InSparation

Business Start Up - The Basics

Tuesday 25 October 2011, Newton Park, MH.1.11, 1.30pm – 4.30pm

The majority of new businesses fail in the first 12 months and the cause is usually poor preparation with no clear direction.

Why do you want to set up a business and what do you want to get from it? There’s no right or wrong answer – it’s about personal goals, which then become business goals.

This workshop will start you off with some practical skills for realising your business idea.

• Personal audit
• How to plan for survival, break-even and making a living
• Simple but effective tools for doing an analysis of your business idea
• Options for different legal structures you could set up
• A four-point plan for risk management and protecting your business
• How to use a business plan as a To Do List as well as a portfolio for presenting your business to others

 The insight gained from this workshop will put you in a good position to make an entry to Bath Spa University’s Business Enterprise Competition 2011-12.

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.

Negotiating and Influencing Skills

Thursday 27 October 2011, Newton Park, MH.G.15, 9.30am- 12.30pm

There are times when all of us need to get other people to see things slightly differently, or to get them to do something we need them to do.  There are also times when we need to negotiate conditions, timings or price and in these situations it can be vital to get what you want.

This workshop will introduce you to the tips used by the best influencers, such as:

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• An ability to get people to want to give their support
• Being fair and knowing what to give away
• When to make demands and how to compensate when there are difficulties

The insight gained from this workshop could help you if you are thinking of starting a business, freelancing or being self-employed after university.

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.

How to Structure a Business Plan

Wednesday 02 November 2011, Newton Park LY.1.06, 9.30am – 4.30pm

This workshop will help you document and write your business plan in a clear format that includes strategies, customers, marketing and forecasts.

Going through the process of writing a business plan will focus your mind on everything from where the business will be based to where you’re going to find your first customer. It will help you create a blueprint for the future development of the business that potential investors will want to read before they lend to you.

The insight gained from this workshop will put you in a good position to make an entry to Bath Spa University’s Business Enterprise Competition 2011-12.

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.

Market Research for your Business

Monday 14 November 2011, Newton Park MH.G.15, 1.30pm – 4.30pm

Market research is any organised effort to gather information about markets or customers. It is a very important component of business strategy.  It provides important information to identify and analyse the market need, market size and is a key factor to gain advantage over competitors.  In terms of business planning, once you have discovered what people want, need believe and how they act, you can use it to decide how to market your product or service.

This workshop will take you through the practical aspects of:

• Market research techniques
• Customer profiling: demographics; purchase behaviour; psychographics
• Business profiling
• Competitor analysis
• Using market information, market segmentation and market trends

 The insight gained from this workshop will also support anyone preparing to make an entry to Bath Spa University’s Business Enterprise Competition 2011-12. 

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.

Concept to Reality 1-2-1 Advice Sessions

Wednesday 16 November 2011, Main House MH.G.15, 9.00am – 5.00pm

'Concept to Reality' will give you the opportunity to discuss and shape your business idea in a 1-2-1 advice slot (45 minutes) with one of Bath Spa University's Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. This advice would suit those who wish to enter the University’s Business Enterprise Competition 2011-12, however this is not compulsory.

The eight slots available on Wednesday 16th of November will be offered on a first come first served basis and you will be contacted about the time of your allocated slot.

"The sessions with John Hector helped me to decide exactly where I wanted my business idea to go and he gave me excellent advice".  Rosanna Campbell, Music & English Literature undergraduate 2010

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.

Introduction to Project Management

Tuesday 22 November 2011, Culverhay Suite CV.1.04 Culverhay, 9.30am – 4.30pm

Do you want to know how to run a project effectively and efficiently with minimum stress? Project management skills are useful in all work-based circumstances and can help you achieve your goals on time and on budget.

This one-day course, run by Project Manager Steve Davies, is designed to introduce you to the basics of project management skills. It will take you through processes and techniques with the aim of helping you to take part in projects with confidence.

Course Content:

What is a Project?
'Project' and 'Project Management' defined
The time/cost/quality relationship
Critical Path Analysis
Tools and techniques
Work breakdown structure
Project plans (Pert and Gantt charts)

Project Life Cycle
Inception
Feasibility
Initiation/strategy (business case; project team; project office)
Planning (creating a project plan; financial, quality, risk, acceptance, communications, procurement plans)
Execution (management of time, cost, quality, change, risk, procurement)
Close and review

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.

