Events

ScotlandIS, in partnership with Equate Scotland and Scotland Skills Development Scotland, is delighted to be providing a free online session about inclusive recruitment practices specifically designed for small and medium enterprises within the tech ecosystem.

Workplace inclusion in today’s environment is a critical topic that tech employers can no longer see as “a nice to have”. Inclusive recruitment is a vital component of a broader approach. By ensuring that inclusive recruitment practices are embedded within the organisation, not only are we adhering to our legal duties but also ensuring we are tapping into a wider talent pool, fostering diversity of people, experiences, and innovation.

Inclusive recruitment refers to the processes and practices used to attract, interview, and hire a diverse pool of talent. This is to ensure we can reduce bias at different stages of the recruitment process and ensure the best-qualified people get hired for positions regardless of gender, ethnicity, or any other protected characteristics.

Why is inclusive recruitment important when hiring?

• Widen your talent pool to have a diverse pool of candidates to choose from. This is to ensure you don’t miss out on talents.
• Show your commitment to diversity & inclusion. Send a positive message to candidates and showcase that you want to create an environment that will help them learn and succeed.
• Set a positive environment from the start as the experience during the interview process will influence how candidates feel about joining your organisation.

What will you learn?

• Increase your understanding of what inclusive recruitment is within the Scottish tech ecosystem.
• Learn about current best practices throughout the recruitment process and know how to apply them within your organisation.
• Develop skills to review your own recruitment processes and identify short-term and long-term actions.
• Where to find resource and guidance to continue your learning.

Who should attend?

• This training is designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises with a requirement for digital skills.
• Ideal for professionals in a management or leadership position, working in Human Resources or involved in the recruitment process.

When is it?

This training will be hosted online and split across two sessions to allow time for self-reflection. Participants should attend both sessions:

Tuesday 19th March, 10am – 11.30am

Tuesday 26th March, 10am – 11.30am

Entrepreneurial Scotland is pleased to invite you to our webinar: “Delivering Results: The Power of Saltire Scholar Interns for Your Business.”

This insightful webinar will give you an inside look at the transformational benefits of hosting a Saltire Scholar Intern through Entrepreneurial Scotland’s flagship Saltire Scholar Programme.

The Saltire Scholar Programme matches organisations worldwide with pre-vetted, high-calibre undergraduate students (‘Saltire Scholars’) from Scotland’s universities, who complete a 10–12-week internship in the summer. Saltire Scholars join organisations with the latest skills, brightest ideas, and a drive to deliver impact. Interns work on dedicated projects of commercial significance that help businesses to change and grow.

The programme been instrumental in identifying and nurturing Scotland’s next generation of entrepreneurial leaders. The upcoming webinar is tailored for businesses seeking strategic growth and an infusion of the best talent to complete commercial projects for their organisation.

Key Highlights of the Webinar:

Strategic Talent Access: Find out how the Saltire Scholar Programme connects businesses with a choice of over 650 pre-vetted, high-potential interns.

Real Commercial Projects: Understand how Saltire Scholars deliver real commercial work, delivering tangible results for businesses.

Building a Talent Pipeline: Understand the long-term advantages, including the creation of a robust talent pipeline for participating organisations.

This event is delivered in partnership with the Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce.

The most important asset of a business is its people.

In order to grow and develop this asset, leaders are implementing a new business culture and people practices to empower employees to reach their potential. A framework that can help businesses improve their people management is Fair Work.

During this session, we will hear from Alison Henderson, CEO Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, about the practical steps they have taken to become a Fair Work employer and why an engaged workforce can drive business to success.

“Running a business of any size and being an employer means it’s important to balance the rights of the business & our employees…we always do what we can to adopt fair work policies, whether that is in supporting carers & parents, investing in ways to engage & empower our workforce, or paying the Real Living Wage.”

Join this interactive session in Dundee that will offer opportunities to ask questions, discuss challenges and solutions, and network with peers.

Agenda

08.30 – 09.00 Registration and Networking Breakfast

09.00 – 09.15 introduction

09.15 – 09.45 Case study presentation and Q&A

09.45 – 10.15 Group discussion

10.30 Close

Holyrood Connect’s annual Public Sector Data Summit will return to Edinburgh on 20 March 2024. 

