Entrepreneurs club at our new location and a quick MOT on making your time count Friday 9 Sept 1.30

Come and see our Redbridge Institute office and get tips from Olive Hamilton Andrews on focusing on what you do well

This will be our first entrepreneurs’ club at the Redbridge Institute. We are still settling in and sorting things out and very happy to welcome you along.

Friday 9th September 1.30-3pm.

This session will be a bit of a social (home made cake and refreshments), an opportunity to find out what happens at the Institute, networking and a short presentation and exercise from Olive Hamilton Andrews of Hamiland Ltd. ‘ Making your time work for you – a quick MOT of your business time needs’.  Hamiland is a small new Redbridge business in virtual office management.

Olive is perhaps now moving from start-up status as she has been working for herself now for 2 years. She will be able to share her expertise as someone that knows very well what it is like for a start-up wanting to establish and then scale up.

As a Board member of the Institute, I am very happy to be the first entrepreneur’s club speaker.  This is going to be a short session with a presentation I have been taking round networking meetings and an exercise to help you think through how you focus on the tasks that matter for your business. Olive Hamilton Andrews

Please note that you must sign it at the Institute reception before coming to the session which will be in room 3.

We are absolutely delighted to take up an office in the Redbridge Institute. So muchhappens here and we look forward to a surge of members, ideas, projects, partnerships and impact.  Thanks to St Johns Church for being a warm and supportive first base.

Redbridge Institute address is:  Gaysham Ave, Gants Hill, Ilford IG2 6TD.  There is a 60p parking fee in the Institute car park (or a £60 fine) but places are not guaranteed. There is parking nearby.  It should be fairly empty on  Friday as main term starts next week.

Useful info on new laws re home businesses for tenants

Thanks to Olive Hamilton Andrews of Hamiland Ltd for passing on this information that she thought would be useful for Entrepreneur’s club members and Redbridge start-ups via Sophia Hubs blog.

New Home Business Tenancy Agreements

Since 1 October 2015 it has been possible to grant a new type of Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) – a Home Business Tenancy (HBT).

So what is a Home Business Tenancy and why has this new category of tenancy been introduced?

What is a Home Business Tenancy?
A Home Business Tenancy is essentially an AST where the tenant is given permission to carry on a home business from the property. The permission can either be blanket (allowing any home business use) or subject to the landlord’s consent for the particular use. No other kind of business use can be permitted.
The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 has been amended to confirm that such tenancies will not be “business tenancies” and will not therefore attract security of tenure under the 1954 Act. Instead, they will be governed by the legislation applying to residential tenancies

Read more here 

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Here’s the advice to very new Redbridge start-ups from one and a half year old ones

We tried out a new format at entrepreneur’s club on 26th January as a speaker had not been booked in.  A participatory session drawing out the learning of the start-ups that attended: Amanda Simpson, Olive Hamilton Andrew, Lynette St Cyr Caesar, Stephanie Mugo, Jaswant Matharu, Jitendra Maravana, Ish Younas.  Four of the start-ups are a year and half older and wiser and together this list was drawn up of tips….

At the end of the session there was a very wise list of guidance:

• PERSONAL GROWTH… to use what you have at home to start your business and keep start-up costs low…  STOP THINKING AND START DOING! – keep on moving forward/dont miss opportunities even if not aligned with original plan/keep in the swing of things to avoid being paralysed by fear… connect/piggy-back on other businesses – for premises/for services/to boost clientelle/to fit in with needs for business..be careful about how money is spent/don’t follow everyone else but realistically assess for your  business and yourself… acknowledging and respecting your own readiness and needs –  to identify new opportunities/time to find own path/not going too fast and messing up.
• COMMUNITY NETWORKING…. find a support group that works for you…. go to  networking events – meeting people/learning from people/finding potential business/emotional support/socialising to build up confidence/new ideas… sharing skills –  join the Timebank… look for free networks and resources and select the one that is appropriate for your business..
• MARKETING … just start without waiting for a website or logo or company name… its about techniques not technology… Social media – assess for yourself if it is a necessity or not/how much time can you set aside for it realistically?… have a marketing plan… your Unique Selling Point – go beyond customers expectations whether its a service or product.
• TACTICS/STRATEGY … use the people you already know and sell to them first.
• PLANNING AND STRUCTURE…  can starts as a sole trader and grow to a limited company… get start-up support –  Sophia Hubs and others/meet and discuss your idea/find out as much info as you can/get guidance that is available… get an accountant or bookkeeper or help with any services you cant do yourself…. a business plan is not absolutely necessary to start…. attend business start-up exhibitions…
• RESEARCH AND INFO… obtain the correct certification for your business... if its a new invention or idea – patent it…. get the free information available at City Business Library and Redbridge libraries…. HMRC has good free resources and webinars… make sure there is a market for your business and a demand for it…use the free online COBRA database

Hope it helps!

Celebrating our first year – all about our anniversary event

Jonathan Evens has written a more detailed blog about the fab celebration which you can read here.

We were very uplifted by the support, enthusiasm and expertise in the room. It was great to be joined by Myra Whiskar who was the first coordinator (and built the solid foundations) and of course by the Mayor, Mayoress  and the Bishops.  60 people was a great turn-out with many apologies from people that just could not make it.

Big thanks to Manzoor Ahmed of the Fusion Foods start-up for the delicious veggie buffet.  Big respect to Olive Hamilton Andrews who gave an excellent presentation of her start-up (Hamiland Ltd) and a testimonial to the support we have given her.  Big cheers to the 20 start- ups who networked valiantly and hopefully will have found customers.  Thanks for the delicious tasters from Homaid (Lynette’s chutneys and Caribbean sauces) and Chilliand (Surjit’s chilli jams).  Big thanks to volunteers Jenny, Stephanie and Jonathan S who put in countless hours to organise the event. And of course, thank you so much to all those that came for being willing to engage and Join in the activities that brought such tremendous energy and positivity.

So what are the benefits of businesses being engaged with the community?  See the flip for the combined response from 4 tables.

What is it like being part of a community event like this? A one minute joint response:  Be inspired – inspire others tomorrow …so many people – so many talents!… it makes us realise there is a community of people who want to be involved in the larger community… wisdom of the crowd & power of the people… energy… empowerment… incredible network opportunities… creativity

To see this list of the start-ups we have had the pleasure of working with over the year, click here.

A very big thank-you for all the volunteer support received over the last year – we could never have got to this place with out you – please take a look here to see the names.