Marketing and Advertising for your Business

Monday 28 November 2011, Newton Park MH.1.11, 9.30am – 12.30pm

People often confuse marketing with advertising and vice versa. While both are important, they are very different. Knowing the difference and using your market research can put you on the path to substantial growth for your business. This workshop take you through the following issues:

• What is marketing?
• Dispelling misconceptions
• Three approaches to marketing a business
• Characteristics of a marketing-focused business
• Using your market research to inform your marketing strategy
• Systematic marketing planning, implementation and control of a mix of business activities to attract customers
• Advertising as part of your marketing mix to promote your product/service to existing and potential customers

The insight gained from this workshop will also support anyone preparing to make an entry to Bath Spa University’s Business Enterprise Competition 2011-12.

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.

Sponsorship and Fundraising for your Enterprise

Thursday 08 December 2011, Newton Park LY.1.06, 1.30pm – 4.30pm

Sponsorship basically means that a sponsor agrees to pay money to someone if they do something. Fundraising is fun but it does involve a lot of planning and resourcefulness.  Both could be a way to attract investment for your enterprise. Obtaining backing from business sponsors will mean credibility for a fundraising campaign, as well as financial donations.

In this workshop, gain some tips on starting your sponsorship efforts as early as possible and being organised in your approach. Get an insight into how to use the resources available to you, where to research for grants, and how to negotiate with local businesses to persuade them to help you. Learn about the importance of creating a number of different ways to bring in fundraising income across the lifespan of your enterprise.

Developing successful fundraising ideas is vital for many enterprises. There are many factors, however, that are key to their success. These include publicity, advertising, telling the story of your enterprise and often working with volunteers. This workshop will help you to consider these issues and develop a plan.

The insight gained from this workshop will also support those undertaking enterprise projects as part of their studies.

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.

Managing the Money Part 1: Financial Recording for your Business

Monday 16 January 2012, Newton Park CP.1.03, 9.30am-12.30pm

This workshop will help you identify the records you must keep as a business or self-employed person, and how to keep them up-to-date efficiently.  It will show you how to meet your legal obligations and enable you to set up a basic system that works for you.

Whatever kind of business you run, you are required by law to keep financial records relating to it.  There are a number of business benefits to be gained from keeping accurate and up-to-date records.  It saves you time, and therefore money, whenever you need to produce financial reports. It will give you confidence that you are only paying the tax you owe. It also helps you know at a glance how much you owe to suppliers and how much you are owed by customers, ie the status of your cashflow and any risk to your business.

The insight gained from this workshop will also support anyone preparing to make an entry to Bath Spa University’s Business Enterprise Competition 2011-12.

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.

Managing the Money Part 2: Taxation and Tax Returns for your Business

Monday 16 January 2012, Newton Park CP.1.03, 1.30pm-4.30pm

Your new business could benefit from a variety of tax allowances and reliefs, which could cut your tax bill – but you won’t automatically receive these tax advantages.  This workshop will help you:

• Find out what you can claim so that you can then make applications
• Gain an overview of the schemes available and tell you where to find out more
• Access some guidelines on managing your personal list of starting-up tasks.

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.

Intellectual Property 1-2-1 Sessions

Wednesday 08 February 2012, Newton Park LY.1.06, 11am – 3.30pm

Book a 1-2-1 advice session with an IP expert - Lewis Hands of Handsome IP, for clarification on copyright, trademarks, patents or intellectual property queries you may have regarding any products or services you are developing.

The slots available on the day will be offered on a first come first served basis and you will be contacted about the time of your allocated slot.

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.

Selling Your Services and Closing the Deal

Thursday 23 February 2012, Newton Park MH.1.11, 2.00pm – 5.00pm

Whether intending to freelance, set up a business or be an exceptional employee, this workshop will teach you the necessary art of salesmanship to convince potential customers and clients to invest in your business and buy your goods or services.

Learn how to sell yourself, your product or your service at our interactive workshop. Get tips and hints on how to make the most of yourself and maximise your chances of success.

This workshop is being run by Paul Clarkson, one of our Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. Paul is the Managing Director of business consultancy PA2C Limited and has had an extensive senior management career at board level.

Preparation: As preparation for the workshop please be prepared to describe yourself in 6 words or less to the rest of the group.

Booking

Bookings for this event will be open four weeks before the workshop date and places are available to Bath Spa University students only. Book your place online at Bath Spa Plus.