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Business Information Sessions January - March 2018
  
Please find below a list of our upcoming expert delivered business information sessions, all of which are free of charge.  To reserve yourself a place or for more information please call our Gateway on 0800 043 55 22 or 0114 224 5000.  Our sessions are very popular so places are limited to one person per company/organisation.  In the event of a session being fully booked, we will offer you the option to go on a shortlist in case we have any cancellations.



Starting Up - Coaching Session 1
Research, planning and starting a business

(fortnightly)

This session will provide you with the tools to analyse the viability of your business using market research techniques, topics include; looking at your marketing avenues; identifying what is required through market research; explaining the purpose of business planning; legal structures.
 


Starting Up - Coaching Session 2
Financial Forecasting 

(fortnightly)

This workshop teaches you the principles of basic business financial planning for the year ahead & helping you understand whether the business is financially viable, topics include; personal survival budgeting; start-up costs & overheads; cash flow forecasts; pricing and terms and conditions.
 


Starting Up - Coaching Session 3
Tax Record Keeping and Expenses 

(fortnightly)
 
This workshop will advise you on your legal obligations relating to self-employment, including; registration (when & how); tax and NI contributions; expenses and allowances; record keeping.



Social Media

Wednesday 4th April
Tuesday 19th June

How can social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn) be used to promote your business?  Tips and tricks to grow your social media presence.

 

Start up Sales & Marketing

Tuesday 10th April

Without effective marketing there will be no sales, and without sales no business can survive. This workshop explores the need for a strong brand, understanding your customers and how to reach them using key messaging and compelling marketing material. The second half deals with how to close business using the consultative sell. This workshop is the ideal precursor to the Marketing Fundamentals workshop.

 

Marketing Fundamentals for your Business

Friday 13th April

Building on the start-up marketing and sales workshop, looking at the 7 P’s of marketing, how to formulate a marketing strategy, explore routes to market, tactics and more. It also looks at understanding your business and marketing goals, so that an effective marketing plan can be created.  Finally we ask you to bring along a piece of your own marketing material, a leaflet, a business card, or we can look at your website and have a fun, constructive brainstorming session to see how things could be made more impactful.

 

GDPR

Tuesday 24th April

This session will explain the regulation changes and what they mean for your business. Covering the essentials, with no scare mongering or sales pitches, Matt will give an overview of GDPR, including practical advice on how to approach compliance with the regulation and answer any burning questions you have regarding the regulation changes.

 

Spring Networking Event – Cubanas

Wednesday 25th April,  5:30pm - onwards.

Spring is in the air, which can only mean one thing. It’s time for Business Sheffield to invite you along to Cubana’s for cocktails, tapas and networking.

For those of you familiar with our networking events, you’ll know just what a relaxed and easy way they are to meet fellow local entrepreneurs and businesses. For those of you who haven’t been to one of our events before, we promise you an enjoyable opportunity to build relationships with other Sheffield businesses.

 

Basic Book Keeping

Thursday 26th April
Wednesday 13th June
 
For new starts and young businesses undertaking bookkeeping and accounts themselves.  

Topics include how to keep: a sales ledger, purchase ledger; cash book, reconcile the business cash and bank accounts; prepare and understand your profit and loss account.  Tips and hints on bookkeeping.  Computerised and cloud accounting.

 

Retail Workshop – Driving sales through effective buying, marketing and merchandising

Wednesday 2nd May

Inspired by Mary Portas, delivered by the Source Academy. This workshop is a must for any retailer covering the following key things: Vision - how you remain true to your brand, Brand Values - and how you resonate with your customers, Knowing your customer – profiling and understanding their needs, Buying the right stock at the right price, Pricing correctly and profitably, Marketing - developing a targeted and effective marketing strategy, Delivering excellent customer service, Visual display techniques.



Terms and Conditions 

Tuesday 8th May
Tuesday 26th June

Already trading or nearly there?  Learn how to put robust terms and conditions in place: Why you need them; what to include; sales of goods terms; and terms of service.


 
Exploring Finance Options for start-up/early stage businesses  
 
Monday 14th May
 
For start-up/early stage businesses. Gain an insight into the different finance solutions available in the current market place as well as assessing the advantages/disadvantages of each finance route. Understand the different legal obligations for taking on different types of finance.

