How to Start Your Own Business [Course]

Aspire to start your own business? You can with our new FREE* Business Start-Up programme.

All our employability courses will be delivered online through distance learning until at least the 22nd February 2021 when we will review again.

Stage 1 – Explore Business Start-up

This two-week course is right for you if you like to gain the skills and knowledge to develop a business start-up. There are no specific prior learning requirements for this qualification.

This Level 2 course will give you an understanding of the initial processes and requirements of a business start-up. You will also gain the knowledge and skills to develop the marketing, legal and financial requirements and how to write a business plan.

Learning Topics:

Initial Steps for a Business Start-Up
Marketing for a Business Start-Up
Legal and Financial Considerations for a Business Start-Up
Developing a Business Plan

Learning Outcomes:

To gain an understanding of the steps of creating and developing a business start-up
Develop an awareness of business skills
Increase self-awareness and aid personal development

You will also be assigned a start-up mentor who will be able to support you all the way from idea creation to getting your business going.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the course at no free, you must be 19+ unemployed and claiming benefits such as universal credit or earning less than £17,004 per annum.

Dates, Times and Location

The course duration is for 2 weeks (week days) from 9.30am to 4.00pm. This will be delivered at both our CRC campuses in Cambridge and Huntingdon and also across the region. We can also deliver this course virtually via Microsoft Teams.

The January and February 2021 courses are now online through distance learning so you can continue learning and upskilling safely from your own home with the support of our tutors.

Start dates are:

21 January 2021 – now online
15 February 2021 – now online
11 March 2021
19 April 2021

Progression

You can apply to progress to stage 2 – Develop Your Business – see below. 10 learners will be chosen to attend this advanced training programme completely free of charge*.

*(eligibility criteria apply)

Stage 2 – Develop Your Business

A four-month bespoke programme where you would benefit from tailored learning support from our business coach and a small group size. The idea of this next stage is to offer targeted support and training to take your business idea from initial concept and develop and grow it to realised start-up stage.

Delivery will be via a blended approach, both face-to-face and virtual.

Learning Topics:

Legal formation of business
Marketing and promotion including Social Media
Website creation
Tax liability
Setting up and maintaining accounting and bookkeeping – with opportunities for qualifications in this field if required
Company returns including VAT
Protecting intellectual property
Sales
Securing capital
Employing staff

Eligibility

To be eligible for the course at no fee, you must be 19+ unemployed and claiming benefits such as universal credit or earning less than £17,004 per annum. You must have already completed the Stage 1 – Explore Business Start-Up course. You must also have a business idea with the potential to become a start-up and you will have the passion and drive to make it happen.

Ongoing Business Mentoring Support

This is the last stage and by now you will be ready to start your new business, if you haven’t done so already, whether that’s a small online business on Etsy or Amazon or a bricks and mortar presence at your local high street. We will provide you with 121 coaching and mentoring support to get you past this final, but exciting, hurdle to reach your goal to start-up your very own new business.