RenSEN Newsletter - 15 July

A selection of learning workshops and events taking place over the coming weeks…

• 15 July – Sport & Outdoor Activity Social Enterprise Network (SEN) (online event / Social Enterprise Network
• 15 July - Firstport’s Build It programme – Information session about the Build It programme is taking place on 15 July
• 16 July – How to find opportunities on PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) (online / Supplier Development Programme)
• 18 July – How to write funding applications (online / Business Gateway)
• 22 July – AI and neurodiversity (online event / Social Enterprise Scotland)
• 22 July – Information session on Firstport’s Start It fund (online / Firstport)
• 30 July – New pathways to investment and funding (online event / Social Enterprise Scotland)
• 14 August – How to network: Renfrewshire (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)

Funding Opportunities

• 14 July – Informal session on Social Investment with Firstport (online / Firstport)
• 15 July - Firstport’s Build It programme Information Session (online / Firstport)
• 22 July – Information session on Firstport’s Start It fund (online / Firstport)
• Cashback for Communities – Funding round closes at noon on 07 August.
• GSK Community Health Programme – Funding round closes 5pm 11 August.
• Scottish Edge Competition – Applications for Edge’26 will open August 2025 which includes their Social Enterprise Edge Award
• FCC Scottish Action Fund – Next round opens 03 September.  The FCC Scottish Action Fund provides grants of between £2,000 and £40,000 to not-for-profit organisations for the following types of projects eligible under Scottish Landfill Communities Fund (SLCF).

Social Media : Facebook

• 17 July – Effective use of social media (online / Business Gateway)
• 24 July – Social media essentials: Facebook (online / Business Gateway)
• 25 July – How to build your brand (online / Business Gateway)
• 28 July – How to write engaging content (online / Business Gateway)
• 05 August – How to build a digital marketing plan (online / Business Gateway)
• 18 August – How to plan and schedule your online content (online / Business Gateway)
• 27 August – Social media essentials: Facebook (online / Business Gateway)

Facebook for Business Online guide (PDF / Business Gateway)
Social Media Strategy online guide (PDF / Business Gateway)
Responding to customers online (online resource / Business Gateway)

Dates for your diary

• 23 to 30 August 2025 - Scotland Loves Local Week
• 23 to 24 September – Scottish Fundraising Conference (Chartered Institute of Fundraising) – This year’s conference is taking place in Glasgow.  Find out more here
• 27 November - Scotland’s Towns Conference - The 2025 conference will take place at the Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC) in Glasgow! Registration form here

Social Enterprise Learning Webinars (for social enterprises at all stages)

 All courses are free unless stated otherwise

Enhancing Digital Skills
16 July – Unleashing power of ChatGPT (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
17 July – Effective use of social media (online / Business Gateway)
22 July – Cyber Security Essentials (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
22 July – Video production for digital marketing (online / Business Gateway)
23 July – How to generate and increase sales (online / Business Gateway)
23 July – How to write engaging online content (online / Business Gateway)
24 July – Social media essentials: Facebook (online / Business Gateway)
24 July – Social media essentials: Instagram (online / Business Gateway)
28 July – How to write engaging content (online / Business Gateway)
29 July – Understand how your website works: website analytics (online / Business Gateway)
31 July – Why your business needs a blog (online / Business Gateway)
05 August – Cyber Governance: From awareness to action (online / Business Gateway)
05 August – How to build a digital marketing plan (online / Business Gateway)
06 August – Low cost, high impact marketing (online / Business Gateway)
06 August – Using CANVA, Renfrewshire (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
06 August – Social media essentials: LinkedIn (online / Business Gateway)
11 August – Introduction to AI for small businesses (online / Business Gateway)
18 August – How to plan and schedule your online content (online / Business Gateway)
21 August – Social media essentials: TikTok and Instagram Reels (online / Business Gateway)
26 August – Understand how your website performs with Google Analytics (online / Business Gateway)
27 August – Social media essentials: Instagram (online / Business Gateway)
27 August – Social media essentials: Facebook (online / Business Gateway)
28 August – Cyber Security Essentials: Renfrewshire (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
28 August – How to write engaging content for websites and social media (online / Business Gateway)


