. For small businesses, many of whom operate alone, the challenge is even greater as owners often play the role of business leader, HR, marketing, finance and more. So, it’s unsurprising that failure is front of mind. We want to help to eradicate some of the fears around failure and encourage business owners to tackle the subject head on, and we’re delighted to be joined by start-up entrepreneur and successful business owner, Vicky Brock, to discuss why we struggle to speak about failure, how to spot challenges ahead, and how to bounce back.

Learn more about Scottish Apprenticeship Week, why it was first launched, and the benefits of shining a light on apprentices. The discussion is angled towards SMEs, highlighting how digital skills learnt during apprenticeships can support the future growth of the business landscape.  The podcast will also be used to discuss the new Digital Economy Skills Action Plan, which launches during SAW ’23. This plan recognises the need for digital skills cuts across all sectors, the DESAP will take a whole economy approach, examining commonality in the digital economy skills requirements across sectors.

In this episode, we speak to Liz Barclay from the Office of Small Business Commission (OSBC), an independent public body set up by the UK Government to tackle late payment and unfavourable payment practices in the private sector. Liz is also a small business and consumer affairs broadcaster, producer and writer with an in-depth understanding of the issues facing small businesses. Our host Danny Gallagher chats with Liz about the important topic of cashflow; discussing what it really means, how to create better financial practices, navigating the challenges surrounding cashflow from late payments to working with third parties, and tips for addressing issues head-on. Liz offers important advice on financial planning which leads to a more stable business model, making it possible to pay suppliers and other expenses on time.

In this episode, we speak to Mark Gallacher and Gordy Macdonald from Police Scotland’s cybercrime division. Police Scotland is on a mission to help businesses improve their cyber security and reduce the risk of becoming victims of cyber incident which take place in many, sometimes unsuspecting, forms. As part of CyberScotland Week, our host Danny Gallagher chats with Mark and Gordy, both experienced experts in the field, to explore the latest threats facing people operating online, discuss how businesses in Scotland can improve their online security, along with tips on the best practices to protect your business.

In this episode of our Business Gateway’s Connections podcast, we speak to Jamie Newall, Managing Director of eyebright Utilities. eyebright, a utilities management firm, builds sustainable energy solutions services such as carbon reporting and green procurement guidance for businesses across Scotland.  Our host Danny Gallagher discusses how businesses can navigate the challenges of the ongoing energy crisis, and Jamie offers an insight in the work involved in starting your own business, as well as some advice on how businesses can tackle the crisis and manage their utilities.

The practice of hybrid working has accelerated in the past couple of years due to the pandemic. In this episode, we chat to Helen Denny, Learning & Development Lead at Flexibility Works, about how you can make hybrid working a success for both your employees and your company. Helen develops training programmes for leaders and employees on how to get the best out of hybrid working and she shares her valuable insights and advice on best practices. We talk about how you can build bonds and unity amongst teams when they are spread out in various locations, and how you can make sure you are being inclusive to your team members that are working remotely. We also discuss productivity, employee wellness, the danger of burnout, the creation of team charters, and how to deal with difficult conversations over video calls, among other useful topics that will help give you the tools to make hybrid working work for you.

In this episode of our DigitalBoost Digital Bites series, our host Danny Gallagher is joined by Senior User Experience Designer, Amy McCrae, to talk about all things web accessibility. Join us to find out how to improve your website’s accessibility using in-depth descriptions and functional features, what tools are out there to help you develop your accessibility, and what your company can gain from an inclusive online presence. We also consider the reliance on accessible features of non-disabled users and how implementing these features can optimise your search engine performance.