5 top tips for your start-up to progress by Debbie Skeete Friday 16 Sept 1.30 at Redbridge Institute

Join the support for Redbridge start ups

Our guest speaker at Sophia Hubs weekly entrepreneurs’ club is Debbie Skeete who has set up 2 successful Redbridge businesses in the last 3 years and is building up another one or two!

• Friday 16th September 1.30-3pm

• Redbridge Institute, Gearies, room C (a portakabin next to main entrance in car park)
• If you know where it is, just come along. If not, ask at reception

Debbie has very many tips but we’ve scaled her down to about 5!  Come and hear practical tips for setting up weekly schedules, how you allocate your time, for customer relationships and how to get those sales.

Debbie is a freelance consultant for nurseries that have failed Ofsted to turn them around.  She also runs an online holiday lettings agency Heywoods Park Barbados lettings which majors on the personal touch and relationships.

I think personal relationships are key to a business.  It is a balancing act but I give a significant amount of time to getting out there  meeting people and in my personal time keeping involved with what’s happening in the community.  I am an advocate of social media, which is also about relationships and keeping in touch

As always the networking is an important part of this session and the support given to each other by start-ups.

Let’s make sure Redbridge start-ups make it!  Join in.

E newsletters for your startup business or community group at entrepreneurs club Tues 12 June 12.45

If it worked for Obama, it can work for you!

Sophia Hubs entrepreneur’s club – Tuesday 12 July – 12.45-2.30 at St Johns Church with Mo Obadina…

Mo says: “Obama raised nearly $700M using email newsletters”

The internet rules may have changed, but some things remain constant and email newsletters/email marketing continues to see substantial growth in its use and return.

Topics will include:

• Which CRM package to use  (customer relationship management database)
• How to build or grow your list
• How to engage your readers

Come and find out the 7 strategies that you can use to develop a successful email newsletter to keep your customers engaged and buying from you.

Mo Obadina is the award winning founder and CEO of MO’s MOJO, with over 20 years experience of helping business owners to plan and grow their businesses.  She offers one to one and group coaching, and training on Digital Marketing, Business Planning, Service packaging and pricing.  She has helped 200+ businesses through her business seminars and coaching.  Mo’s training sessions are always interactive and her sessions will inspire you to take a fresh look at your business and the way you promote it.

To book a place click here.  Please pass on the word!  Our weekly entrepreneur’s club is a friendly and informal network for start-ups, small businesses and community groups.

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Quick environmental survey monkey on Redbridge business and circular economy – please join in

Nnenna Anyanwu is developing solutions to remove barriers to businesses becoming environmentally sustainable…

I am doing some research for my Environmental Masters programme into how businesses can become more environmentally sustainable using the circular economy concept.

I would appreciate it if as many businesses can complete the survey. (Please help me pass my course!!).

It will take literally 3-5 mins and will hopefully help to develop some solutions for businesses and remove the barriers to becoming environmentally sustainable/friendly.

I can even offer one or two free ‘Environmental Business Model’ consultations to interested businesses (large or small) who complete the survey.

Just click on the link below and the survey pops up.
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/DWDNGW5

Thanks!

Nnenna Anyanwu

To see other ‘green’ business info just type ‘green’ into the search bar!

Top tip from Jasdip Sagu to Redbrige startups – join forums in your sector for customers and support

We had a good entrepreneur’s club session today (3.5.16) with Jasdip Sagu and his journey from BT engineer to a successful and growing fashion, beauty and commercial photographer.

 

What was useful?

• Emphasis on self belief. Power of social  media. Meeting other entrepreneurs. Sarah Kigosi
• I am going start using Mailchimp (integrated newsletter/database) – Richard Willis
• The fact that Jasdip uses forums to see what’s happening in his field and to get clients and contacts. I am going to check on the forums for herbal consultancy.Angela Saint Ville
• I think it’s important for me to start blogging.  I am going to find out how to get help with this on the Timebank. Ravi Ravindran
• I asked Jasdip what finances he put into his business. I realise that I need to have some finance to take things forwards. Jitendra Makvana

What did you enjoy about being a speaker at this session Jasdip?

