Sister Business

Dear SBUK readers,

If you're outside London, here's some news from the Flying Start newsletter that might be of interest - enjoy… Best, Caroline

O2 Awards – We can help you WIN!
If you are thinking about sending an application you have until 1st August to enter at http://o2-business.com/business. Why not send your application to support@flyingstartonline.com  and we will review and provide some hints and tips!!

eMentoring – Get your Business Idea moving
Get the most out of FlyingStartOnline by using our latest service, eMentoring. This provides a page where you and your Mentor/Mentee can create a mentoring schedule, setting actions and dates, sharing documents and messaging each other. We have created two mentoring schedules, one is an Action schedule which is freeform text and the other is a set business planning task list.

Upcoming FS Programmes – Fast Track to Start your Business
•    Sports Business (technology, service or product related) – 8th June
•    General Business (University of Bolton) – 15th June
•    Royal Engineering Academy Programme – 22nd June
•    Rural Enterprise Programme – 29th June

Enterprise Societies – Sustainable Support for YOUR Society
We are providing online FS website, Free Workshops, Business Start-up Funding, Access to University Resources and Staff, FlyingStart Business Start-Up programmes and Funding to run each Society. Contact events@flyingstartonline.com  for more information.

MIT Expertise At London Workshop
Apply now for a two-day workshop, 15th-16th June in London. If you match certain criteria, you could attend free. 'Global Sales Strategies for Ambitious Entrepreneurs' will delivered by MIT Entrepreneurship Center MD Kenneth P Morse and experienced venture capitalist Laura Barker Morse.

One delegate selected for this London workshop could win a a sponsored place on the one-week MIT Entrepreneurship Development Programme in January 2010 in Massachusetts. Email anny@global-sales.org  for more information.

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Dear SBUK readers,

New event details from Prevista just in - if you're interested, please see below - best, Caroline

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Dear SBUK readers,

Hot off the press today, here's some details on a forthcoming event on branding (may be useful if you can get past the politics…) - best, Caroline

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Dear SBUK readers,

If you're in the creative industries, Croydon-based and interesting in expanding your network, here's details of a forthcomng event next week… I might even get down there myself if I can pack in everything I need before this event! 

Have a good Bank Holiday weekend - best, Caroline

Make time on thursday for…

Croydon Designers Networking Event!

…meet other creative people/ businesses in Croydon, bring lots of business cards.

Come and join us to share ideas and expand your contacts.

Date:     Thursday 28th May 2009
Time:     6pm
Venue:  Tiger Tiger, Croydon (16 High Street, Croydon, CR0 1GT)

Travel information: http://www.tigertiger-croydon.co.uk/findus/
Contact email: info@croydondesigners.com

Who should come? All Creative businesses, designers, video and film producers, photographers, pr and media people, printers, web designers etc.

RSVP to this notice to reserve your place now [Your Name, Your Company, # people]

Croydon Designers is the network for creative businesses in Croydon.

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World Trade Week, the first event of its kind in the UK, will take place this year from 8 to 12 June and will highlight the importance of global trade in creating jobs and growth in the current economic climate.

World Trade Week UK is part of a Government drive to maintain open and fair markets and resist protectionism in the face of a global downturn and falling international trade flows.

Through events in the UK and worldwide, starting with an international trade conference in London, which will be attended by business leaders and leaders in trade policy from across the world, the week will help showcase the success of the UK as a trading nation and the importance of global trade to international development.

Major supporters such as UK Trade and Investment, the British Chambers of Commerce and Visit Britain are already signed up to World Trade Week UK and organisations of all sizes are being encouraged to get involved.

Minister for Trade and Development Gareth Thomas called on business organisations and NGOs to show their support:

"A core part of the Government's response to the current global economic crisis has been to strive to keep global markets open and ensure that trade - the lifeblood of the global economy - continues to flow.

"World Trade Week UK 2009 will be a vital opportunity to champion global trade, as well as highlight the ways that trade creates growth and helps lift millions out of poverty. There are many ways in which you can be part of the Week and I'd encourage everyone out there to get involved."

David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said:
"Standing firmly behind open trade is of vital importance to recovery. Governments around the world need to resist domestic political pressures for protective measures and defend the recent progress made in freeing up global trade.

"The BCC will be working with the International Chamber Network to mobilise business to support free trade."

Organisations can be part of World Trade Week UK by running an event or by promoting the week and its events to their members. For more details, go to http://www.worldtradeweekuk.com/Pages/WTWHome.aspx  

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Dear SBUK readers,

If you - or anyone else you know - are at uni, and looking to start your own business, here's an initiative you might be interested in pursuing - details below and good luck - best, Caroline

In conjunction with the University of Bolton, the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship is offering a FREE national General Business Programme for final year students, postgraduates and graduates (within five years of completing their studies) with a business concept or idea they want to develop and launch within 12 months. The FlyingStart Programme begins with a 3-day course at the University of Bolton, on the 15th, 16th and 17th June 2009. Candidates must be currently studying or graduated from a UK university in the North West and can be from any degree (full-time or part-time). The main aim is to have graduates trading or growing businesses with 12 months. The Programme ensures that all new graduate businesses: • Understand the business model - how to make money • Have a ready-made national and regional network; • Have a dedicated mentor and business support; • Understand the ‘know-hows’ and ‘know-whos’ of practical business. The Programme will take up to 30 participants, and provide the one-to-one mentoring, support and training needed to turn every idea into a business. It is customised to suit the needs of each participant and individual one-to-one mentoring is provided free for a full 12 months following the course. The programme is completely free to participants and includes: • 3-day residential course where participants acquire business skills and build their contacts network; • personalised 1-2-1 mentoring – support and guidance for 12 months; • focused follow up meetings where participants can receive further help. The deadline for applications is 17:00 on Thursday 4th June 2009. For more information or to chat about whether or not this FlyingStart Programme is right for you, please contact Flying Start Events Co-ordinator David Benson – david.benson@ncge.org.uk. Please visit the following link to apply: http://private.flyingstartonline.com/calendar/programmesview/25

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Dear SBUK readers,

Although it may be recession-time, it's also important to keep training - here's details listed below of a forthcoming event you may be interested in attending - best, Caroline

Free Seminars for London-based SMEs: Commercialising Innovation Workshop Thursday, 28 May 2009 This 6 hour executive education workshop examines how SMEs can capture the rewards of their innovative products and services, through assessing market opportunities, developing an ecosystem of partners necessary for successful commercialisation and market expansion, and identifying the correct IP strategies.

