“By surrounding myself with positive people, it helped to drive me forward.� Sarah Johnson of Dance Fit Studio
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Leicester Business Women Newsletter Leicester Business Women would like to welcome you to our November newsletter. This is Leicester Business Women’s eleventh newsletter of 2012, and looking back through the editions we have provided a lot of information and advice on business start up, we’ve shared stories and featured a number of fantastic adverts from our members! Well, this month is no different, Novembers newsletter is full of support and advice to help you even further. With information on the next Meet & Mingle event, HMRC workshops and their new easy steps to register your business. Details of confirmed training dates for the new Start Up Now Project and the Start Up Loans programme. Advice on goal setting, top tips from the team and members plus case study and advertisements from our members and other organisations. The Leicester Business Women’s newsletter will continue into 2013 with the last edition being published in March 2013, which gives us only four more editions (following this edition) to provide you with as much information and support for business start up elements, motivation and confidence as we can. Leicester Business Women ensure that the remaining newsletters will be full of members stories, successes, hints and tips. If you would like to advertise your business in any the forthcoming newsletters, please email nicole.hocking@skillsforenteprise.co.uk “Advertising in Leicester Business Women’s newsletter I am pleased to say, helped me receive several referrals. I was elated seeing my advert go in even though I was a little apprehensive thinking that I wouldn't hear anything5how wrong I was!” Louise Cox of Who is Loving You Don’t miss out on this opportunity to advertise in this exciting publication. For further information about the Leicester Business Women programme or any of the other projects ran by Skills for Enterprise please contact Nicole Hocking on 0116 251 8730.
Year 2012 - what has this meant to you?
“Breaking barriers and taking the first step to my freedom, not been easy but I am glad to have come this far.” Sinikiwe Mashengele
“Realising that if its meant to be its up to ME......and helping others to achieve their own goals...can't put a price on the pride I feel.” Paula Barsby
Leicester Business Women’s November Newsletter Includes Start Up Now Project What Would You Say? Case Study - Geri Mee Of Hepzibah Counselling Meet / Mingle Event Start Up Loans Goals Easy Steps To Start Your Business With The HMRC HMRC Workshops Virtual Office ****
We hope you enjoy
More ways of connecting with Leicester Business Women As well as our monthly newsletter, there are many other ways of keeping up with our information, success, our stories, forthcoming events and advice5. Check out our webportal - www.leicesterbusinesswomen.co.uk Join our facebook group - www.facebook.com/#!/groups/386715381358641/ Like our facebook page - www.facebook.com/#!/leicesterbusinesswomen Follow us on Twitter - LBW_network
We look forward to seeing you there‌..
Start Up Now Project The new and exciting Start Up Now programme is aimed at helping unemployed individuals start their own businesses. The project is currently available for those living in either Oadby or Wigston. The Start Up Now project offers FREE support, guidance and advice to those who wish to become self employed, have a business idea or would like to earn income from a hobby. Our support consists of 5 training workshops, one to one appointments with a specialist advisor and group events, all aimed at giving information and advice on self employment and business start up. Our previous programme of workshops in September proved to be a big success, the ladies completed the series of workshops and walked away with actions points, further knowledge, motivation, confidence but more importantly belief in their ideas and dreams. Our next series of training workshops have been confirmed for April 2013: Date
Time
Workshop
Venue
Thursday 11th April 2013
10.00am - 3.00pm
Deciding To Start & The Business Plan
Alpha House, Wigston
Wednesday 17th April 2013
10.00am - 3.00pm
Motivation & Attitude
Alpha House, Wigston
Thursday 25th April 2013
10.00am - 3.00pm
Financial Planning
Alpha House, Wigston
Wednesday 1st May 2013
10.00am - 3.00pm
Finding New Customers
Alpha House, Wigston
Thursday 9th May 2013
10.00am - 3.00pm
Promotion & Publicity
Alpha House, Wigston
Deciding to Start & Business Plan: Explores confidence and motivation. From our experience and knowledge of business owners FEAR and FOCUS seems to be the root of many problems • Developing new market opportunities, working and learning from the competition. Understanding how contracts are won and lost •
Motivation & Attitude: • Understanding your personal behaviour and the fear of conscious and unconscious habits we have developed over time. Successful people genuinely inspire and lead others to stay focused and create success with less stress Financial Planning: • Money affects every area of our lives, but managing if efficiently is not always easy • Develop simple financial solutions you can understand and use Finding New Customers • In order to find new customers you need to know how they think and behave • Understand that behaviour patterns and purchasing decisions constantly change; customer lifestyles and desires always drive product definition Promotion & Publicity • The difference between success and failure in business is more often not determined by the effectiveness of the business marketing and promotion strategy Skills for Enterprise will begin a similar programme for those living in Leicester City from April 2013. For further information or to check your eligibility please contact the Start Up Now team on 0116 242 9482 or email info@skillsforenterprise.co.uk
