John Ball, Senior Business Adviser at Blackburn Enterprise Trust presenting one of the workshops

Read his business blog at John Ball's Blog

All our workshops are presented by Consortium of Enterprise Agencies advisers who have many years commercial business experience and are qualified business advisers.

This brand new series of workshops has been designed to meet the changing needs of our clients and to make use of the increasing use of computers.

They are all available FREE OF CHARGE to everyone registered on the No-Limits business support programme’. You can attend workshops at any venue to take advantage of varying dates and times designed to give you the best possible choice.

LATE NEWS

The programme of workshops in Burnley and Pendle are subject to last minute changes. For the lastest dates and times at those venues please telephone Pennine Lancashire Enterprise Trust on 0845 0777100

Series 1 Workshops

Working for Myself & Business Ideas

A linked pair of workshops over half a day for people considering starting their own business. The presenter will start by helping you assess your own skills and experiences and suitablity for the business world including taking a look at the sort of business you might start if you haven't already decided. It will introduce the key things to think about including the legal formats of sole trader, partnerships and Limited Companies and what they mean to you. The workshop will also outline the support available through the Enterprise Trust by way of a structured programme of workshops and one-to-one advice sessions with a personal business adviser.

PLEASE NOTE THE INDIVIDUAL VENUES FOR WORKSHOPS

Series 2 Workshops

Finding and Keeping Customers & Selling Skills

One of the key elements that differentiates the successful business from the failures is the amount and quality of the market research carried out. This research highlights not only the sales assumptions that can be made for the business but also the quality of the competition and the costs of operating the business. To make sure that you are starting off from a position of strength this workshop is a must.

Series 3 Workshops

Planning to Succeed & Presenting the Business Plan

There are three excellent reasons to produce a business plan; the first is test the viability of the business idea - will it work, the second to find out how much money will be needed before the business is creating enough profits to ensure its survival, and finally to present to a lender or grant provider to be able to raise the capital needed.

This workshop builds on the market research done following one-to-one business advice or from the Market Research workshop to create the narrative - the words - of the business plan that will give a structure to the business and give you a sense of direction for the business.

Series 4 Workshops

Money Matters & Starting in Business

This workshop continues from the business planning workshop to add some numbers to the words. The workshop leader will introduce you to the world of cash flow forecasting and preparing budget profit and loss accounts. Not nearly as difficult as it may sound we will start with some simple cut down versions to try them out before moving on to full versions. We will even provide you with templates to work on at home on your computer until you feel that you have created a true picture of how your business will work.

Series 5 Workshops

Bookkeeping & Keeping the Taxman Happy

The Cash Analysis bookkeeping workshop has been developed from the very popular workshop that we have presented for many years but including some up-to-date thinking to make it easier for you. Advisers at the Enterprise Trust have even developed a spreadsheet equivalent of the popular cash analysis ledgers for you to use free of charge. These spreadsheets produce monthly management accounts and even offer the chance to reconcile your cash and bank statements against your bookkeeping system to minimise the chance of errors.

To book a place at any of the above workshops please telephone
Danielle Darbyshire - Agency Administrator on 01254 844144