Business Start Up
Aim
The Accomplice Business Start Up is a series of confidential, personalised one-to-one sessions with an independent consultant to enable you to explore and launch your own business and identify and reach your crucial goals.
Participants have full access to our on-line business and career facilities as well as feedback from their personal consultant on their business ideas, potential business networks and development activities.
Content
The initial, foundation unit comprises four personal one-to-one development sessions to confirm your intentions for your business and next moves – by way of a business ‘start up’ plan.
Subsequent sessions can be commissioned to develop any aspect of your business from your strategy, marketing, resource and other development needs – or even draw up or receive comment on your business plan.
Objectives
Participants are asked to confirm their own personal objective for the programme. For example, to:
- confirm the viability of setting up my own business
- understand the opportunities and challenges impacting upon my business now and in the future
- draw up a business start up plan
Afterwards, participants may then wish to draw on part of other Accomplice programmes. For example to:
- draft a strategy and delivery plan for the business
- confirm the marketing strategy for my service/product
- developing a business team
- transferring into the business life (and managing my time and work-life balance)
As the business grows, you may want to dip back into the ‘start up’ programme to connect to a mentor or a range of other experts to address your ongoing business support requirements such as:
- performance and finance (including succeeding in tendering and grant processes)
- employee recruitment and retention
- training and development
- communications and technology
- equipment, buildings and estates
Approach
After receipt and review of the participant’s application (see below), acceptance onto the programme will be confirmed and dates and location for the sessions confirmed. Sessions are usually held fortnightly for one hour, booked in advance at the Accomplice premises.
The first session will be focused on confirming the participant’s requirements and on their ‘career story’ to date. Subject to this assessment, the shape of the remaining programme will be agreed, aligned to the specific learning objective(s) of the participant. The final session would comprise a review of learning and identification of any ongoing actions that may be required (of the participant, their sponsor/line manager or others).
On completion of the programme, the participant is asked to evaluate their experience and, where agreed, confirm the content of a summary note of progress for submission to their sponsor.
All information shared before and during the sessions is treated as confidential. In the unlikely event of the participant (or others associated with them) being deemed to be at significant health or social risk, the coach will require the participant to relay key information to the relevant statutory bodies. Should participants refuse to seek the support of the services, Accomplice reserves the right to relay such information on their behalf – and would advise the participant in advance of their intended action.
Essential Preparation by Participants
For the fullest benefits to be realised, participants should:
- book a 2 hour review time after each session to complete their interim tasks; and
- return tasks and other items to their career consultant on or before the agreed dates.
Participants are advised to assemble a business portfolio, including their existing career and business information including testimonials, articles or speaking engagements, notes or evidence of key achievements, awards, certificates etc.
StartUp:Accomplice materials may then be added to the portfolio throughout the programme.
Dates
Programmes run four times a year, usually on the first and third wednesday of the month:
- Winter: December & January
- Spring: March & April
- Summer: June & July
- Autumn: September & October
Session times are arranged around the participant’s availability.
Alternatively, request a customised programme with dates to suit your time-frames and availability.
Fee
Fees begin at £825 for the four session Foundation (Start up Plan) including assessment, full access to on-line BSU and Career Activity Centre, inter-session activities with feedback. Additional modules may be purchased, subject to requirements at around £150 per session.
Mentoring and coaching is £85 per hourly session.
For those simply wanting mentoring or coaching on a ‘pay-as-you-go’ basis, the initial session fee is £150 for a two-hour session including career reflection and assessment components. Access to the BSU and Career Activities are not part of this package.
All prices exclude VAT.
Due to the prior booking of rooms and consultants, non-emergency cancellations made later than 5 working days before the session may incur a £50 cancellation fee.
Application
To apply for the programme, the participant submit an programme_application that requires where relevant, their sponsors/line manager’s contact information (name, email, land-line and postal address and any billing information.