• It was good for my confidence. I’m not really a public speaker and was quite nervous but as it was more of a group participation, that made it easier.  Knowing that people found it interesting and useful is a bonus – I like to help people. It was a good networking event for me too.  Running a business is hard, and it is nice to be with others in the same boat. It’s good to talk to each other. I’m going to join the Timebank and will offer product photography.

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Run your start-up with the business canvas model session at Redbridge entrepreneur’s club

Business canvas helps Redbridge businesses and community groups

Sophia Hubs weekly entrepreneur’s club welcomes back Aidan Ward for a practical session using the business canvas model. We think this is the best and easiest and most adaptable model to run a start-up and is always popular.

If you google it there’s plenty of information but try this.   This model is an easy way to see your business on one page, make changes to see what works/test things out, make it a living document that can adapt with what you learn.

Tuesday 26th April at Enterprise Desk (Ilford Library) 12-1.30 followed by networking.  

If you are part of a community group or charity in the borough, the new Enterprising Redbridge project has its first business seminar on Thursday 21st April, on the business canvas model to help groups creatively work out ways of raising  income that is not reliant on funding. For more information click here.

It may not look that simple, but really it is! 🙂

Entrepreneur’s club social for Redbridge start-ups 12 April 12.45-2.15

The Sophia Hubs entrepreneur’s club is open to all Redbridge start-ups and nearby boroughs welcome.  The usual format is input from a local business person, networking and goal setting. This week it’s a bit more of a social and sharing tips and experiences between those that attend.

Hope to see you. Feel free to bring others.

St Johns Church lounge area, St Johns Road, Seven Kings, IG2 7BB.

Ring 07707 460309 or email ros.southern@sophiahubs.com

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Jane Leighton’s update from Enterprise Desk on business support in Redbridge libraries up until Spring

Are You Fit For Business?

Whether you are thinking of starting your own enterprise or looking to grow your existing business put joining Enterprise Desk at the top of your New Year to do list.

Redbridge has a strong entrepreneurial spirit with many independent small businesses and new start-ups. Research shows that businesses who receive advice early are more likely to succeed and build sustainable futures. Enterprise Desk is free and provides the support and knowledge you need to grow.

Based at Redbridge Central Library, Ilford the enterprise hub offers co-working space; ideal for home based businesses in need of somewhere to meet clients or looking for a change from your usual work environment.

Libraries are ideally placed to support business growth and we have a wealth of resources on offer including books, journals and Cobra, a continually updated information resource. Many of our business resources can be accessed online and if you need help getting started there are plenty of opportunities to come along to one of our drop in sessions in January starting on Wednesday 13^th 1 – 4pm.

We have a full programme of workshops, training and networking events. London Small Business Centre is offering their practical Start Up Workshop; this is a great opportunity for anyone who is thinking about starting a business in Redbridge. The next 3 hour workshop is on Tuesday 19 January 10am – 1pm and we also have workshops on Tuesday 2 February 10am – 1pm and Wednesday 24 February 1 – 4pm so book your place today.

You can also arrange to see one of our Professional Business Advisers from Enterprise for London and London Small Business Centre who will help you develop your business skills, access finance and improve your confidence, so that you are more likely to start and run a successful business.

There is still time to apply for our free Design & Build Own Website workshop on Friday 26 February. Places are limited and you need to apply by downloading an application pack from the website. The deadline is 29 January 2015.

If you are an established entrepreneur with a research idea that will develop your business ask us for more details about the Entrepreneur in Residence scheme. We are delighted to announce our first recipient Corinne Welsh from Just Outsource.it who will be using the opportunity to produce a resource that helps children to work with the programming language Python on the new BBC micro:bit.

Upcoming events include a business open day as part of National Libraries Day on 6^th February at Redbridge Central Library and we are also working with the Wanstead and Snaresbrook Business Partnership on a networking event in March.

To see the full programme and book your place visit www.redbridge.gov.uk/enterprisedesk and follow us on Twitter @EntepriseDesk There has never been a better time to start and grow your business in Redbridge. What are you waiting for?

[Enterprise Desk is a collaboration between London Borough of Redbridge and Vision
Redbridge Culture & Leisure supported by the Mayor of London.

Jane Leighton