Events

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6:00pm Registration, drinks reception & canapés with chef demonstration in Penninghame Cook School
Networking buffet 7:30pm

Speakers include:

• James Withers, Chief Executive, Scotland Food & Drink
  James Withers is the Chief Executive of Scotland Food & Drink, the industry leadership organisation. James will give an update on the organisation, highlighting market opportunities for the food & drink sector. He will also talk about the wealth of benefits available through membership of the organisation, which are developed with the aim of giving you a competitive edge and helping you grow your business.
• Alan Brown, Director, Galloway Farm House Cheese
  Alan will give an overview of his business telling his story how the farm has diversified to expand in to new areas. Galloway Farmhouse Cheese produces a range of Cairnsmore cheeses, principally a hard ewe's milk cheese, available in various flavours, created from the organic milk from the farm's flock of Friesland sheep. The range also includes cheeses produced from organic cow's milk, and goat's milk too. Products are sold to delicatessens and some of the top hotels and restaurants throughout Scotland.
• Maria Butler, Director, Penninghame House Foundation, Penninghame House
  Maria will talk about the business, how the foundation was created, transforming the 19th century Scottish manor house into an international learning training centre focused on health, well being and the understanding of foods and its effect on health. To include the development of the cook school and relationships built with local food and drink producers.

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Do you own a small business in Dumfries and Galloway?

Is it rural or land dependant?

Is your business involved in the agriculture, construction, forestry or renewables sectors?

Or are you thinking about starting your own business in one of these sectors?

If so, our advisers can offer FREE expert advice to help grow your business.

Come along to our informal Drop in Session

For more details please call Juliette Cooke in Economic Development on 030 33 33 3000 or phone direct on 01387 273997.

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Much has been talked and written about the need for our public, private and third sectors to be enterprising but what does that actually mean?

The role of an intrapreneur in delivering change and kick starting innovation is relatively new. Unlocking the enterprise potential of any organisation, be it public, private, voluntary or arts based, is now regarded as crtical to acheiving more for less, in very different and challenging circumstances.

Described as entrepreneurship's forgotten little brother or sister, getting innovation to flourish within an organisation can be just as challenging as entrepreneurship.

This is a very specialised day, as it is probably the first time in Scotland that people can learn from expert witnesses about the nature of intrapreneurship and how it can be applied to any organisation - public, private or voluntary.

During the day - which is workshop-based, giving full opportunity for interaction and discussion - we examine just how easy, or difficult, it is for innovation to flourish in an organisation and the role of the intrapreneur in helping to make this happen.

We examine:

• What is an intrapreneur?
• How easy is it do something different?
• What gets in the way?
• Who gets in the way?
• Can it be done and if so, how?

This is a chance to find out what really happens to enterprising people and innovative approaches which try to take root in organisations and companies.  It is a unique opportunity to learn from intrapreneurs, expert witnesses and your colleagues; and to set yourself an intrapreneurial challenge.

Places are limited as this is a workshop style day so booking early is advised.

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VisitScotland is hosting a series of FREE networking events for tourism businesses across Dumfries & Galloway this April.

These events will give businesses the opportunity to network with other local tourism businesses, VisitScotland staff, including your local Quality Tourism Advisor, and key industry partners.

A representative from VisitScotland’s Digital & Media team will be on hand to take businesses through the new VisitScotland Extranet and answer any questions you might have.

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VisitScotland is hosting a series of FREE networking events for tourism businesses across Dumfries & Galloway this April.

 These events will give businesses the opportunity to network with other local tourism businesses, VisitScotland staff, including your local Quality Tourism Advisor, and key industry partners.