Governance & Leadership
19 August – Strategic Story Telling (online / ACOSVO)
09 September – Information session explaining ACOSVO’s Leadership Exchange Programme (Autumn 2025) (online / ACOSVO)
11 September – Leadership for wellbeing (online / Business Gateway)
02 December – Good governance: Board and staff relationships (online / SCVO) Fees apply



Social Enterprise Essentials
16 July – Public Contract Scotland / Using PCS to find and bid for opportunities (online / Supplier Development Programme)
16 July – Power to the people: A voice for all of us (online event / Social Enterprise Scotland)
17 July – InspireHER: How to rewire your brain for success (online / Business Gateway)
17 July – Young persons guide to starting a business (online / Business Gateway)
17 July – Health and Wellbeing Social Enterprise Network (SEN) meeting (online event / Social Enterprise Scotland)
18 July – How to write funding applications (online / Business Gateway)
22 July – Getting your business tender ready (online / Supplier Development Programme)
22 July – AI and neurodiversity (online event / Social Enterprise Scotland)
25 July – How to build your brand (online / Business Gateway)
26 July – How to start a business: the basics (online / Business Gateway)
28 July – Bookkeeping essentials (online / Business Gateway)
29 July – Facilities Management, Operational Budgets (online / for DTAS/COSS clients)
30 July – Renfrewshire Women in Business Summer Networking Session (in-person / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
30 July – Planning your bid: Time and resources (online / Supplier Development Programme)
30 July – New pathways to investment and funding (online event / Social Enterprise Scotland)
06 August – Embedding social impact in every business (online event / Social Enterprise Scotland)  
07 August – How to start a business: the basics (online / Business Gateway)
12 August – How to build your brand (online / Business Gateway)
Commencing 13 August – Let’s Evaluate (Workshops 1 – 3) (online / Evaluation Support Scotland) fees apply
13 August – Bookkeeping essentials (online / Business Gateway)
14 August – How to network: Renfrewshire (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
14 August – How to write funding applications (online / Business Gateway)
15 August – Getting your business tender ready (online / Supplier Development Programme)
19 August – Facilities Management: Fire Safety (online / DTAS/COSS client event)
20 August – Pricing your product: Renfrewshire (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
20 August – Bookkeeping essentials (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
25 August – How to increase and generate sales (online / Business Gateway)
26 August – Finding, keeping and looking after staff (online / Business Gateway)
29 August – How to build your brand (online / Business Gateway)
02 September – AI for small business marketing: Renfrewshire (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
03 September – Introduction to safeguarding (online / SCVO) Fees apply
17 September - Working with corporates (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
Commences 30 September – Winning grants from Trusts and Foundations (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) Fees apply
03 December – Comms and marketing made easy (online / SCVO) Fees apply
How to measure the impact of your project (YouTube / Benefact Trust)
Equality Diversity and Inclusion (Just Enterprise) – Register for the next round of workshops here


Business Planning
30 July – Step by step guide to building your business plan (online / Business Gateway)
05 August – Introduction to business strategy (online / Business Gateway)
07 August – Step by step guide to building your business plan (online / Business Gateway)
12 August – Business Planning: Renfrewshire (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)
18 September – Business Planning: Renfrewshire (online / Business Gateway Renfrewshire)



Monitoring and Evaluation
06 November – Plan, measure and report social impact (online / SCVO) Fees apply


Income Generation / Procurement
16 July – How to find opportunities on PCS (Public Contracts Scotland) (online / Supplier Development Programme)
22 July – Getting your business tender ready (online / Supplier Development Programme)
22 July – Information session on Firstport’s Start It fund (online / Firstport)
17 September – How to win contracts and service level agreements (online / SCVO) Fees apply
23 September – Introduction to social investment (online / Just Enterprise)
30 September – Unlocking Social Investment (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) fees apply
30 September – Winning grants from trust and foundations (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) fees apply
08 October – Sources of funding for charities and social enterprises (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) fees apply0
14 and 15 October – Developing a fundraising strategy (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) fees apply
28 October – Writing a successful funding application (online / School for Social Entrepreneurs) fees apply
28 October – Investment Readiness (online / Just Enterprise)