In this podcast our valued colleague Brian Connolly, one of our information executives describes the service we provide and the kinds of information you can access.

You can find out about regulations, legislation relevant to you business and forthcoming legislation, VAT, taxation and information on shipping.

In addition, we subscribe to a number of market access databases. This can help you understand the key players in your market and can provide demographic data. We can also provide you with lists of distributors, relevant events and financial information on potential partners.

We are a network of local people helping local businesses, so that local knowledge from our 4000 colleagues in more than 50 countries is only an enquiry away!

Interested? Fill in our enquiry form to start the process to getting the information you need.

We mentioned our FREE European Information Clinics. You can find them on our events page.

The Enterprise Europe Network is your local route to developing your business and our services are fully funded by your local organisations and the EC, so they are FREE! While we help Scottish businesses only, we have valued colleagues providing the same services in more than 50 countries in nearly 600 organisations. Find your local office on this map or drop us an email or a comment on this show notes page using the contact details top right.

What have you got to lose?

Running from 2014 to 2020 with an estimated €70 billion budget, the EU’s new programme for research and innovation is part of the drive to create new growth and jobs in Europe.

We are part of “team Scotland” (comprising the Scottish Government, Scotland Europa, Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise) and our collective goal is to help you take advantage of the significant opportunities presented by Horizon 2020. We are delivering general information events across Scotland and in this podcast,  Ken and Richard Buxbaum from Scotland Europa try their presentation pitch out on a sceptical Liz.

• Will she be impressed?
• Will Eric the dog get his walk?

If you want a 7 minute primer on Horizon 2020, this podcast is for you.

Important Note: At time of recording, negotiation of the fine detail behind Horizon 2020 was ongoing. All the information in this podcast was correct at time of publication.

If you are a business in Scotland and want to be included in our regular email updates, email your business and contact details to horizon2020@scotent.co.uk.

Come along to one of our Horizon 2020 information events. Book yourself a place now!

• Inverness - 22nd May
• Glasgow - 11th June
• Edinburgh - 20th June
• Dumfries - 24th June

The Enterprise Europe Network is your local route to developing your business and our services are fully funded by your local organisations and the EC, so they are FREE! While we help Scottish businesses only, we have valued colleagues providing the same services in more than 50 countries in nearly 600 organisations. Find your local office on this map or drop us an email or a comment on this show notes page using the contact details top right. What have you got to lose?

The director of Interface,  Siobhan Jordan kindly gave us some time recently to talk about what they do and to give us some examples of the support they have given Scottish organisations.

The two examples she describes demonstrate the amazing breadth of support that Interface  - the knowledge connection for business, can provide:

• Burgons of Eyemouth Ltd , a crab processing company, for whom Interface helped investigate the feasibility of alternative uses for crab shell waste as a whelk bait.
• Albyn Housing Association - where Interface identified expertise and facilitated collaboration between Albyn Housing Society and the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) to investigate the feasibility of offering Assisted Living Technologies to their vulnerable residents.

If you have a business in Scotland and you are thinking about getting advice on how to grow through connecting to our amazing Scottish research facilities, think no more and give Interface – The knowledge connection for business a call!

Interface’s free and impartial service aims to stimulate innovation and encourage companies to consider academic support to help solve their business challenges. Through Interface, Scottish businesses can increase their competitiveness, develop new products, and exploit new market opportunities by connecting with academia.

They are driven by your needs and they are based across Scotland in Edinburgh, Perthshire, Inverness, Glasgow, Dumfries, Dundee and Aberdeen. There is a local contact for your business. What have you got to lose?

Contact Interface on their website http://www.interface-online.org.uk/, speak to the team by calling  0131 651 4791, email the team using  info@interface-online.org.uk and you can find them on Twitter @InterfaceOnline , on Facebook and on LinkedIn .

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The Enterprise Europe Network is your local route to developing your business and our services are fully funded by your local organisations and the EC, so they are FREE! While we help Scottish businesses only, we have valued colleagues providing the same services in more than 50 countries in nearly 600 organisations. Find your local office on this map or drop us an email or a comment on this show notes page using the contact details top right. What have you got to lose?

Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) encourages businesses to undertake investment that will directly result in the creation or safeguarding of jobs in Scotland.

It can help eligible businesses with projects involving investment in buildings, plant and equipment and both indigenous and foreign companies can apply.

In the financial year 2010/2011 some 7000 jobs were created or secured thanks to RSA funding. Awards totalling £52 million supported 114 projects across Scotland.

We learned that far from being just for multinationals, in the current financial year, of the 90 accepted RSA offers, 75% were for Scottish companies. You can find the latest reports giving details of successful applications here.

RSA is not limited to single grants and can be awarded for subsequent expansion projects in Scotland.

The grants awarded depend on the size and location of the company and the nature of the project. The support limits range from 10% to 35% of eligible costs and the limits are set by the EU. The latest draft guidelines from the EU suggest that large companies may not be eligible for support after the end of 2013, so if you are a large company, and have a good project, GET YOUR APPLICATIONS IN NOW!

You can meet the RSA team at the many events they speak at around Scotland, you can contact them by calling 0845 607 8787 , read more on  this web page and join the RSA LinkedIn Group.

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The Enterprise Europe Network is your local route to developing your business and our services are fully funded by your local organisations and the EC, so they are FREE! While we help Scottish businesses only, we have valued colleagues providing the same services in more than 50 countries in nearly 600 organisations. Find your local office on this map or drop us an email or a comment on this show notes page using the contact details top right. What have you got to lose?

Get in touch with the China IPR SME Helpdesk!

Ken recently met Philippe, Jennifer and Ben from helpdesk team and they told him all about all their FREE services as well as some cautionary tales about doing business in China.

The China IPR SME Helpdesk supports European Union (EU) small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to both protect and enforce their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in or relating to China, through the provision of free information and services.

You will get jargon-free, practical, confidential advice on intellectual property and related issues as well as training , materials and online resources. If you are interested in doing business in China, what are you waiting for?

You can contact the China IPR SME helpdesk team through their website http://www.china-iprhelpdesk.eu where you can sign up for their newsletter. Follow the team on their Twitter stream (@iprchina) and LinkedIn Group.  Visit their blog China IP Insider,  email your questions to question@china-iprhelpdesk.eu, call them on the hotline +86 (10) 64620892.

If your business is based in Scotland you should also speak to  Scottish Development International , visit their website , download their “Doing Business in China” guide or call them on 0800 917 9534.

Finally, you can contact us in the Enterprise Europe Network in Scotland using the links on the right side of this page, by leaving a comment on this podcast page, by emailing us using info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com

Tracey is the digital health specialist in our Scottish team and she kindly gave us some of her valuable time to talk about the Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme (AAL), which is currently looking for proposals related to the theme “ ICT-based Solutions for Supporting Occupation in Life of Older Adults”.

The deadline for projects is 30th April 2013.

The programme’s specific aims are to foster the emergence of innovative ICT-based products, services and systems for ageing well at home, in the community, and at work, thus increasing the quality of life, autonomy, participation in social life, skills and employability of elderly people, and reducing the costs of health and social care.

The Ambient Assisted Living programme is looking for project proposals from industry, user groups etc, related but not limited to areas such as:

• Adapting the way of working by thinking about new concepts for flexible systems in a dynamic labour market to keep seniors motivated and active in work or other meaningful activities
• Developing, adapting and/or re-designing the place of occupation to age-specific conditions to sustain occupational health, while coping with the specific environmental conditions
• Coping strategies or processes (e.g. stress or time management) and technologies (e.g. for handling heavy or small things) that can help older adults adapt physically and cognitively with their tasks (e. g. at work, in community activities or voluntary organisations) maintain their quality of life and envisage the work-life balance
• Improving occupational lifestyle preserving health (e.g. through personal risk assessment) and supporting behavioural changes (e.g. through smart advisory tools)
• Training devices according to physical capacities and usability demands, in/outdoors
• Developing means for learning and training of older workforce
• Addressing intergenerational knowledge transfer to use skills and competencies based on experience

Tracey highlighted the key areas that the call for proposals are looking at who is eligible and how to get involved.

we have to stop thinking of an older workforce as a separate group. We are all getting older and our working lives are likely to be extended

In Scotland and interested in getting involved in the AAL programme? The deadline for projects is 30th April 2013. Check out the AAL website  here and get in touch with Tracey Ward on 0141228 2252 or by email, to tracey.ward (at) scotent.co.uk .

