Workplace Innovation Masterclasses in Scotland

Business Masterclasses will help future-proofing the Scottish economy

Scottish Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and Workplace Innovation are continuing our exciting series of Masterclasses as virtual interactive webinars.

Scotland confirms its status as one of the most pro-active European countries promoting long-term sustainable economic growth through the development of inclusive and creative workplaces.

After successfully delivering Scottish Enterprise’s Workplace Innovation Engagement Programme (WIEP) where 19 business were engaged in a ground-breaking combination of individual learning and development, peer-to-peer exchange of knowledge and experience, and on-site coaching and facilitation, Workplace Innovation Europe Limited (WIE) is now entering in its second year of Workplace Innovation Masterclasses across Scotland.

Last year our four masterclasses brought together 13 Speakers, 241 Participants and over 160 Companies. If you would like to join us this year read on below.

Next Masterclass (online interactive webinar)

Positioning your Company for the Post-Crisis Future

Date and time: 1st July 2020
Location: Online webinar

The COVID-19 crisis offers companies a unique opportunity to renew their relationships with customers, suppliers and employees alike – and to stimulate innovative thinking about their products, services and processes that will place them ahead of the field in the post-lockdown world.

More than ever, business leaders need to understand how to engage their people in change if they are to survive and thrive in the post-lockdown world. Economic forecasters predict deep recession and many companies understand the urgent need to enhance agility, productivity and capacity for innovation. That means rethinking job roles and working practices throughout the organisation.

How can you bring your people with you? Successful change means harnessing workforce creativity and ideas to find new and effective solutions. It also means winning acceptance for difficult decisions.

Book your place

Workplace Innovation is a practical, evidence-based approach that enables businesses to use and develop the skills, experience and creativity of their people to the full. It leads to high performance and great working lives.

Our Workplace Innovation Masterclass series is aimed at key decision makers within Scotland’s business community, introducing the different practices behind the concept of workplace innovation and demonstrating how they can help you achieve positive benefits for your company.

Download the brochure

Dr Peter Totterdill
Director of WIE

Together with our Dutch partners, we were the co-creators of the workplace innovation concept which has now taken root in European Commission policy and in the economic strategies of several countries, including Scotland.

The Masterclass programme is designed to meet a key objective of Scottish Enterprise’s Workplace Innovation Service, that of increasing awareness and understanding within the business community of how business performance and employee working life are enhanced through the adoption of Fair Work principles and workplace innovation practices including values-based leadership, contributing significantly to the goals of the Scottish Government’s Inclusive Growth strategy.

The Masterclasses will be delivered at venues throughout Scotland and will examine why and how workplace innovation is driving business growth by releasing talent in the knowledge economy. They will focus on people-centred change and how to meaningfully engage employees in innovation, sustainable improvement and cultural change at work.

Rosemary Exton
WIE Co-director

We bring a unique body of fresh thinking, evidence-based approaches and innovative resources to the Masterclasses through our work with diverse enterprises and other stakeholders in Scotland, across the rest of Europe, and beyond.

Masterclasses are a valuable means of raising awareness and stimulating action, but the challenge is that of maintaining momentum and commitment after the event. To this end we have already recruited a number of workplace innovation ambassadors from the Scottish business community who are willing to share their experience of change at the Masterclasses and they will line up with a panel of acknowledged workplace innovation experts from across Europe.

Feedback from our previous Masterclasses

Workplace Innovation: Creating Leaders for the Future

Glasgow – 4th February 2020

“Excellent masterclass, informative, interactive and thought provoking. Shines a bright light on what effective and impactful leadership should look like.” (Caroline Brown, Enterprise Development Officer, North Lanarkshire Council)

“It reinforced the importance of innovation in the workplace in terms of empowering your people an creating a culture in which they feel confident, supported and autonomous.” (Wendy Murray, Brand and Business Development Manager, Bute Fabrics)

“An opportunity to reflect on where we are and how we might introduce change for the better, a thoroughly enjoyable event” (Kate Beaumont, HR Director Soapworks Ltd)

“Great insight from speakers with international experience.” (Matt Chapman, MD Contagious)

Workplace Innovation: Industry 4.0, Digitalisation and Future Work

Stirling – 27th November 2019

Stirling:

“A superb event, helping Scottish SME’s facilitate change, to improve and become more sustainable.” (Tony Burns, ACS Clothing ltd)

“Great workshop, insightful and dynamic session. Provides a great opportunity to network with an interesting group.” (Laura McClusker, Doosan Babcock )

“Informative and insightful. More businesses, particularly SME’s should be learning this stuff…. Sooner to build into business models.” (Caroline Brown, North Lanarkshire Council)

“A great way to learn and connect to other interesting businesses who have similar challenges around innovative practices.” (Brian McEwan, Young Enterprise Scotland)

Workplace Innovation: Engaging Employees in Innovation & Improvement

Aberdeen – 27th August 2019

“Some of the best learning you will ever encounter – with a strong evidence base.” (Paul Krogh, Ortugen Limited)

“An excellent introduction to the concepts and practices of workplace innovation.” (Caroline Crichton, James Hutton Institute)

“Really invigorating session with some great insights from the excellent speakers and the delegates. I’d encourage everyone to take part!” (Gordon Semple, Booth Welsh)

“Fantastic event. Leaving feeling motivated and open to introducing change to better the company’s future.” (John Sibbald, Sibbald Training)

Workplace Innovation: People Leading Change!

Edinburgh – 21st May 2019

“A very beneficial experience that has firmed up my thinking on workforce engagement.”

“Enlightening insight into the art of change!”

“It was useful to have reflection time to consolidate notes of how the content was relevant to me and my organisation.”

“Fantastic progressive learning. Introduces you to concepts and learning outcomes to entice you to dig deeper. Very engaging and enjoyable.”

Workplace Innovation: Why & How it is Transforming Business

Glasgow – 27th February 2019

“A very inspiring and energizing event, thank you!” (Leanne McAllister, AutoRek)

“Really inspiring to see how positive the speakers were and what differences innovation can bring to every sector.” (Alison Kerr, Sartorius)

“Valuable practical insight into translating strategy into action.” (Louise Stevenson, Booth Welsh)

“These forums, where ideas and experiences can be shared in a collaborative environment, are so useful to debunk fears of feeling like your own ideas are just coming from an echo chamber.” (Anon)