Our Seeds for Success programme encourages entrepreneurship and small business start-ups, through practical workshops covering the essentials of business start-up with opportunities focusing on first steps to creating a small business.
We provide 6 days of information, advice and guidance for starting your own small business. Sessions on Finance, Marketing, Business Development, USP, Web/Social, Costs and Market Research.
Throughout 2024/25, 3 courses were delivered through the year and 14 individuals benefitted through attending these sessions covering topics such as market research, marketing USP and financials.
After attending the programme in January 2024, Fiona developed her business further and attended a local craft and makers fair for the first time. Fiona makes beautiful jewellery from sea glass. To find out more visit – www.wyndingtothesea.etsy.com
Following completing college I joined a hotel group and worked in Newcastle (where I met my wife to be) before moving to Alnwick and working at The White Swan. Really fell in love with Northumberland but work and opportunities drew me to the midlands.
I got involved at several football clubs (Rushden & Diamonds, Oxford United, Milton Keynes, Northampton Town and eventually at Birmingham City when they were in the Premier League. Lots of different positions but mainly focussed on the commercial, corporate hospitality and business development of the clubs on matchdays and non-matchdays. After a turbulent end to my time at BCFC, I decided to make a career change and retrained as a tutor. After gaining experience in small colleges and training organisations, tutoring H&S , Customer Service, Employability and Personal Development, my wife and I took the decision to move back to Northumberland. I was fortunate to gain a position with a training company (SORA) whose focus was Business Improvement (Kaizen) based around Nissan and the motor supply chain and manufacturing.
Just under 5 years ago, I spotted an advert for an Employability Tutor at The Alnwick Garden and applied. My role is varied but the essence is to support individuals into work or get them closer to the job market – this is carried out by three programmes (Grow into Work, Growing Together Northumberland and Seeds for Success). There are additional activities that I undertake such as the School Skills Days, organising our Jobs & Careers Fair, school employability sessions and supporting other C&E members in their undertakings wherever I can.
£50 will pay for a two hour session, either in a small group setting or 1:1 for someone who has a hobby, craft or skill that they are looking at launching as their first small business. The session will include marketing, finding their USP, market research, future planning, finance and business development.
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