The use of data in digital technologies within the public sector has skyrocketed in recent years. It is crucial that we understand how to maximise its potential to help us make informed decisions and deliver the best possible outcomes for our customers.  

Through a variety of session formats, including keynote addresses, panel discussions and interactive masterclasses, the event will provide real-life examples of data use within the public sector for you to learn from.  

You will have the opportunity to pose questions to our panels during the Question & Answer portions of the sessions and gain insight into: 

• How do we get the basics right on data 
• How do we effectively bring together the use of AI and data 
• What skills are required to optimise your business intelligence and data maturity 
• How can data make a positive difference in your community 
• The importance of data ethics 

Public Sector Data Summit 2024 will also feature an exhibition, providing an opportunity for you to explore relevant solutions for your organisation. 

The event is free-to-attend for those working in the public or third sectors. If you work in the private sector, please email eventsadmin@holyrood.com to be added to our waiting list. 

Based on excellent feedback and great response from last year, IFB is organising another event from our Lunch & Learn series, this time in partnership with EXPO.e.

Join us for the session as we will be highlighting the following topics:   

• Inside of Cyber Security Operations Centre – Role of the CSOC and its fundamental functions and importance to monitor, detect, respond to, and mitigate cybersecurity incidents;  
• Significance of threat intelligence in CSOC operations – Learn how threat analysts gather, assess, and utilize intelligence to stay ahead of potential cyber threats;  
• Power of a layered security approach and discuss how multiple defense mechanisms can fortify your digital landscape;  
• OT Systems and security – CSOC capabilities, visibility and real-time response 
• How IFB in partnership with EXPO.e can support your organisation   

The sessions are aimed at IT Managers/ IT Directors, and Cyber Security managers within Enterprise level organisations.

Click ‘Learn More’ below to register.

Scotland’s Cluster Ecosystem Conference is back, in partnership with the Scottish Cluster Ecosystem Alliance (SCEA). Aligning with the principles of SCEA, the conference will highlight opportunities and insights from across the tech ecosystem, and areas for cross-cluster collaboration. The day will look at international opportunities for tech businesses, as well as showcasing numerous initiatives being launched within Scotland’s tech sector.

This year the theme will focus on sustainability, with areas for discussion including how the sustainability of our organisations might impact our ability to do business in the years ahead, how we can work together to find solutions and how our sector can help to address climate change challenges. 

Intended outcomes of the conference 

• Discuss focussed areas where Scottish Tech businesses can improve their sustainability 
• Identify practices from other countries that can be implemented in Scotland to improve the sustainability of our tech organisations 
• Explore how the members of the Scottish Tech clusters can develop their Net Zero strategy to future proof their eligibility to trade internationally and therefore increase international trade. 
• Discuss how the skills of the sector can be used to assist in climate change challenges

AGENDA

09.15 – 09.45    Arrival, tea & coffee

09.45 – 10.00    Welcome

10.00 – 10.35    Cross-cluster collaborations to achieve net-zero

                             FinTech Scotland and Space Scotland 

10.35 – 11.10      Climate Education for Business

                             Mike Robinson, Chief Executive, Royal Scottish Geographical Society

                             Sheryl Newman, Chief Executive Officer, Appetite for Business 

11.10 – 11.40      Coffee break & networking

11.40 – 12.10     The role of Technology in addressing Net Zero 

                            Professor Sir Dieter Helm, University of Oxford 

12.10 – 12.55     From Concept to Commercialisation: Sustainable Approaches and using Tech in Design & Manufacture

                             Graeme McLaughlin, Design Engineering Team Lead, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland

                             Michael Groves, Founder and CEO, Topolytics 

                             Will Mitchell, Owner, 4C Design 

Abi Hird, Founder and Director, Defankle Innovation

13.00 – 14.00     Lunch

14.00 – 14.45     How Business Leaders can be Climate Leaders

                             Gemma Jones, Director – Enterprises Sustainability, PwC

Sheryl Newman, Chief Executive Officer, Appetite for Business

14.45 – 15.20      Leyton

15.20 – 16.15      AI and Sustainability 
                             Keith O’Donnell, Managing Director, Feynic Technology Ltd

16.15 – 16.30      Close

*CANCELLATION POLICY*

A £99+VAT no-show charge will be levied should you fail to attend on the day and fail to notify us of your non-attendance. Cancellations must be confirmed by contacting catriona.blair@aifengcai.com by no later than Tuesday 19th March. By booking your ticket, you agree to these terms and conditions.