What would you say? Throughout the Leicester Business Women project our members have shared many similarities on their journeys such as the worries, fears and barriers they have to face and overcome but the main similarity is the keen interest, need and desire to become employed. The Leicester Business Women team has been here to support, guide and advice our members on their journey through business start up with our training workshops, coaching and events but still our members have had to work hard, focus, overcome personal barriers and had to belief in themselves and their goals. So, what would some of the Leicester Business Women team, our members and friends of the project give as their TOP TIP to those thinking of starting their own business, becoming self employed or earning an income from a hobby? “Surround yourself with great people, network as much as you can. Be prepared to trade” David Ryan “Don't expect gold in first year of trading, and don't feel discouraged if these first 12 months are much harder than expected. After it all becomes much clearer and better to deal with.” Olga Kras “Persevere! Just keep pushing, be prepared for it to be hard, but also be prepared to be rewarded in ways you never imagined!” Sarah McCarthy “You need to really believe and have passion in what you do because if you don't nobody else is going to. If you have children its vital that you build a good strong network of people you can rely on. Market at ever single opportunity you get. Remember your customer is number 1 without them you would not have a Business. And enjoy your journey” Bina Sitaram “Know your market inside out and be prepared to adapt to what your customer wants not what you want!” Sarah Johnson “It's more than just a job: it's your passion. Do all you can to show that passion to all who may buy from you, and be prepared to ‘go the extra mile’" Jim Hewitt “Have some savings to give you a head start” Bali Sangha Jenkins “Don't procrastinate, just do it!” Sabina Kovacheva “Be very clear about WHY you want to do it. This will carry you through the toughest times. Create your ideal lifestyle in terms of living arrangements, hours you want to/don't want to work, 'things' you want to accomplish, amount of income you aim to earn etc in your mind, then write it/draw it/stick it on paper and read it EVERY day“ Kathy Hector “Hardest thing to do is toughen up” Beckie Sanderson
“Discover what would make you jump out of bed for especially when its cold outside - that passion and energy will get you through. People buy from people first - so be the best you can be right from the start and never lose that hunger to keep doing what you love. Identify right from the start who you want to have as your customer and make sure you match your marketing messages to their needs and then Just Do It!” Anjala Farmah “Your going to face challenges, keep sight and hold onto your passion and your reason why you began. Have belief in yourself and your abilities” Nicole Hocking Have you registered? What would your TOP TIP be? Join our Facebook pages and share your words of wisdom.
Geri Mee of Hepzibah Counselling
Hepzibah Counselling Enjoy Loving the True You!
“Their support has enabled me to move forward successfully and I personally have tonnes more confidence in delivering a professional passionate business to my clients.”
Geri attended the Leicester Business Women’s training programme of workshops in July 2012. Geri is a drugs/alcohol counsellor and now has her very own private practice in Leicester, which she registered on whilst attending our workshops. “I started my own business as I wanted to be available to clients
outside of the normal working hours and weekends. It was ideal for me. I love being able to say “yes” when clients ask if I am available at weekends & also being able to say “yes” to my family and to myself as I have other projects going on“. Geri is a qualified counsellor who has professional experience working with drug/alcohol addictions, post-abortion counselling, and female survivors of childhood sexual abuse, pregnancy crises counselling and many other issues. “I am passionate about what I do.” Along the way she noticed that there were a lot of issues and areas that need further support. “This fuelled my reason to set up my own practice.” Geri is a member of the British Association for Counsellors & Psychotherapists and she abides by their code of conduct. Some of the biggest barriers for Geri in her journey to self employment were her lack of knowledge, confidence and fear of failure. “I simply did not have a clue where to start. Also, if I started how would I move forward? I honestly felt frustrated with myself as I was so stuck.” Geri felt that she spent hours on the phone and the internet with little to show for it and felt ashamed that all her hard work was not paying off. Like many women, Geri also had her personal barriers “I was scared to admit that I was
setting up my own business, it meant it was real”. Stephen, Geri’s husband shoved the Leicester Link in front of her one Saturday with a massive advert for Leicester Business Women “I could not believe my eyes, and talk about perfect timing.” She rang straight away and went through the process of being interviewed etc and was thankfully successful. Geri goes onto say the workshops and coaches were inspirational, funny and delivered in real down to earth English. She met amazing passionate women who had the same fears and anxieties that she shared and also the same passion and drive to succeed “we just needed a hand up that’s all!” Throughout the workshops and one to one support Geri learnt how to register with HMRC, how to do leaflets, what was the best business model for her personally. “I was coached on a one to one basis with a professional who
taught me how to do professional proposals in order to attract the best contracts for me. I was told by one company that my proposal was the most professional one they had received!”. Geri has worked hard, but she says “there’s no way it would have happened without Leicester Business
Women”. Geri also highlighted how she met more passionate people at further networking events, who are also embarking on their own journey. “I discovered that we are all the same, all shaking in our boots but too passionate not to realise our dreams”. Continued...
