Member Article

NBSL offer free business support workshops

Pre start businesses and individuals not already registered as self employed can take advantage of an extensive series of free workshops being offered by NBSL under the ‘Business Support in the North East’ project.

The project is being part financed by the European Union’s ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13, securing £1.07m ERDF investment. Working in a consortium led by North East Enterprise Agencies Ltd (NEEAL) local Enterprise and Development Agencies in the North East have matched this ERDF investment with £1.07m of their own funds.

The workshops are delivered by experienced Business Advisers in informal settings providing a supportive environment for anyone considering self employment. They are being held at regular intervals both locally and county wide.

From NBSL’s Berwick Business Advice Centre Initial support is being offered through a 3 hour workshop entitled ‘Starting Your Own Business’. The session is informal with small group numbers, providing a supportive environment for anyone considering self employment. The workshops offer a taster of the main areas requiring consideration at the pre start stage aiming to get clients thinking creatively about business, they culminate in the preparation of a short personalised action plan encouraging progression.

The topics covered in the early part of the session include an assessment of the issues relating to self employment and what these issues will potentially mean to each individual. Consideration is also given to the skills and attributes needed by self employed people. Following the session, clients will be offered one to one support with a Business Adviser in areas such as the methods and tools to carry out market research and business planning. In addition where requested, consideration is given to regulatory and legal issues, insurance cover and any licensing requirements and regulations.

To encourage business skills development NBSL are also providing a number of further free in depth workshops including:

Financial Management and Bookkeeping– A half day workshop providing an overview of what is involved on the financial side of starting and running a business. Topics covered include a consideration of the types of costs incurred in business including start up and running costs, capital and revenue expenses, direct and fixed costs, cash flow forecasting, profit and loss, breakeven, tax and national insurance for the self employed, basic bookkeeping and keeping financial records.

Marketing on a Low Budget– This 3 hour workshop provides a brief but comprehensive overview of sales and marketing through group discussion and interactive exercises enabling all clients to participate throughout. The session will encourage clients to discover new methods and tools to promote and market their developing business to potential customers. The sessions cover understanding basic marketing principles, how marketing relates to customers, the relevance of the ‘marketing mix’ and ways to market on a low budget.

NBSL are also co-hosting a number of workshops with input from professionals such as:

- Social Media in Business
- Newly Self Employed in association with HMRC
- Trading Standards

For further information about the workshops available in Berwick and the surrounding area visit the Berwick Business Advice Centre located within Berwick WorkSpace, alternatively email Berwick@nbsl.org.uk or telephone 01289 330805.

To discover more about the services offered by NBSL or the workshops they offer from other Business Advice Centers throughout Northumberland visit www.nbsl.org.uk .

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Phil Langton .