Program Outline

This session brings together all the participants and facilitators involved in the Springboard Business Development Program. It is an opportunity to meet other business in your local area. After the introductions and networking time, each group will get together with their facilitator. The aims, objectives and content of the program will be discussed and agreed. Participants are asked to bring along a short business biography of no more than 250 words to be complied into a ‘who’s who’ of the Springboard Business Development Program.

Session 2 Small Business - Mickey Mouse or Mini Empire?

This session starts with the big picture, the pros and cons of doing business in your area, and then focuses in on the more specific personal aspects of each business. What are the key issues and challenges in running and growing a business: managing time and stress, balancing work and home life, working and as well as on your business.

Session 3 Marketing I: What sort of business are you in?

This session focuses on defining businesses in terms of customers and markets. Who are the competition? What makes the participants’ businesses different to other businesses in their industry, town or region. What gives them the market advantage? Which product or service developments would bring greatest returns?

Session 4 Marketing II: Getting the word out, marketing yourself and your products

Once they have defined their market niche this session considers how participants can most effectively reach their potential customers and build a broader customer base.

Session 5 & 6 Benchmarking financial performance and structuring your business for growth

This session focuses on how well participants know their business. Knowing the specific costs and returns of each type of business activity gives an insight into where development time and ideas should be invested. Structuring business for growth means setting up and fine-tuning the systems that will allow growth - without burning out! Effectively interacting with financial institutions can be a key challenge.

Session 7 Part 1 - Information and Communication Technology - making it work for you

A key concern for people in small business, in this session participants will sift through the ‘hype’ to determine which technology can really add value to their business and how to get the support they need to really make it work.

Session 7 Part 2 - Environmental Best Practice for Small Business

Environmental Best Practice for Small Business means running your business in a way that reduces its negative impacts on the environment (eg pollution, resource use) as much as possible. How much impact your business (or you) have on the environment is called your 'ecological footprint'. Even micro-business have an impact, and most businesses could make easy changes which would reduce their footprint.

Session 8 - Growing your business - Making decisions and planning action

In this session the broader implications of growing their business will be considered. Participants will be encouraged to consider the context in which their business development plans sit, and form action plans and strategies based on their work in the program, with a focus on strategies that will help their business to grow - sustainably - so that they have a balanced approach to their life and their business!

Session 9 Networking function and presentations

This final session brings the members of all the groups back together for an opportunity to meet, network, discuss business and develop opportunities. The session will include presentations of certificates to all participants who have successfully completed the program. Time will also be given for feedback and evaluation of the program. Participants and facilitators are encouraged to plan a review meeting for later in the year.