From the BEST Growth Hub

January Workshop Guide

From The BEST Growth Hub

andIgnite Business

Contents

Introduction to Social Media – Page 3

Marketing: Make a Plan and Make a Splash – Page 5

Newsletters for SMEs – Page 7

PR Guru Bootcamp (Public Relations and Free Publicity) – Page 9

Build a Wordpress Website – Page 11

Getting Your Price Right – Page 14

Facebook for Business: Beginners – Page 16

Creating Cash Flow Forecasts – Page 18

Business Plan for Funding – Page 20

Book Keeping – Page 22

Appendix – Page 23

(Please note that in some cases workshops have been paired together at the same venue on the same day)

Introduction to Social Media

Being held (please see for more details or the appendix for address’):

12th January at Maldon CVS – 9:30-12:30

14th January at Southend Hive – 9:30-12:30

15th January at Harlow Enterprise Hub – 9:30-12:30

18th January at University of Essex (Colchester) – 9:30-12:30

Details:

In this practical 3 hour session, aimed at SMEs and start-ups, you will start gaining an understanding of which social media channels might work for your business and why. This will give a basic overview of the functions and possible results by looking at the options and statistics, examples of how some channels have worked well and not so well for certain types of business. However this workshop does NOT set up or train how to use. The course will be delivered by Ignite’s in-house trainer, Emma Milroy.

OUTCOME: you will gain knowledge of the different types of social media available, who the current users are and profile of some of those users, by understanding your own client this will assist in understanding whether that channel – e.g. twitter, instagram, Facebook, etc are suitable for you to use and time effective.

REQUIREMENTS: No previous social media experience required.

WIFI connectivity will be provided Free at the venue.

This course is funded by BEST Growth Hub.

CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY:

On completion of this workshop you will be automatically referred to one of the BEST Growth Hub Navigators, who will be able to signpost you to further advise and any training that you might require.
Each individual may attend workshops up to a maximum of 20 hours in total.
Each business can send a maximum of 2 members of staff on each course.
In order to qualify for a place on the course, the employer/business must be based in Essex.
Please note that theworkshop may not take place if there are not a minimum of 10 attendees.

BEST Growth Hub: BEST Growth Hub was launched in October 2015 to function as a ‘one-stop shop’ for business support such as: access to training, finance, marketing and local authority services. It aims to improve and simplify the Essex business support landscape and increase the overall take-up of business support. For more information please visit:

Emma Milroy: As one of Ignite’s in-house trainers, Emma’s prestige background in buying with one of the big corporates and the fact that she runs her own small business enables her to deliver with authority on a number of areas that will improve your company’s performance. She has received glowing praise for leading workshops on subjects ranging from social media to time management and organisation.

Ignite Business: The team at Ignite has a diverse career history, which they unite to offer an award winning non-profit service for the local business community. With offerings such as start-up advice, business planning, virtual office, business coaching and workspace, to the business workshops you are aware of today, the company is proud to have been awarded this contract by BEST Growth Hub and of the opportunity to provide workshops for the county.

Marketing: Make a Plan and Make a Splash

Being held (please see for more details or the appendix for address’):

12th January at Essex Enterprise Centre (Clacton) – 10:00-13:00

14th January at Ingatestone and Fryerning Community Association – 10:00-13:00

18th January at Harlow Enterprise Hub – 10:00-13:00

20th January at The Old Courthouse (Thurrock) – 10:00-13:00

Details:

Whether you are a start-up or an existing business – you need a marketing plan
Whether you are launching a product or service or you simply want to sell more – you need a marketing plan

Do you REALLY know who your potential clients are?
Do you REALLY know how much you should invest in social media/advertising/online marketing/branding/PR?
Do you REALLY know how to keep your existing clients loyal?

If you fail to plan – you plan to fail!

This session not only focusses you on how to sell more but also helps you write your own marketing plan. A plan that you can use year after year.

Spend three hours with Sarah Brockwell from sarahBeemarketingand leave with a head buzzing with ideas and your very own, brand new, shiny marketing plan.

This course is funded by BEST Growth Hub.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: None

CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY:

On completion of this workshop you will be automatically referred to one of the BEST Growth Hub Navigators, who will be able to signpost you to further advise and any training that you might require.
Each individual may attend workshops up to a maximum of 20 hours in total.
Each business can send a maximum of 2 members of staff on each course.
In order to qualify for a place on the course, the employer/business must be based in Essex.
Please note that theworkshop may not take place if there are not a minimum of 10 attendees.

Sarah Brockwell: Sarah Brockwell founded the sarahBee marketing agency in 2010 after reaching the position of Head of Marketing for a large City firm. She has since won six countywide business awards in four years (including Essex Businesswoman of the Year 2013, Best New Company in 2010 and 2011, Best Business to Business Company in 2011, 2012 and 2014) and worked with over 800 entrepreneurs to help their businesses grow by getting their message out there. Keen to share her more than 20 years of professional experience in the industry and with a highly praised track record, Sarah has become a key workshop deliverer for Ignite Business.

Newsletters for SMEs:

Being held (please see for more details or the appendix for address’):

12th January at Maldon CVS – 13:00-16:00

14th January at Southend Hive – 13:00-16:00

15th January at Harlow Enterprise Hub – 13:00-16:00

18th January at University of Essex (Colchester) – 13:00-16:00

Details:

Creating a Business newsletter for print or electronic sending. The legal requirements of marketing your database, where to get your contacts from. Using an online system to generate newsletters – we will be demonstrating how to use MailChimp, setting up a template and sending using their free option.

