PRIME business club

Too many people have trained as Home Information Pack assessors. The BBC reports that newly-qualified assessors are finding there is not enough work to go round - and that the price per job is half what they expected.

David Thompson of the Institute of Domestic Energy Assessors says the amount of work available is negligible. “There are far too many people now qualified to become home inspectors and energy assessors”, he says.

However, things may pick up from the 14th of December, when smaller houses are added to the scheme.

Only half of Britain’s small firms have a web site, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). But ALL of the visitors to this site taking part in a recent PRIME mini poll either had a web site or planned one.

Does your business have a web site of its own?

• Yes 48% (22 votes)
• No - it doesn’t need one 0% (0 votes)
• Not yet but planning one 52% (24 votes)

Source: visitors to www.primebusinessclub.com

The two sets of figures may be compatible. Both polls show an approximately 50:50 split between web-site haves and have-nots. The different interpretations put on this may be like the proverbial half-empty or half-full glass.

Those commenting on the FSB poll have tended to take a half-empty view, decrying small firm’s lack of Internet ambition.

But since the PRIME poll also asked whether people were planning to set one up in the future, it is possible that the missing web sites may only be temporary - just something that people haven’t got round to yet.

Many of PRIME’s visitors have good reason to wait, as they haven’t yet set their businesses up either, or have only done so recently. So they may have other things to get sorted out first, before leaping into cyberspace.

If anything the mini-poll shows a vivid awareness among older entrepreneurs about how valuable a web site can be in business, with none of them saying it isn’t needed.

The London Development Agency is backing a scheme for new and existing small businesses seeking to raise money in the capital.

Though the scheme is heavily subsidised, applicants do have to pay for some required consultancy - typically five days tailored for you particular business.

More details from www.creativelaunchpad.co.uk or ring 0845 303 7375, or send an email.

Tribal Group, the company running the scheme for the LDA, does have some other projects in parts of the Midlands. These are mostly aimed at new businesses starting up in the creative sector, but this is interpreted fairly broadly. More details on their web pages for Derby, Nottingham and the West Midlands.

STOP PRESS: APPLICATIONS HAVE NOW CLOSED.

PRIME is hiring. We are looking for someone to get a new project going for us in the North West, based in Warrington.

The closing date for applications is Wednesday the 5th of December 2007 at 4pm, and interviews are scheduled for Friday the 14th of December in Warrington.

Full details and application pack on our other web site.

Date: Wednesday 12th December 2007, 9:00am to 2:00pm

Venue: Gusto’s Restaurant, 48-50 Sheffield Road, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 1HS

Status: PRIME event

This beginner’s workshop will help you come up with and develop your ideas.
You will then begin to make a decision on whether you would like to work for yourself. 

The workshop will focus on:

~ using your skills and talents

~ developing your business idea

~ the basics of being self-employed

To book your place on this workshop please contact Faye Banerjee on:0800 783 1904
Email: faye.banerjee@ace.org.uk

Barnsley printable flyer

Date: Thursday 22nd November 2007

Venue: Kingston Communication Stadium, The Circle, Walton Street, Anlaby R.d. Hull, HU3 6FU

Status: PRIME attended

The Open Day programme is the biggest government business support road show, designed to provide free information and support to businesses, through a series of exhibitions across the country.

It is organised by HM Revenue and Customs, who invite local organisations and representatives of national bodies such as PRIME that can provide support and advice to local businesses. The organisations chosen all operate on an “other than for profit” i.e. non-commercial basis.

At this free all-day event you will have access to a full team of experts who provide advice and technical support on a range of subjects, covering every stage of your business from start-up, through growth and expansion to pension arrangements when you retire. Free seminars cover topics such as funding, marketing and enhancing your business through new technology.

Click on the link below to find out more and to book your place.

Website Link: BusinessAdviceOpenDay

Date: Tuesday 20 November 2007

Venue: Spa Complex, South Bay, Scarborough, YO11 2HD

Status: PRIME attended

The Open Day programme is the biggest government business support road show, designed to provide free information and support to businesses, through a series of exhibitions across the country.

It is organised by HM Revenue and Customs, who invite local organisations and representatives of national bodies such as PRIME that can provide support and advice to local businesses. The organisations chosen all operate on an “other than for profit” i.e. non-commercial basis.

At this free all-day event you will have access to a full team of experts who provide advice and technical support on a range of subjects, covering every stage of your business from start-up, through growth and expansion to pension arrangements when you retire. Free seminars cover topics such as funding, marketing and enhancing your business through new technology.

Click on the link below to find out more and to book your place.

Website Link: BusinessAdviceOpenDay

Are you over 50, female and thinking of starting a business in any of these areas?

Acupuncture
Aromatherapy
Healthy living
Massage
Nutrition and Diet
Personal Training
Reflexology
Sports Massage
Sports Physiotherapy

If so London Metropolitan University, a PRIME partner, has developed a free 10 day course especially for you.

It starts in February 2008, and there’s still time to apply. Funding is coming from the London Development Agency, and the course will be run in conjunction with NHS London.

We don’t have all the details yet, but we expect London Met will use its tried-and-tested format of running the course over 10 weeks, so you only have to take one day a week away from other commitments or actually starting the business.

Previous courses in the series have been heavily over-subscribed, so it’s a good idea to apply promptly.