Cluster Conference 2024 is now CPD certified! Gain hours towards your CPD qualifications by coming to our events.

Cloud, Data & AI – Transforming Public Services serves as the pivotal meeting point between government and technology providers, offering invaluable insights into harnessing the potential of cloud, data, and AI to modernise public services. Attendees will gain global thought leadership on leveraging these technologies for increased agility, responsiveness, and intelligence in government services. With practitioner insights and strategies for securing buy-in, this conference promises to equip public sector leaders with the tools needed to lead transformative change.

Based on excellent feedback and great response from last year, IFB is organising another event from our Lunch & Learn series, this time in partnership with EXPO.e.

Join us for the session as we will be highlighting the following topics:   

• Inside of Cyber Security Operations Centre – Role of the CSOC and its fundamental functions and importance to monitor, detect, respond to, and mitigate cybersecurity incidents;  
• Significance of threat intelligence in CSOC operations – Learn how threat analysts gather, assess, and utilize intelligence to stay ahead of potential cyber threats;  
• Power of a layered security approach and discuss how multiple defense mechanisms can fortify your digital landscape;  
• OT Systems and security – CSOC capabilities, visibility and real-time response 
• How IFB in partnership with EXPO.e can support your organisation   

The sessions are aimed at IT Managers/ IT Directors, and Cyber Security managers within Enterprise level organisations.

Click ‘Learn More’ below to register.

We know the power of peer learning and inspiring our members to feel inspired to try new approaches for themselves. We also know the power of food to bring people together.

In this lunch session we will hear from Ewan Aitkens, CEO of Cyrenains, an Edinburgh-based charity that tackles the causes and consequences of homelessness, and Dr Luca Cassetta Co-founder of Macomics an immuno-oncology company listed in PwC’s UK Life Sciences Future50.

They will share their experience and learnings about leadership, purpose, investment attraction and negotiation and take tips from one other.

The food will be cooked by chef Noura who delivers the Syrian Supper Club at Cyrenians.

Join us for a different style of event, which will be a fun way for private and third sector organisations to come together and learn from each other over lunch!

You will have the opportunity to ask questions so that you can apply some of that learning to help you work better and smarter.

ScotlandIS, in partnership with Equate Scotland and Scotland Skills Development Scotland, is delighted to be providing a free online session about inclusive recruitment practices specifically designed for small and medium enterprises within the tech ecosystem.

Workplace inclusion in today’s environment is a critical topic that tech employers can no longer see as “a nice to have”. Inclusive recruitment is a vital component of a broader approach. By ensuring that inclusive recruitment practices are embedded within the organisation, not only are we adhering to our legal duties but also ensuring we are tapping into a wider talent pool, fostering diversity of people, experiences, and innovation.

Inclusive recruitment refers to the processes and practices used to attract, interview, and hire a diverse pool of talent. This is to ensure we can reduce bias at different stages of the recruitment process and ensure the best-qualified people get hired for positions regardless of gender, ethnicity, or any other protected characteristics.

Why is inclusive recruitment important when hiring?

• Widen your talent pool to have a diverse pool of candidates to choose from. This is to ensure you don’t miss out on talents.
• Show your commitment to diversity & inclusion. Send a positive message to candidates and showcase that you want to create an environment that will help them learn and succeed.
• Set a positive environment from the start as the experience during the interview process will influence how candidates feel about joining your organisation.

What will you learn?

• Increase your understanding of what inclusive recruitment is within the Scottish tech ecosystem.
• Learn about current best practices throughout the recruitment process and know how to apply them within your organisation.
• Develop skills to review your own recruitment processes and identify short-term and long-term actions.
• Where to find resource and guidance to continue your learning.

