Free Business Workshops For 2024

 

Setting up your own business? Recently started? Got a brilliant idea?
Get the skills and confidence you need to succeed.

Know Your Customers	IP: Protect Your Assets	Business Basics: Getting Started	Marketing: The Essentials
Build A Business 1:1 Support	Monthly Networking at Ashton Library	Other Events

Build a Business workshops

 

Know Your Customers, Get Competitive

Coming soon at Ashton Library

Having a great product isn't enough nowadays - every business needs to know about the attitudes, behaviours and beliefs of their target customers. You need to understand what matters to your customers. And what drives them to make choices and decisions that ultimately leads to sales and customer satisfaction.

At this workshop you will learn how to access market research and other resources that can help you find the answers to all these questions and more - and it’s all been funded for you!

We'll also show you how to find suppliers, marketing and sales leads and consider who is best to trade with. Learn how to use the Business & IP Centre Manchester’s £5 million collection of UK and global business databases (including market research and company and financial information) to:

• assess market potential

• develop a viable business plan,

• upskill you to ‘know your market’.

You will also learn about the Build A Business programme, offering support and facilities to help you succeed.

This session is one of the modules in the Build A Business in GM Libraries core workshop programme. Book here via Build A Business Events.

 

IP: Protect Your Assets

Coming soon at Ashton Library

Intellectual Property can be worth cash to your business. Make sure your product, service, website and brand are protected from would be copycats or do not infringe others’ rights.

At this workshop you will learn:

• How to understand the 4 main types of IP & how they differ​
• Get a clearer idea of what IP you own​
• What's involved in registering a trademark​
• Where to go to for further help and advice

You will also learn about the Build A Business programme, offering support and facilities to help you succeed.

 

Business Basics: Getting Started

Coming soon at Ashton Library

Join Wendy Breakell, entrepreneur and named one of the top 50 business advisors in the North West, for this workshop covering the practicalities of starting and growing your business.

This workshop covers the essential ‘nuts and bolts’ of starting up and running a successful enterprise. You will also learn about the Build A Business programme, offering support and facilities to help you succeed. Plus meet our team and book in for individual support and advice. Book here via Build A Business Events

 

Marketing: The Essentials

Tuesday 5 March 9:20am-12:30pm at Ashton Library

Understand marketing's must-know basics to get your business out there and noticed. Join Rachel Craig and Karen Macwee from Ruche Marketing who'll be delivering Build a Business's all new marketing workshop to microbusinesses, SMEs, entrepreneurs, pre-startups and startups on the core essentials of marketing to get you started. Rachel and Karen combined have almost 40 years of marketing experience and have designed this workshop to help give you the skills, knowledge and confidence to market your business successfully.

The workshop will cover:

• Understanding your customers/customer segmentation
• Building an effective marketing strategy and planning marketing campaigns
• Building a brand through consistent marketing
• Creating effective social media content and simple search engine optimisation
• Understanding PPC and display advertising

They will also be on hand to answer any specific marketing questions about your business. Book here via Build A Business Events. 

To join this workshop you or your business needs to have a postcode within one of the ten GM authorities: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford or Wigan.

You also need to be:

• The owner of a business which has been registered at Companies House for fewer than 12 months.

OR

• An aspiring entrepreneur with a business idea you want to develop.

PLEASE NOTE: These workshops form a four part series. It is strongly recommended that you attend all four workshops.

To join this workshop you or your business needs to have a postcode within the following GM authorities: Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Manchester, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford or Wigan.

You also need to be:

The owner of a business

OR

An aspiring entrepreneur with a business idea you want to develop.

Build a Business in GM Libraries is part funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and managed by Manchester City Council.

For more information about the project go to: www.buildabusinessgm.org
 

                      

 

 

One to One Support

Meet an Enterprise Officer

Our Local Enterprise Officer can provide one to one support and create a business information plan specific to you.

Do you want to start up or grow your business? We can talk to you about market research, business planning, Intellectual Property, registration and much more. We'll put together a plan for your next steps and how we can continue to support you through the Build A Business project and our partners. Whether you're already started up or just have an idea for a business, we are here to help. These sessions can be held in the BIPC at Ashton Library or online, via Zoom. You can book an appointment via Eventbrite. 

Get involved now, for more information about how we can help you with your business idea see the Tameside Libraries Business Information page.

 

Bookings
	tamesidelibraries.eventbrite.co.uk
	0161 342 4000 Option 1
	information.direct@tameside.gov.uk

 

Other Events

 

Tameside Talks Business

Tameside Talks Business Networking Drop-In is a relaxed space for you to network, exchange ideas and find support for your business. Come down for a coffee and a chat with business experts who will be more than happy to share their advice.

Last Thursday of the month 4-7pm at People Place, Ashton library, Market Place, Ashton-Under-Lyne, OL6 6BH.

 

Business Networking Coffee Drop-In + Intro to COBRA

Tameside Libraries Business Networking Coffee Drop-In is a relaxed space for you to network, exchange ideas and find support for your business. Come down for a coffee and a chat with business experts who will be more than happy to share their advice.

First Monday of the month at different Libraries. Please see further details and bookings via Eventbrite.
 

Manchester Business and Intellectual Property Centre

Tameside Libraries is part of the BIPC Greater Manchester network.
BIPC Manchester at Manchester Central Library host a range of events in-person events and webinars aimed at supporting your business.
Find out more about BIPC Manchester BIPC events.

 

 

 

Tameside Employment Business Resilience Clinic

Tameside Employment and Skills organise the Tameside Business Resilience Clinic with the aim of facilitating free advice and support to Micro and SME businesses across Tameside.

The new clinic will operate across a range of platforms to make it easy for businesses to access, using webinars, emails and phone calls by appointment.  The support provided includes signposting to existing help from the Business Growth Hub, such as online workshops or webinars; matching relevant professionals like managing directors, human resources specialists and supply managers to local businesses.
 
To find out more information and to register for support click here: Tameside Business Resilience Clinic