Geri Mee of Hepzibah Counselling Continued0
Geri feels that the coaching, workshops and connections have really changed her personally, as she now dares to dream bigger dreams and she’s motivated to step out of her comfort zone in other areas of her life.
“I am grateful for the safe and happy environment in which Leicester Business Women operate, it is safe enough to ask that stupid question no one dares ask, the one we should know the answer to, but there is, in fact no such question. If you need to know the answer it is safe enough to ask”. Things are now flowing nicely for Geri, as her journey continues to move forward at a nice pace. Her business provides a professional service “I continue to advertise and I am enjoying the journey”. Geri’s personal advice to anyone starting now would be: 1. Go on a Leicester Business Women’s course or receive some kind of training in business skills. No matter how passionate you are about your work, business skills are a completely different set of skills. 2. Surround yourself with positive, inspirational people, people who are excellent role models for you in the same business as you. Ditch the people who are discouragers and the super critical people in your life that is not to say that you can happily receive constructive criticism which is different. 3. Be true to yourself, have your pricing sorted before you talk to anyone or hand out a business card. Go to a professional to advise you how to do the costings. Geri Mee of Hepzibah Counselling 07864121349 E-mail: iamhepzibah@hotmail.com
Meet / Mingle Event On Wednesday 5th December 2012, 6.00pm - 8.00pm At the LCB Depot, 31 Rutland Street, Leicester, LE1 1RE A FREE event for people thinking about starting up a business or in the early stages of trading. It will bring together Leicester's entrepreneurial enthusiasm and energy in one event. This event is organised and run by a large selection of local organisations that help people start businesses.. This event is all about celebrating the festive season, with a little bit of networking and meeting new people thrown in! Always lots of fun and informal, it's a great way to Meet / Mingle with around 50 people in the same situation as you, over refreshments in the attractive informal surroundings of LCB Depot. Ensure you book your free place now. http://meetmingledec-eorg.eventbrite.co.uk/?ebtv=C Simply bring yourself and business cards if you have them, so people can easily find out how to contact you. If we're fully booked we'll operate a waiting list system, please add yourself to the waiting list. This is an event is bought to you by a partnership of business support agencies and networking groups including: A4E, b-Inspired, Case-Da, LCB Depot, The Prince's Trust, Skills for Enterprise and Spring. For further information please call Skills for Enterprise 0116 251 8730
Are You Aged 18 - 24? Interested In Business And Have A Business Idea? Looking To Become Self Employed Or Start Up Your Own Business?
Then Attend Our FREE 1 Day Introduction To Business Workshop Leicester City Centre 17th January 2013 10.00am - 3.30pm There are limited places available so act today and don’t miss out! For further details or to book your place contact David Ryan at Skills for Enterprise 0116 251 8730
Goals Every athlete and large corporation have clearly set and articulated goals to attain specific objectives. Yet, in the world of small business, many businesses lack a focused goal. “Get more business” is a typical reply of small business owners when asked of future plans. Whether you have a 50-employee company or an empire of one, your business success depends on your ability to set and achieve goals. The inherent value of goal setting in steering a growing business in the right direction, although your goals will only be effective if you have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how. When setting your goals try and follow, like many others the principles of SMART goal setting: S.M.A.R.T. is an acronym for the 5 steps of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based goals. It’s a simple tool used by businesses to go beyond the realm of fuzzy goal-setting into an actionable plan for results. Specific: Great goals are well-defined and focused. Avoid setting unclear and vague objectives. Instead of “Get new customers.” make your goals specific “Business will increase by 5 new customers in month 1, by 8 in month 2 and a further 12 new customers in month 3 by gaining interest through my website, local press release, leaflet drop and word of mouth” Ryan Blair, The Goals Guy eloquently states, "Focus creates a powerful force: goal power. The moment you focus on a goal, your goal becomes a magnet, pulling you and your resources toward it. The more focused your energies, the more power you generate." Measurable: A goal without a measurable outcome is like a sports competition without a scoreboard or scorekeeper. Numbers are an essential part of business. Use numbers, dates and times in your goals to know if you’re on track and to know when you achieved your goal. Instead of “Spend more time on business development” make your goal more specific “Diarize 2 hours on Monday and Wednesday every week for business development for the next month” A goal white board or poster posted in your office can help as a daily reminder to keep yourself and your employee focused on the targeted results you want to attain. Attainable/Achievable: Far too often, small businesses can set goals beyond reach. No one has ever built a billion dollar business overnight. Setting yourself impossible goals will only end in disappointment. Dream big and aim for the stars but keep one foot firmly based in reality. Check with your industry association to get a handle on realistic growth in your industry to set smart goals. Relevant: Achievable business goals are based on the current conditions and realities of the business climate. You may desire to have your best year in business or increase revenue by 50%, but if a recession is looming and 3 new competitors opened in your market, then your goals aren’t relevant to the realities of the market. Time-Based: Business goals and objectives just don’t get done when there's no time frame tied to the goal-setting process. Whether your business goal is to increase revenue by 20% or find 5 new clients, choose a time-frame to accomplish your goal. Even if you have to review this as you progress, it will help you keep motivated. Leicester Business Women follow principles of SMART goal setting through our training programme of workshops.