If you are not in Scotland, fear not. There is a branch of the Enterprise Europe Network near you and our valued network colleagues will be delighted to help. You can find your local office by visiting our network website and using the map.

Contact Enterprise Europe Network Scotland using the links on the right side of this page, by leaving a comment on this podcast page, by emailing us using info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com .

What links Scotland to the model T Ford? What links the East Ayrshire village of Newmilns and the new Steven Spielberg movie Lincoln? What do you think about when you think of Scottish textiles?

Kilts, tartan, cashmere and tweed?

Well that’s roughly what we were thinking about until we spoke to Stewart Roxburgh of the National Textiles team in Scottish Enterprise.

More than 200 of the world’s biggest fashion brands like Burberry and major stores like Brooks Brothers and Saks Fifth Avenue come to Scotland for textiles, and Scotland’s textile industry includes high performance leather and very sophisticated hi-tech fabrics.

Stewart told us how the most successful businesses in Scottish textiles are cultivating the premium or luxury end of the market; the biggest barriers to success; the power of emphasising provenance and  building compelling stories, and why market intelligence is key to building your business.

Hear two fantastic examples of companies that are taking very different approaches to diversification.

1. MYB a traditional lace manufacturer founded in 1900 in Ayrshire discovered completely new markets for their large seamless fabric in the movie industry.
2. Strathberry is a company in their infancy who have a mill that is over 200 years old, are focussing on designing products focused on quality and historical provenance.

Scottish Enterprise gathers intelligence from the market and employs many sector specialists focused on future trends in your industry. If your business is based in Scotland this support is available to you FREE! Why not ask? Contact Scottish Enterprise now :

• Telephone : 0845 607 8787,
• Email : enquiries@scotent.co.uk
• Telephone : 0141 228 2000 from mobile phones or if outside Scotland
• Use Minicom 0800 023 2071 - if you are deaf or hard of hearing (BT helpline 0800 731 1888)

A big thank you to Stewart for giving us some of his time. Find out more about the latest in Scottish Textiles, news, events and more here.

The lovely pony photo was taken by Rob McDougall - http://robmcdougall.com/

If you want to see more pictures of ponies in jumpers (and who wouldn’t?), visit our valued colleagues at Visit Scotland and then make plans to VISIT SCOTLAND!

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The Enterprise Europe Network (that’s us) is your local route to developing your business and our services are fully funded by your local organisations and the EC, so they are FREE! While we help Scottish businesses only, we have valued colleagues providing the same services near you. Find your local office on this map or drop us an email or a comment on this show notes page using the contact box at top right. What have you got to lose?

In this podcast, Ken and Liz highlight a few of those including the Missions for Growth where you will be able to meet and discuss business ventures with major companies and entrepreneurs in the major non-EU markets. Spearheaded by European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani , participation in the Missions for Growth will also provide you with unique opportunities to meet and network with important political decision makers and local authorities. Want to take part? Get in touch now!

And in Scotland there are many events including:

• Life Science Partnering Event in Edinburgh  on 7 February 2013 (CLOSING SOON - BOOK TODAY!)
• Scottish Renewables Annual Conference 2013 Business Partnering event, in Edinburgh from 18 - 19 March 2013
• Scottish Technology Showcase in Glasgow on 11 June 2013

In Europe you will find us at:

• European Seafood Exposition 2013 in Brussels from 23 - 25 April 2013
• Mobile World Congress 2013, in Barcelona 24 - 28 February 2013
• CeBit in Hannover Germany from 5- 9 March

There are more events than we could list here or mention in this podcast and more are being added all the time. Check out our events calendar , register as a subscriber to our website to received email notification and to make sure you don’t miss out on updates and new events in Scotland.

