'Red Squirrel' storytelling workshops from XpoNorth Digital offer specialist support to creative and heritage sectors in Highlands
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Networks based across the Highlands and Islands are being given the opportunity to participate in a unique series of strategy and storytelling workshops delivered by XpoNorth Digital – Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s specialist digital support programme for the creative and heritage sectors.
Participants are being introduced to the ‘Red Squirrel’ programme, which is the brainchild of Professor Donald Maclean and Kate Hooper, co-founders of StrategyStory, a business development consultancy that merges storytelling traditions and modern communications with cutting edge strategic thinking.
Drawing its name from an analogy between grey and red squirrels, the programme accommodates both the localness and rootedness of rural businesses, their community-oriented focus, and the more measured nature of their growth.
Two remaining workshops on November 24 and December 8 will give participants a taster of the key elements of developing both their strategy and story, overseen by Kate Hooper and Professor Maclean.
A former BBC producer and an Ambassador for Women’s Enterprise Scotland, Kate has extensive experience of the media industry, as well as helping clients maximise audience engagement through the medium of storytelling. Donald also works at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow. His internationally published, ground-breaking research on strategy is used by business and academics across the world.
The workshops will guide attendees on how to strategically shape their stories while accounting for their unique audiences, and participants will also be introduced to a dedicated digital storytelling kit, along with the opportunity for ongoing collaboration with fellow attendees.
Alex Smith, XpoNorth digital programme manager said: “We’re pleased to be working with StrategyStory to offer this exciting series of workshops to creative and heritage networks based across the Highland and Islands. Custom designed to respond to the distinct opportunities and unique needs of regional businesses, these taster sessions built around The Red Squirrel model are a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of this potentially transformative approach.”
Professor Donald MacLean, one of the founders of Strategy Story, said: “We know that many business development offerings are not tailored to the specifics of regions, or the nuances of businesses that operate within them. We know that rural business is often misunderstood. We’ve developed Red Squirrel to sort that. The programme offers tailored training in strategy and communications for rural and creative businesses so that they can grow in a way that suits their distinctive needs.”
Kate Hooper, co-founder of the company, added: “Rural and creative businesses have many distinctive qualities to be proud of. We’re really looking forward to these taster sessions, and to sharing some of our Red Squirrel tools and techniques to help our region’s brilliant businesses play to their strengths.”
Individuals can sign up to attend this free series of workshops here.