Start to think about your and your business goals for 2013. If your business is already registered what would you like to improve, increase or develop next year? Would it be to gain new customers, launch your website, a new product, increase your profit or expand - take on an employee? If you are yet to register your business, set a goal of when you shall register - what month next year will you become self employed? By setting goals you have some to achieve to and this will keep you motivated. If your follow the S.M.A.R.T principle your goals can be reached. See what the team at Leicester Business Women have planned for 2013 in our next newsletter.
Easy Steps To Start Your Business With The HMRC Being on the right side of the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) can only work in your favour and will mean that you do not get any unwanted surprises when starting up your business, that's why the HMRC have launched their new e learning package. An easy way to work through starting your own business with simple step by step guidelines and modules. The HMRC have launched their new e learning package to help you start up your own business. This is an excellent tool with their step by step processes and modules covering all the elements of starting up your new business venture, there are a number of aspects that you can also focus on if you don't want to go through the whole module such as the legal requirements, registering your business and of course tax and VAT. In addition, there are also experiences of others who have started their business and details on how they did it, a great way to pick up useful hints and tips for yourself. To access the e learning tool, please click on the following link http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/courses/syob/syob/HTML/syob_menu.html Please note the learning cannot yet be accessed from iPods or ipads.
HMRC Workshops The Business Education and Support Team are a dedicated team trained to provide help and advice to employers and the self-employed. HMRC has arranged a series of free workshops, delivered in key geographical locations designed especially to help you. HMRC’s forthcoming workshops: Newly self-employed - 8 January, 6 February and 7 March 2013. • how to register your business with HMRC • understanding what is meant by employment status • different classes of National Insurance contributions • basic record keeping • the tax return cycle, payments to HMRC and penalties • where to go for further help and advice Self employment expenses and Capital allowances - 6 December 2012, 22 January and 27 February 2013 • what allowable business expenses are and how to work out your tax allowances • how to recognise the most common types of allowable business expenses • how to identify allowable and non-allowable business expenses • the different ways to work out your motoring expenses • how to correctly work out Capital Allowances for cars, other vehicles and equipment using examples • where to find any further information and help you may need • Self Assessment Online They are all held at Saxon House, 1 Causeway Lane, Leicester, LE1 4AA and are FREE If you would like to book a place please visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/bst/ to book online or telephone 0845 603 2691
If you’re unsure how or when to register your business and would like further support, please give Leicester Business Women a call on 0116 251 8730 to make and a one to one appointment with our experienced advisors.
