Western Isles entrepreneurs hone pitching skills

Business leaders will develop and hone their business pitches thanks to workshops organised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) through its Entrepreneurial Academy.

The pitching skills workshop, which is free to attend, takes place in Stornoway on 19^th September 2018 and will be followed by a workshop on brand development in 2019. The workshops aim to help entrepreneurs of businesses and social enterprises, and their employees, improve skills in these key business topics. 

Delivered by Maryanne Johnston, who has provided pitching and presentation skills training to entrepreneurs and employees from start-up stage to large, established corporates, she hopes to give them the tools to communicate effectively when under pressure. Maryanne’s past clients have had huge success; from helping fledging entrepreneurs secure Scottish Edge funding to preparing corporate clients for new business pitches worth millions of pounds.

Louise MacDonald, senior entrepreneurship manager at HIE, said: “Pitching does not come naturally to everyone and increasingly, it is such an important skill to have. I am delighted that Maryanne is returning to the Highlands and Islands to deliver this workshop. She will help attendees to get their message, personality and credibility across as well as give techniques to conquer nerves to ensure every pitch is clear and concise. I am confident that anybody that attends this workshop will find it incredibly useful.”

Commenting on the upcoming pitching skills workshop, Maryanne added: “I believe that everyone can communicate effectively when they are relaxed, and it’s the stress, pressure and rush of adrenalin that can throw you off. Many people believe you have to put on a show when pitching your business, but I encourage people to be themselves. An investor or new client needs you to be the best version of yourself, not you putting on a performance. I help people build their confidence, calm nerves and handle adrenalin, and find new, efficient ways to show their business proposition in the best possible light.

“Whether you’re pitching for investment that could see your business expand globally, selling a product to customers or speaking at a conference, the basic principles of pitching are all the same. I think it’s a life skill everyone needs, whatever your business sector or position.”

Entrepreneurs, or staff, of growing companies and social enterprises or those with ambition to scale that are interested in attending the one-day workshops should sign up at http://hie.social/GEaL30k8EDZ

The pitching skills workshop takes place at HIE's Stornoway office on 19^th September 2018.