Agenda 09.00 – 09.30 Coffee and registration 09.30 – 09.40 Nick Leon – Welcome and Introduction 09.40 – 11.00 Prof Gerry George – BrainLAB Case Study 11.00 – 11.15 Refreshment break 11.15 – 11.40 Prof Gerry George – Value Capture Strategies 11.40 – 13.00 Dr Neri Karra & Prof Nelson Phillips – Neri Karra Case Study 13.00 – 13.45 Lunch 13.45 – 14.30 Nick Leon – Creating Value 14.30 – 14.40 Refreshment break 14.40 – 15.15 Workshop 15.15 – 15.30 Nick Leon – Summary and Close The Commercialising Innovation Workshop takes place on 28 May 2009 from 9am to 3.30pm at Imperial College Business School, South Kensington, London. Please visit our website for more detailed information: www.design-connection.co.uk/commercialising Find out if you’re eligible for a free place by visiting our cost page. Book your place now by downloading and completing a booking form from our website. Other seminars in the series: Innovation Technologies – 23 June 2009 Financing Innovation – 10 July 2009 Managing Design – 24 July 2009 Organising for Design-led Innovation – 14 September 2009

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Dear SBUK readers,

Just some details on two events from Women Unlimited that are coming up soon…  details listed below - best, Caroline

Build your own website in a day : Women Unlimited

Source: www.women-unlimited.co.uk

June 4, British Library, London. Women Unlimited (using our Springmedia skills) are running a workshop to help you create your own website in 1 day.

The Confidence Workshop - Achieve your business potential : Women Unlimited

Source: www.women-unlimited.co.uk

May 22, 2009 London. Running your own business can be full of challenges. You can be confronted with situations that require you to respond quickly, strongly and positively.

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Dear SBUK readers,

The event season is well under way - if you're a woman from an ethnic minority background working in corporate UK, here's an event that might be of interest and details are listed below - best, Caroline

Welcome to:  Essentials for Leadership Success  

This is a dynamic 2 day leadership development programme where you will have the opportunity to converse with and learn from two of the most innovative and inspirational Leadership  and Diversity Trainers in the UK . 

This programme has been devised for Black & Asian Women Leaders in the workplace. It is set to sharpen your focus and your achievement as a minority in a majority setting.  We encourage you to pass the details of this programme onto your organisation and give them the opportunity to invest in your leadership development. Join us for 2 days and prepare for leadership success!  

For full details of content, dates and investment, contact Yvonne@diversitypractice.com  or call 020 8408 7172. We look forward to seeing you there! 

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Dear SBUK readers,

The small business competition season is now getting into its stride: for those who can't get enough, here's one for women only - sorry, guys….

Best, Caroline

THE SEARCH BEGINS FOR UK 'S BRIGHTEST IDEAS IN FEMALE INVENTORS & INNOVATORS AWARDS

Women across the nation have the chance to be recognised as the British Female Inventor or Innovator of the Year 2009 with the launch of the latest competition by the Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWIIN). This would include women that are exceptionally creative, inventive, innovative, entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, technologists, designers from all sectors and background right across Britain .

The awards event which officially opens on Wednesday 4 March is organised to celebrate and promote the creative, inventive and innovative products and services by women. This year includes awards categories for Health & Beauty, Most Innovative Technology, Foods, Best Product Design and Packaging, Exceptional Creative Items in Arts and Crafts, Best Innovative Business Idea, Science and a category for Higher Education & Learning Institutions such as universities and colleges. There are 10 categories in total including the main award Female Inventor of the Year 2009.

Established eleven years ago, the awards are the most extensive platform for the recognition of women's inventive and innovative ideas developed in scientific laboratory to the ideas developed at home on the humble kitchen table. Founder, Bola Olabisi who has since launched the competition in other countries, says that the UK event is growing from strength to strength.

"The 2009 event will be the most significant so far, reflecting a diversity of innovations from various sectors. We welcome ideas from women of all backgrounds - scientists and engineers working on patented inventions to women with no previous research and development experience who have come up with an excellent gadget or a new way of doing something," says Bola.

Previous winners in the awards include Tanya Ewing, inventor of the energy monitoring device, Dr Maire McLoone, inventor of a product that enhances security mechanisms to protect the public from cyber criminals, such as hackers and identifies thieves, Morag Hutcheon, inventor of a music sampling device built into a standard CD jewel case, Deborah Leary, the inventor of Forensic Anti-Contamination Stepping Plates for crime scenes, Mandy Haberman, the inventor of the Anywayup Cup to prevent toddlers spilling their drinks and Dr Diana Hodgins with her nanotechnology innovation, the small-scale Solid State Gyroscope which detects angular spin in moving objects.

The theme of this year's event is ‘Making Connections With Innovative Business Solutions' and will include several high profile industry speakers from various backgrounds. The closing date for awards entries is 29 May 2009. For further information about the award categories and entry forms visit www.gwiin.com or email us on office@gwiin.com

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