The Enterprise Europe Network is your local route to developing your business and our services are fully funded by your local organisations and the EC, so they are FREE! While we help Scottish businesses only, we have valued colleagues providing the same services near you. Find your local office on this map or drop us an email or a comment on this show notes page using the contact box at top right. What have you got to lose?

In our team, 2012 was extremely busy, with lovely new people joining the team and a load of events and missions all because there is a growing demand for our FREE services to businesses.

We were more than chuffed to win the Best Practice Award for our Network Online Presence, voted by our lovely colleagues in nearly 600 organisations in more than 50 countries, for our collected social media efforts and we’ve been nominated again in the European Podcast Awards 2012 (still time to vote for us by clicking here BTW) for this podcast series.

Thank you for your support, comments and for listening to our podcasts. In making this, our second annual New Year “top five” compilation, we were surprised which shows were the most listened to, in 2012. You might be too.

Remember if your business would like to expand outside your home country, the Enterprise Europe Network is here to help. Our services are FREE because your local business organisations and the European Commission have paid for them.

If you are not in Scotland, fear not. There is a branch of the Enterprise Europe Network near you and our valued network colleagues will be delighted to help. You can find your local office by visiting our network website and using the map.

Contact Enterprise Europe Network Scotland using the links on the right side of this page, by leaving a comment on this podcast page, by emailing us using info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com or call us on 0141 228 2797.

from our valued colleagues across our network, so if you ever doubted we have local contacts in most places AND if you want to know Xmas greetings in other languages, listen in and be amazed.

P.S. We’re still not sure what our Korean colleague actually said, so if anyone can translate, drop us a line

The month of December is filled with preparations for Christmas, and we all look forward to good cheer and family gatherings. In the Enterprise Europe Network Scotland office, Anis, Liz and Ken are preparing for their second Xmas podcast but their plans to decorate the office with a Xmas tree and fill it with mince pies, presents and all things shiny are in danger of being thwarted.

• Will they be able to save Xmas?
• What is Eric the dog dressed up as this year to get through security?

Do you remember last years (2011) (Scottish Xmas Podcast) with the mince pie eating competition, the magic trick and carol singing?Well this one has more Dickens references, ridiculous chases and explains how the Great Fire of London started.

The Enterprise Europe Network is the worlds biggest business support network and our services are FREE because they are fully funded by your local organisations. Need help growing your business, need market research information or want to license your technologies? Contact us using the contact details above or by commenting on this page. We’ll be in touch really quickly and as we said, our services are FREE. What have you got to lose?

Have a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Watch out for our special Xmas bonus podcast featuring our network colleagues.

Show 50 already and we feel like we’re  just getting started. Did we ever plan to reach this milestone?

No. We just enjoy making podcasts, telling people about the FREE services our network provides and enjoying the feedback we receive from our listeners. Having a network in over 50 countries provides us with lots of things to talk about and we love it when we can feature the voices of our network colleagues - more valued colleagues and their top tips coming soon!

In this show, in celebration of this podcasting milestone Ken, Anis and Liz talk about how and why we started podcasting, our favourite shows, how we make them and why things sometimes go wrong.

We also include some recordings that have never been broadcast before and  our 5 tips for successful podcasting and social media success.

Thank you for listening to our podcasts, for your comments, emails and (better still) meeting us in person.

The Enterprise Europe Network is here to help your business in over 50 countries, connect, innovate and grow and our services are fully funded by your local organisations and the EU. Find business partners using the world’s largest technology transfer database, get the latest information on EU Law and Funding and find or advertise your technology. What have you got to lose? Get in touch using the contact tab on this page or by dropping us a comment in the comments box below.

This is the third trailer featuring one of our favourite subjects. Listen and find out which.

Show 50 is published on 19th November. There. We said it again.

In our 50th show, Ken, Anis and Liz talk about how and why we started podcasting, our favourite shows, how we make them and why things sometimes go wrong.

We also include some recordings that have never been broadcast before and  our 5 tips for successful podcasting and social media success, which we have largely ignored.

Collect the set!

This is the second one after which Anis had a sore throat for another week. That boy will never learn.

This is the third trailer featuring one of our favourite subjects. Listen and find out which.

