Support and events for rural business

The first ever Enterprising Rural Perthshire month is being held this month.

Organised by Perthshirebased enterprise support organisation GrowBiz, Enterprising Rural Perthshire month aims to focus on supporting business owners and start-up ventures to grow.

A wide range of free events and learning sessions has been planned for September at venues across rural Perthshire, covering aspects of growing a business such as employing staff and improving eco-credentials.

The focus month got under way on Tuesday last week with the always popular Women’s Enterprise Network meeting in Blairgowrie.

The Women’s Enterprise Network meetings are designed to support women starting, running or growing a business in rural Perthshire, as well as those who are just thinking about setting up on their own.

For Enterprising Rural Perthshire month, Carolyn Currie, chief executive of Women’s Enterprise Scotland, was the guest speaker at the east Perthshire event.

Women’s Enterprise Network meetings will also take place in Highland Perthshire on Thursday, September 13, and in Strathearn on Tuesday, September 18.

The Strathearn meeting will take place in Cultybraggan on the outskirts of Comrie. Cultybraggan is the last remaining POW (prisoner of war) camp in Scotland and is run by the Comrie Development Trust as an events venue and a base for local businesses and organisations, while still preserving the history of the site for future generations.

Enterprising Rural Perthshire month will also see a training session on September 11 at Gloagburn in Tibbermore for those interested in becoming a mentor and supporting fellow entrepreneurs to achieve their potential.

And in Dunkeld on Thursday, September 20, there will be a session introducing the logistics and legalities of employing staff.

There will also be a number of online sessions during Enterprising Rural Perthshire month as part of GrowBiz’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Using Facebook for business on Tuesday, September 18, how a mentor can help grow your business on Thursday, September 20 and systemising your business on Thursday, September 27.

There will also be a session in east Perthshire on using software to grow your business on Wednesday, September 19 and the monthly Xchange networking event, which will take place in the Birnam House Hotel on Thursday, September 27.

For further information on GrowBiz or to book a place on any of the free events taking place during Enterprising Rural Perthshire month this September, please see the website at www.growbiz. co.uk.