Starting Up in Business Short Courses
Do you have an ambition to start your own business?
Starting Up in Business is a practical short business start up course aimed at those embarking on a new business venture, or those who would simply like to know what is involved in starting a new enterprise. The Starting Up in Business course highlights the key issues to be considered by new business owners, from marketing and sales to finance and legal requirements. Topics will include the psychology behind starting up your own business, processes involved, business formats, market research and the importance of cash flow. The Business Start Up course is delivered by experienced business owners, managers and entrepreneurs.
Course Information
Dates and Fees to be confirmed
Tutor Info
Stuart Honey (Tuesdays) and Kulan Mills (Thursdays).
Stuart Honey is a sales and marketing professional with over twenty years experience in the corporate and small business sectors. He focuses on e-commerce and new business development. In addition, as an accredited associate of the Institute for Independent Business International he assists in business start ups and new product development.
Kulan Mills is a Business Consultant providing hands-on business planning and implementation assistance to a wide variety of businesses including business start-ups.
A chartered and Chartered Management Accountant with Ernst & Young and KPMG background his industrial and commercial experience includes 20 years spent within a large manufacturing and trading multinational, and over seven years providing business development support for small businesses from a wide variety of sectors including wholesale and retail, import/export, construction, restaurants, motor repair workshops, financial services, jewellery, toys and hotels. He is an accredited member of the Institute for Independent Business International.
Eligibility
Participants should be keen to develop their own business idea. Anyone who has just started running their own business or is thinking of do so will benefit from this course.English Requirements
Formal qualifications are not required but participants who do not speak English may find this Business Start Up course challenging.
What will I learn?
- To understand the stages involved in setting up a business.
- To gather an understanding of the financial needs and legal requirements for a small business.
- To be able to construct and prepare and present a business plan.
- To understand the nature and requirements of the market and marketing.
Topics Covered
1. Psychology and Motivation
2. Principles of Marketing
3. Business Planning
4. Structure, legal entities and Intellectual Protection
5. Finance & Management Accounting
6. Branding Networking & PR Matters
7. Operational Issues including people management
8. Open Week (designed for the group)
9. Sources of Finance
10. Valuing the Business
Teaching and Assessment
Each week has a main subject topic and a supplementary topic depending on the level of classroom involvement. All participants are encouraged to do research in the background. Some participants write a business plan over the period of the course, but this is not compulsory. There is no formal assessment but the tutors work with participants via email and private meetings where required on a one to one basis.Recommended Reading
Jones, Gary (1998) Starting Up. How to launch and grow the new business. Natwest Small Business Handbooks, Financial Times Prentice Hall
Williams, Sara (2002) Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide. Vitesse Media plc
Harrison, John (1989) Finance for the Non-financial Manager. All You Need to Know About Business Finance. Harper Collins
Roshtorn, John et al. (1994) The Small Business action Kit. Kogan Page
Nicou, M, C. Ribbings and E. Ading (1994) Sell Your Knowledge - The Professionals Guide to Winning More Business. Kogan Page
Bird, Drayton (2002) How to Write Sales Letters that Sell. Kogan Page
Google "starting up in business" and you will find a number of useful sites giving advice from HMRC, the banks and businesslink to a number of advice centres.
There are several books available entitled "starting up in business" all of which give good advice - the tutors prefer recommending more inspirational literature such as biographies by people who have been there and succeeded (or indeed failed). Examples will be given throughout the course.
Leads To...
Finance for Non-Finanical ManagersIntroduction to Digital Marketing
Career Outcome
This course clarifies strategic direction. Many participants go on to run their own business both in the UK and overseas.