OUTCOME: You will learn about what makes a good newsletter and at the end beable to use MailChimp.

REQUIREMENTS: No previousnewsletter experience required, but you will need to set upa free MailChimp accountbefore the workshop – don’t worry we will send you step by step instructions!

You need to bring a laptop, if you do not have one then please contact us as we have some spares, you will not be able to fully participate with a mobile or tablet device.

WIFI connectivity will be provided Free at the venue.

“A wonderful resource. I will recommend Ignite’s workshops to all of my business friends. Taught by an approachable, knowledgeable and lovely trainer – thank you.”

Keely (previous course attendee)

This course is funded by BEST Growth Hub.

CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY:

On completion of this workshop you will be automatically referred to one of the BEST Growth Hub Navigators, who will be able to signpost you to further advise and any training that you might require.
Each individual may attend workshops up to a maximum of 20 hours in total.
Each business can send a maximum of 2 members of staff on each course.
In order to qualify for a place on the course, the employer/business must be based in Essex.
Please note that theworkshop may not take place if there are not a minimum of 10 attendees.

The PR Guru Bootcamp

Being held (please see for more details or the appendix for address’):

12th January at Essex Enterprise Centre (Clacton) – 13:30-16:30

14th January at Ingatestone and Fryerning Community Association – 13:30-16:30

18th January at Harlow Enterprise Hub – 13:30-16:30

20th January at The Old Courthouse (Thurrock) – 13:30-16:30

Details:

How to gets lots of lovely free publicity for your small business
Interactive session: create a PR plan
Learn how to write a press release – and then learn what to do with it
sarahBee marketing PR golden rules: Real, Relevant, Researched

This three hour session will fill your head with killer ideas for great PR. Remember, PR is FREE and if you can get your business featured regularly in the media, PR can both generate sales enquires AND give your business a huge amount of credibility.
This session is run by Sarah Brockwell, Director of multi award-winning sarahBee marketing and PR.
If you own a small business and want to try PR, instead of, or as well as advertising, then this session is a MUST DO.
Above all, PR is fun – what’s not to like?

“I learnt so much and now we have a detailed PR plan ready to go. Would never have even considered this without Sarah. Thank you.”

Hazel (previous course attendee)

Note: This course was previously called ‘PR & Free Publicity’

This course is funded by BEST Growth Hub.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: None

CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY:

On completion of this workshop you will be automatically referred to one of the BEST Growth Hub Navigators, who will be able to signpost you to further advise and any training that you might require.
Each individual may attend workshops up to a maximum of 20 hours in total.
Each business can send a maximum of 2 members of staff on each course.
In order to qualify for a place on the course, the employer/business must be based in Essex.
Please note that theworkshop may not take place if there are not a minimum of 10 attendees.

Build a WordPress Website

Being held (please see for more details or the appendix for address’):

19th and 26th January at University of Essex (Colchester) – 9:30-16:00

20th and 27th January at Chelmsford – 9:30-16:00

Details:

A series of 4 x3 hour workshops over two days for people who want to create a wordpress website:

Why attend build a WordPress Website workshop?

For creative people who want a web presence they can manage and customise themselves. Suitable for first-time website creators
This workshop will enable you to choose your own hosting and provider to support your website, but all content is managed and created by you.
Please note, ecommerce/shops are not included in this workshop series, however once you create your site ecommerce can be added.
These workshops are limited to a maximum attendance of 8 people and spread over 2 separate days, to maximise your outcomes from this workshop.

What’s covered? –Session 1

Your website – what do you want it to do?
What is a Domain Name
Tips when Selecting a Domain Name
What is hosting?
Why use WordPress
What is a good website design
What is a good WordPress Theme

What’s covered? –Session 2

Your website – planning your site
Pages vs blogs
What are Widgets and Plugins
Menus, how to create and change
Images – sizing/layout/textHomework – creating content for your site (re-sizing and finding copy write free photos), designing your menu and pages, branding, setting up a google analytics account

What’s covered? –Session 3

Recap on your site and where you are
Pulling your site together, pages and menus
Pictures, slideshows and other content
Optimising your site – adding Google analytics, the basics of SEO and Yoast
Adding other content and social media links

What’s covered? –Session 4

Your website – does it do what you wanted
Testing your site
Additional functionality options
Keeping your site up to date and backed up
How to drive additional traffic to your site
Continuing with your site

What do I need?

A wifi compatible laptop
Hosting set up with WordPress already installed.
(for example 1&1 Managed WordPress, Names.co.uk with WordPress installed, Godaddy with wordpress hosting – contact us if you need assistance)
Impulse theme already installed (contact your trainer for help)

What will I gain from attending?

After these workshops you will go away with practical skills and ideas of how to make your own website, with your first version incorporating the following pages: Home, about, contact and general info, you will also understand how to install and look for plugins, menu’s, pages and posts, how to maintain basic SEO for your site.

WIFI connectivity will be provided Free at the venue.

Thisworkshop is funded by BEST Growth Hub and will be led by Liz Storey.

CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY:

On completion of this workshop you will be automatically referred to one of the BEST Growth Hub Navigators, who will be able to signpost you to further advise and any training that you might require.
Each individual may attend workshops up to a maximum of 20 hours in total.
Each business can send a maximum of 2 members of staff on each course.
In order to qualify for a place on the course, the employer/business must be based in Essex.
Please note that theworkshop may not take place if there are not a minimum number of attendees.