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Start Smart: Growing Your Small Business D4

Date: 22nd February 2023
Location: Zoom
Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Theme: Start a business, Business Strategy, Operational efficiency

Sorry this event has already taken place - please see our forthcoming events list

If you are about to start a business or have started up already but are in your first 3 years of trading, our Start Smart course is for you.

To establish and grow a business successfully, it’s important to understand how to trade legally, how to manage finance, forecast sales and realise that marketing is much more than promotion.

This course is delivered online, consisting of 4 sessions over 2 weeks, details are below.

You must be willing to attend all four sessions, so please only book if you can commit fully to the programme.

 

14th February - Exploring Your Business Idea - Business Planning:

  • Developing skills to running a business
  • How to trade legally
  • The pros and cons of self-employmeny
  • Legal structures, which one is best for you?
  • Managing your business

 

15th February - Cash Flow, Costs, Breakeven and Pricing:

  • Sources of finances
  • Business Planning
  • Using financial forecasting to reduce your risks
  • Insights into what the cashflow can tell you about your business
  • Setting your sales objectives and pricing strategy

 

21st February - Marketing Strategy:

  • Understanding your customers
  • What is your unique selling point?
  • Segmentation and why your marketing won’t work without it
  • Getting your messaging right
  • The role the different channels play in your communications

 

22nd February - Online Presence:

  • Search Engine Optimisation
  • Using Google to help you plan your content and understand your customers
  • How to manage your website so it gets found
  • The role of social media and how to use it effectively
  • Lead generation

 

 

This workshop is delivered by Start Smart Advisors, of whom have a wealth of experience supporting individuals to start and grow businesses:

Caroline Jones

Business Advisor Caroline Jones delivers the marketing sessions on this programme.

Caroline has gained her knowledge through formal and informal study, self-directed learning, implementing and successfully delivering government funded projects, running her own businesses a bistro in the Highlands of Scotland and as a marketing coach.

Caroline has also been a business mentor for 14 years and has learned about many different business sectors and understands the frustrations and aspirations you will face as you work hard to establish and grow your business.

The marketing sessions are interactive and packed with information to ensure that you understand how to communicate effectively with your customers and grow quickly.

Carmen Hanif

Business Advisor Carmen Hanif delivers the first two sessions of this programme and has gained her knowledge from running her own successful dog grooming business for 10 years and working in the voluntary sector.

Carmen demonstrated a passion for business by running her own market stall at sixteen years old and going on to run her own successful business for many years. Carmen established her career working alongside Directors and Senior Executives in both the public and private sectors and has practical, hands-on experience of all aspects of starting and running a business. With a passion for helping people start their own business, Carmen is able to draw on her own experiences and offer practical advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.

The Exploring Your Business idea and Cashflow forecasting sessions are interactive and informative and empower you with the skills to manage the finance in your business. You will be able to make accurate forecasts, set objectives in advance and get information that helps you make informed business decisions.

 

Eligibility

Our Workshops are part-funded by European Regional Development Fund.
Our workshops are delivered free of charge to participants; however, as they are fully-funded, they are classed as state aid to participating businesses and are subject to state aid rules and the associated eligibility criteria:
Greater Manchester Clients Only
SME: Small or medium enterprise i.e. less than 250 (Full Time Equivalent) employees
Annual Turnover less than 50 Million Euro OR Balance Sheet less than 43 million Euro

Where is it?

This event will take place on Zoom.

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