To be eligible you need to be over 50, female and live, work or plan to start your business in 1) Barking and Dagenham 2) Barnet 3) Camden 4) Croydon 5) Enfield 6) Greenwich 7) Hackney Haringey 9) Islington 10) Merton 11) Newham 12) Tower Hamlets 13) Waltham Forest or 14) Westminister.

If you are interested, please ring Neneh Faye-Khan
0207 716 7015 or 0207 716 7050,

or email neneh.faye-khan@nhs-est.org.uk

More details at www.enterprisesontrack.co.uk

Three previous attendees at London Met courses feature as case studies on this web site - Linda March, Norma Vondee and Brenda El-Leithy.

Date: Friday 16th November 2007

Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Venue: Keeping It Simple Training, Tottenham Hale, London, N17 9LP

Cost: FREE

Keep It Simple Training is a DTI-approved and LSC Work-Based Learning training and enterprise agency, based in North London.  They are putting on this free event for the over 50’s.

Invitation to a FREE advice, info & networking opportunity

Are you over 50?

Are you interested in running your own business?

Are you looking to raise £10K + to start up your business?

If you are looking for free, impartial and professional business support, we can help you.

To book a place, please book online: here or contact Michelle Harvey at michelle.harvey@kistraining.co.uk
Phone: 020 8275 4230

Venue & Transport:
Address: Keeping It Simple Training, Sentinel House, 1 Ashley Road Tottenham Hale, London N17 9LP

Find out more about Keeping It Simple Training at www.kistraining.co.uk

PRIME is holding five events in Enterprise Week in very varied parts of the UK - in Grimsby on the North Sea coast, in rural North Yorkshire, in the industrial Black Country to the north west of Birmingham, and in Belfast in Northern Ireland.

• 12 Nov 07: Helmsley, North Yorkshire
• 13 Nov 07: Ballybeen, Northern Ireland
• 14 Nov 07: Grimsby
• 14 Nov 07: Rathcoole, Northern Ireland
• 15 Nov 07: Walsall

The two Belfast events follow on from the official launch of PRIME in Northern Ireland, which took place at a brief reception at the Parliament Building at Stormont last week. PRIME will eventually be operating right across Northern Ireland in conjunction with Invest NI. The first two events, on the 13th and 14th of November, are near PRIME’s local headquarters in Belfast.

PRIME is also opening up a new office in the English West Midlands, in Walsall in the heart of the Black Country. This region was a famous centre during the industrial revolution, which is how some people say it got its name - from all the coal and soot. Now some parts are surprisingly rural, and it is developing a very diverse economy.

PRIME’s launch in the Black Country is taking place during enterprise week, at the start of a free drop-in event that runs for most of the day on the 15th of November. There are more details on all these events on the links above.

PRIME is very pleased to have so much on during Enterprise Week this year. The annual event, which is supported by both government and industry bodies such as the CBI, normally focuses almost exclusively on youth. But enterprise is not all about youth. Huge numbers of older people set up new businesses every year - and the evidence suggests they may be better at it.

Date:Wednesday 14th November 2007, 10am to 1pm lunch included

Venue:
Ballyoran Centre, 30 Rosneath Gardens, Dundonald, Belfast, BT16 1UN

Status: PRIME event

Location map

Over 50 and wanting some new opportunities? Have you ever thought of starting your own business? Come along to our FREE workshop to find out how.

SPECIAL DRAMA: Watch actors play the part of someone setting up in business in a drama specially written to bring out some of the issues.

Meet people who have already started up and hear what they think. And also find out what local help is available to you.

Free advice on:
• Setting up in business or self-employment
• Planning your next move

For this event you can just drop in on the day. But it would help give us more ideas of numbers if you could ring Sharon George on 028 902 67807 or 028 904 72752, who can also give you more details.

Date:Wednesday 14th November 2007, 10am to 1pm lunch included

Venue: Dunanney Centre, Rathmullan Drive, Rathcoole, Newtownabbey, BT37 9DQ

Status: PRIME event

Location map

Over 50 and wanting some new opportunities? Have you ever thought of starting your own business? Come along to our FREE workshop to find out how.

SPECIAL DRAMA: Watch actors play the part of someone setting up in business in a drama specially written to bring out some of the issues.

Meet people who have already started up and hear what they think. And also find out what local help is available to you.

Free advice on:
• Setting up in business or self-employment
• Planning your next move

For this event you can just drop in on the day. But it would help give us more ideas of numbers if you could ring Sharon George on 028 902 67807 or 028 904 72752, who can also give you more details.

The winner of PRIME’s October’s draw is Mrs C Rutter from Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. She wins a £100 in M & S vouchers, plus a bumper bundle of PRIME rock.

PRIME is holding two more prize draws in the run up to Christmas. To enter the November one, just answer the seven quick questions in our “rock quiz”. We are again giving again £100 in M & S vouchers, plus sticks of rock with PRIME written through it!

Enter here.

On another subject, if you haven’t thought about your pension arrangements yet, PRIME’s advice is to go and talk to an independent financial adviser who is familiar with self-employment issues. You can find a list of IFAs by region and speciality here.

Just in case you think we might be trying to sneak in a mention of the subject few self-employed people seem to want to think about - pensions, we are.