In our 50th show (out on 19th November), Ken, Anis and Liz talk about how and why we started podcasting, our favourite shows, how we make them and why things sometimes go wrong.

We also include some recordings that have never been broadcast before and  our 5 tips for successful podcasting and social media success, which we have largely ignored.

Collect the set of trailers!

Trailer 3 will be released on 14th November

Collect the set!

This is the first one after which Anis had a sore throat for a week.

In our 50th show, Ken, Anis and Liz talk about how and why we started podcasting, our favourite shows, how we make them and why things sometimes go wrong.

We also include some recordings that have never been broadcast before and  our 5 tips for successful podcasting and social media success, which we have largely ignored.

Trailer 2 will be released on 12th November

Trailer 3 will be released on 14th November

Collect the set!

Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS) is a subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise working in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise. CDS supports the growth of co-operative enterprises in Scotland, from developing consortia to employee buyouts.  CDS will guide businesses through the process, including access to funding and legal models.

“Our job is to help companies grow by establishing new co-operatives or by helping businesses transfer into employee ownership” says Sarah.

In this podcast, Sarah shares some examples of CDS’s work in collaboration, and profiles 3 successful consortium co-operatives; Yellow Brick House, Breadalbane Tourism Co-operative and Food from Argyll.

As usual Ken and Anis have a fantastic business idea for Sarah to consider.

Will it be eligible for support? Listen and find out.

Find out more about CDS by:

Visiting the Co-operative Development Scotland Website Telephone to +44 141 951 3055 Or by email to: info@cdscotland.co.uk

Alternatively:

Follow CDS on twitter @cdscotland Connect with CDS on LinkedIn Follow the CDS Blog at www.cdsblog.co.uk

And as usual if you want to expand your business in Europe and beyond, our services are fully funded by your local organisation so they are FREE to you! Get in touch with us using the numbers or comment box on this page.

Last year our Halloween podcast 2011 featured magic tricks and strange costumes.

This year we investigate the fifth floor , talk about Halloween customs from far afield, find a ghostly dog and try a traditional Scottish Halloween game, dooking (or bobbing) for apples.

• What is Eric the dog dressed as?
• What happened to Eric’s dad?
• What does Liz have round her neck?

If you are scared about the prospect of doing business in Europe, let the Enterprise Europe Network help you. While we help Scottish businesses only, we have valued colleagues providing the same services near you!

Find your local office on this map or drop us an email or a comment on this show notes page using the contact box at top right. What have you got to lose?

The constitutional monarchy becomes the 3rd African country to join our network, alongside neighbours Tunisia and Egypt.

The 32 million strong nation is the World’s largest exporter of phosphorus, a chemical substance used in fertilisers and several other niche applications. Agriculture and tourism also represent a significant proportion of Morocco’s $100 billion GDP.

Listen to this podcast to find out :

• Which member of the EEN Scotland team has been to Morocco?
• Where couscous was invented (and it’s not where you think).
• The key business sectors in Morocco.
• Tips on how to do be successful in those first business meetings.

We also introduce the newest members of our team Brian and Debbie who will be working in the information team to provide bespoke research for Scottish companies and you will find out a fantastic personal fact about them.

The Enterprise Europe Network is your local route to developing your business and our services are fully funded by your local organisations and the EC, so they are FREE! While we help Scottish businesses only, we have valued colleagues providing the same services near you. Find your local office on this map or drop us an email or a comment on this show notes page using the contact box at top right. What have you got to lose?

Did you know that Cyprus holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 July to 31 December 2012?

It is the first time the country has held the Presidency since it joined the EU in 2004 and reason enough for us record another of our “Doing Business in…” series.

• Learn about famous Cypriots and where love was really invented.
• Visit the website of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU here

If you are in Scotland and want to develop your business overseas, find partners, collaborators or access funding for R&D, drop us an email using info@enterprise-europe-scotland.com or drop us a request on this page and we’ll contact you to take things further.

If you are not in Scotland, fear not. There is a branch of the Enterprise Europe Network near you and our valued network colleagues will be delighted to help. You can find your local office by visiting our network website and using the map.

Remember our services are fully funded by the European Commission and your local business organisations. What have you got to lose? Get in touch now.