Who should attend?

• This training is designed specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises with a requirement for digital skills.
• Ideal for professionals in a management or leadership position, working in Human Resources or involved in the recruitment process.

When is it?

This training will be hosted online and split across two sessions to allow time for self-reflection. Participants should attend both sessions:

Tuesday 19th March, 10am – 11.30am

Tuesday 26th March, 10am – 11.30am

Edinburgh’s Business Festival (EBF), supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, brings the business community together to connect, share ideas, and inspire solutions to current issues.

The Business Festival delves deeply into a topic through a series of workshops, keynote sessions, and lively panel discussions. In March, we’ll explore the theme ‘Grow, Scale, Succeed’.

As business look to grow it is important to focus on a strategic, phased approach to business development. Growth alone is not enough; businesses must also scale efficiently and sustainably to achieve lasting success. Entrepreneurs and business leaders need to think strategically, set clear goals, and implement the right strategies at each stage of their business journey.

In addition to the informative sessions delivered, the event will also create a platform for networking, connecting with peers and sharing knowledge. Join us at the EBF to hear from key players within the regional ecosystem alongside a range of budding and established entrepreneurs for a day packed with insight and inspiration, creating an environment where collaboration is encouraged and ideas are exchanged!

A number of informative sessions will be delivered focusing on topics such as productivity, innovation, scaling up, skills and AI. The event will also create a platform for networking, connecting with peers and sharing knowledge.

Join us at the EBF to hear from key experts, including:

• Irene Graham OBE, CEO, ScaleUp Institute
• Mairi Spowage, Professor of Practice & Director, Fraser of Allander Institute
• Nicola Taylor, Chief Operations Officer, ScotlandIS
• Bhavna Nair, On-boarding and Academy Lead, AND Digital
• Professor Sukanlaya Sawang, Research Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Edinburgh Napier University
• Anna White, Managing Director, Scotlandshop

As with all Chamber events, there will be plenty of time for networking and forming new connections.

This event is open to all and tickets are free (limited to 2 per company). Refreshments and lunch are provided and we will wrap up at 4pm with a networking session between 4-5pm.

Scotland’s 10th Annual Cyber Security for Business Summit with live keynotes, workshops and exhibition.

Scot-Secure is Scotland’s largest annual cyber security conference. The event brings together senior InfoSec personnel, IT leaders, academics, security researchers and law enforcement, providing a unique forum for knowledge exchange, discussion and high-level networking.

The programme is focussed on improving awareness and best practice through shared learning: highlighting emerging threats, new research and changing adversarial tactics, and examining practical ways to improve resilience, detection and response.

This Summit is geared  for InfoSec & IT personnel.

Scottish Enterprise invites you to join us on 27 March for Clean Heat 2024 in Glasgow.

Throughout the day we’ll hear from a range of experts, including Local Authorities, providing an overview of their Local Heat and Energy Efficiency Strategies highlighting the scale of the Clean Heat opportunity in Scotland. We will also spotlight Scottish companies on the range of capability they can bring to the clean heat supply chain, the importance of innovation, and investing in the supply chain. Finally, we will hear from private investors and what they look for when investing in a clean heat project.

We are delighted to welcome Mr Patrick Harvie, Minister for Zero Carbon Buildings, Active Travel and Tenants’ Rights, to open our event. We have a number of confirmed speakers lined up including Prof. Matthew Hannon, Professor of Sustainable Energy and Business Policy at the University of Strathclyde, as well as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fife Local Authorities and the Scottish National Investment Bank. We will also have Eddy Adams facilitating the day, a public policy advisor, consultant and writer, specialising in urban policy and social innovation.

The day will finish off with a drinks reception and further opportunities for networking.

Our event will bring together 200 attendees and exhibitors. Those present will have plenty of opportunities to make new contacts and network with a range of organisations.

Click the ‘Learn More’ link below to register.

The Southeast Asian market is booming right now – it’s currently the third largest in Asia and its digital economy is set to hit $100 billion this year.

With a thriving tech scene and young and savvy customer base, expansion into Southeast Asia might already be on your roadmap.

But diving headfirst into this fragmented and diverse market could leave you stranded, with more questions than answers.