 

Winning New Customers via the Telephone

Tuesday 15th May
 
For business to business (not business to consumer) sales.  Learn how to approach prospects and gain new business via the phone.  

Explores why so many of us are nervous about using the phone, dispels some of the myths and fears associated with cold calling and gives advice and tips on all aspects of running a successful telephone campaign.

 

How to Sell Face to Face

Tuesday 22nd May
 
For anyone whose business success depends on selling face to face.

Improve your success rates from appointments. Pre-appointment preparation; creating a good first impression; opening and keeping control of the meeting; questioning techniques; objection handling; recognising buying signals; and closing/agreeing the next step.

 

Content Marketing for Social Media

Wednesday 30th May

A workshop that will run you through how to develop a full Content Marketing Strategy, from initial ideas through to promotion and measurement.  Topics include:  Developing customer personas, identifying where your customers are online and how to target them using content, How to develop winning content ideas using research and tools, How to design content that stands out above the noise, How to effectively promote your content through paid, owned and earned channels. Social media advertising, digital PR, social influencers etc, How to measure the success of your content marketing campaigns from reach, engagements, through to eventual conversions on your site.


 
Limited Company Workshop

Monday 4th June

This workshop dispels some of the myths and will explain how to register a ltd company, reporting requirements including when accounts will need filing, difference between your money and money that belongs to the company, how to take money out of the business and what way is best to pay yourself? (employee of the company?), what is corporation tax, capital allowances, responsibilities of a company director and how to dis-incorporate.

 

Employing people for the first time from an Accountancy Perspective 

Tuesday 5th June

Find out all you need to know to avoid penalties and interest when employing people. What I need to tell HMRC, when I need to tell them, on-going reporting requirements, do I need an accountant to prepare my payroll, how do I pay my staff, what is the national minimum wage, can I pay my employees expenses and benefits, what is Real Time Information and Auto Enrolment.

 

Leadership & Management
 
Thursday 7th June

An introduction to the basics of effective leadership and management for anybody new to a leadership and management role.  Covering; the qualities and actions needed for good leadership and management; explore motivation; the art of delegation; picking the right team; succession planning and running effective meetings.

 

Creating a Brand 

Tuesday 12th June
  
 Why a strong brand is essential: what constitutes a brand; how to understand your own brand and its identity; style and tone of voice.  Includes several thought provoking branding exercises including looking at a live case study to explain some of these key principles and finally will show you how to use your brand.



Maximising your Website

Thursday 14th June

Gain more business from your web presence.  How to drive traffic to your website via SEO including; long-tail keywords; click bait; backlinks; internal links; and using Google Webmaster and Analytics.  

Shows you how to use social media to attract visitors; how to convert website traffic into leads and sales, how to influence your visitors actions creating urgency, the art of writing good text; the power of FAQ’s and customer reviews as a way of capturing visitor details.



Business Insurance - Don't pay more than you have to

Thursday 21st June

Hands up if you like paying for business insurances. No? We thought not.

Insurance is one of those things you know you need, to protect yourself and your business, and to stay the right side of the law, but no one wants to pay more than they have to. So we’re running an intriguing new workshop, delivered by an expert who will guide you through the insurance maze. The workshop will teach you to assess what insurances you really need, and which you don’t, and understand the searching questions you should be asking of any broker or insurance company. The aim of the workshop is to make sure you don’t leave yourself vulnerable, whilst not paying a penny more than you have to.

 

Starting Up a Food Business – How to meet legal requirements and achieve a good food hygiene rating.

 Thursday 28th June

Essential to any food business, Topics include;  Registration (or Approval) of Premises, Food Safety Management Systems, Procedures and Records, Allergen Information Rules and Cross, Contamination Controls, Training Facilities and Structural Requirements for Premises (including pest control and waste management), The Inspection Process, The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

 

Recruiting & Employing Staff

Friday 29th June

Recruiting for the first time or want to check you are doing it right?  Covering: safe recruitment practices and attracting the right people; induction process; contract of employment; staff handbook and policies (understand what is essential and what is desirable); and probationary periods.

Contracts for typical workers - subcontractors, casual staff and zero hours workers.