Virtual Office Have you started your business and are looking for that professional image? Someone to answer your calls and a city centre address? Leicester Business Women are able to provide this through Skills for Enterprise for you. For many new businesses, the costs of staff and premises are too high to even consider. With a virtual office package you get these benefits are a substantially discounted rate so you too can enjoy the advantages of office services without the expensive costs incurred. A virtual office package maybe just what you are looking for if: • • • • •
You are after a prestigious city centre address with your business name You would like a receptionist to answer your calls but cant afford the expense just yet You want to give the impression of an established well running business You have just started your business and want more opportunities for promotion Somewhere close to local points such as train stations or hotels
So, what will the virtual office service do for you? • • • • •
We will answer the call in your business name with your own dedicated business number You will use our business address for your business and we will forward any mail to you Reasonable rates on our rooms for hiring or meetings We will sign for any recorded or special delivery packages Help and support with designing business cards, corporate stationery and promotional materials
Our packages begin from just £12.99 per month + VAT and provide an exceptionally professional impression to your business, especially when you speak with potential new clients or customers. It also means that you save on overheads for receptionist and office costs. Can your business really afford to be without this service? We have a number of Leicester Business Women clients who use this service and just have a look below at what they say about the benefits of virtual office use: “With my new publishing company Kapitau Publishing , I could not afford renting premises for the business so I resolved to work from home, but again I needed a proper business address and land-line purely for business purposes. Skills for Enterprise offered a virtual office package and this became an instant solution to my worries regarding my company postal and communications services as well as office space. This virtual office service is convenient and readily available as and when required - all at very reasonable cost. As the Director of Kapitau Publishing Ltd, I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation of Leicester Business Women's programmes and the Skills for Enterprise Virtual Office Services which my company is currently using.” Agrena Mushonga of Kapitau Publishing Ltd. “I think that if you have a business that demands a shop or other outlet then planning for that is relatively straight forward. Planning an operating space for a family mediation service is not! I needed a business and postal address, a telephone answering service to capture and follow up enquiries at an early stage and space to meet clients. As a young business, I wanted to present all this in a professional way but I wasn’t in a financial position to be able to rent a city centre office and employ staff. Skills for Enterprise virtual office provided me with the perfect solution. Setting it up couldn’t have been easier. A meeting with Baljit helped me to clarify my needs and to decide the best service package for me. This is a virtual office which represents good value for money and helps new businesses get up and running.” Anita Hall of Trinity Mediation Services. Interested in something a little different? Does our virtual office package not include what you’re after? Just give us a call and we maybe able to add it on to one of our services. For further information please contact Baljit Nagra on 0116 251 8730.
Meeting Rooms for Hire Professional & Convenient Business Facilities Looking for a city centre venue to hold your business meetings or simply want to impress your clients with clean and professional surroundings? Then look no further, our meeting rooms are available to hire by the hour, half day or full day. Skills for Enterprise offices are easily reachable by all major routes and are only 5 minutes away from the train station. Our rooms are light, spacious and comfortable with a receptionist to meet and great in a professional and friendly manor.
Room
Seats
Meeting Room
Includes
Per day
Per 1/2 day
Per hour
Up to 4 people
Internet access £60.00 + VAT
£35.00 + VAT
£10.00 + VAT
Up to 8 people
Internet access £90.00 + VAT
£50.00 + VAT
£20.00 + VAT
Ideal for smaller meetings and intimate business appointments
Boardroom Ideal for meetings, interviews and business appointments Ideal for workshops, lectures and presentations
Up to 30 people Internet access £200.00 + VAT £120.00 + VAT £30.00 + VAT Data projector Laptop Flipchart
IT Suite
Up to 12 people
Training Room
Ideal for trainings and computer based workshops
Computers £200.00 + VAT £120.00 + VAT £30.00 + VAT Internet access
All prices include: Tea, Coffee and Biscuits. Lunch can be provided as an optional extra. To ensure availability, please book in advance. Please note: No Parking is available with room hire. Terms and Conditions apply.
For more information and bookings, please contact us on 0116 251 8730 or e-mail info@skillsforenterprise.co.uk. www.skillsforenterprise.co.uk
Want to see you business here? This exciting newsletter will give you the opportunity to advertise and promote directly to our database, all are female and based in Leicester / Leicestershire. In addition, we have a large partner database who will also receive the newsletter. Our next edition will be in December, does your business have any special offers / deal or information to share? Are you holding or attending any events that you think business ladies in Leicester / Leicestershire may benefit from? If so, let us know!! How would you rate Leicester Business Women’s newsletter? Is there anything you would you like to see featured in our next newsletter? What would you like more / less of? Leicester Business Women would like to make our newsletters as informative and exciting to all our members and ladies in Leicester so we would love your feedback. Contact Leicester Business Women today on 0116 251 8730 If you missed our August, September or October newsletters check them out! http://issuu.com/leicesterbusinesswomen/docs/ leicester_business_women_newsletter_august_2012_ed http://issuu.com/leicesterbusinesswomen/docs/ leicester_business_women_newsletter_september_edit http://issuu.com/leicesterbusinesswomen/docs/ leicester_business_women_newsletter_october_editio Full of relevant business information such as marketing, finance, hints and tips on motivation and confidence as well as information on our, virtual office service, Skills for Enterprise's new project, forthcoming training workshops, networking events, adverts from our members and plenty more!!!