We’ve invited our partner Sarath Menon from Orissa International – a Singapore-based business builder with decades of experience supporting market entry across Southeast Asia – to tell us more about the opportunities and the practicalities of expanding in the region.

Join us for an interactive online event where we will look at leadership skills and people policies.

Whether you’re a business owner, manager or HR professional, this event will offer practical knowledge and actionable solutions to propel your organisation through people wellbeing and engagement.

Expect to share best practice, gain expert advice, and connect with like-minded professionals. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, network, and strengthen your business’s diversity efforts.

Agenda:

15:30 – Introductions

15:45 – 16:15 – Speaker presentation

16:15 – 16:45 – Q&A and group discussions

Have you ever really considered the barriers that someone who has a physical disability faces even before they enter the workplace, let alone when they take up a job offer?

From the words used in recruitment ads, to the measures we put in place to help people do internships, there are often huge challenges to overcome even before someone gets to the point of being offered a contract.

For this livestreamed conversation we are joined by three of the most influential disabled people in the UK who will open our eyes to the many barriers that they have faced and continue to face in their working lives and who will discuss what we can do to make accessibility and inclusion a given for anyone with a physical disability to be able to flourish in their workplace of choice.

If you want to understand how you can advocate for yourself as someone with a physical disability at work or you want to understand how your employer can genuinely be more inclusive rather than just ticking the box, then this online roundtable discussion is for you.

Join our next ITMS Community event on 28th March in Edinburgh, which will be an afternoon session held at the The Sheraton hotel.

This event aims to bring together ITMSPs from the region to foster networking opportunities, and facilitate the sharing of challenges and best practices.

AGENDA

14.00-14.20   Welcome, Tea and Coffee 

14.20-14.30 ITMSP Cluster and Charter Update – Beverly Bowles, ScotlandIS Head of Cyber

14.30 -15.00 Pre-attack planning/Life’s a Breach – Craig Archdeacon, Head of Cyber Assurance and Jessica Hall, Head of Security Operations, Waterstons 

15.00-15.30 Moving Investigations Forward/Incident Response and Business Recovery/Articulating the Risks and what may be lost – Mark Cunningham Dickie, Quorum Cyber 

15.30-16.00 Incident Response, Digital Forensics, Post Incident Recovery – DS Paul Livingstone, Police Scotland

16.00-16.10 Comfort Break 

1610-16.45 Panel

16.45 – 17.00 Tea/Coffee/Snacks and Close 

We look forward to welcoming you to this enriching IT Managed Service Providers Networking Event, where you will gain valuable insights, forge new connections, and contribute to the growth of the ITMSP community in Edinburgh. 

Get ready for Cyber After Dark.

Occamsec and FinTech-Tables invite you to join us along with global industry experts to delve deep into a night of insightful discussions centered around cyber security.

Hear about emerging trends as we consider the Global Cyber Security Outlook for 2024 before moving on to discuss approaches to tackling continuous threat, focuing on cutting-edge strategies and tools to effectively prevent and respond to continuous exposure.

As well as great chat from our speakers, we will also be serving up food, drinks, and opportunities to network with peers from across the security industry.

Keynote Speaker:

2024 Global Cyber Security Outlook: Facing up to the emerging threat landscape

Robert Hayes, Non Executive Board Chair, Director, and Strategic Advisor in Cyber Security

Fireside Chat:

From Pen Testing to Persistent Protection: Navigating the shift to Continuous Threat Exposure Management

Mark Stamford, CEO, OccamSec

Erin Murtha, COO, OccamSec

Ivano Bianco, COO OccamSec

What to expect

On arrival you will be greeted with a smile and a complimentary drink from the bar, with time to network and get to know other people at the event.

We will kick off proceedings by hearing from our Keynote speaker Bob Hayes, goving a Global Outlook for Cyber Security in 2024, followed by a short audience Q&A session.

This will then be followed up by a fireside chat with the security team from OccamSec – flying in all the way from New York.

The night will finsh up with more drinks from the bar for those who want them, alongside complimentary canapes, with opportunities to network with peers to talk all things tech, cyber and security.