On 29 September – 2 October 2012 British Council Russia and NESTA will run a 4-day training program for creative entrepreneurs “Creative Enterprise Workshop”.
This training programme has been developed by NESTA for creative entrepreneurs and the programme will enable you to explore your idea and its viability whilst progressing the development of your individual skills for setting up and running a creative enterprise. The programme puts YOU the idea generator (the creative) in control. You have the opportunity to create a business that truly reflects your own enthusiasm, passion and values.
You will explore the relationships you and your business needs to survive. You will identify the different types of relationships you will need to develop for your product or service.
Business planning can be daunting, so through this programme you will be able to break down the process and produce a visual business plan using the blueprinting tool. This will enable you to develop a more detailed operational plan and identify areas where external expertise and resources are needed to deliver the product or service to your customers
Through this process you will develop a greater sense of vision, clarity and enthusiasm for starting, developing and running your creative business that is aligned with your core values. It offers you practical tools and techniques to get over the difficulties and challenges of setting up a business and maintaining it. It will also highlight areas of, how you work, how you wish their work to be received by others, including customers, suppliers and potential funders.
By the end of the 4 day programme, you will leave with the confidence to drive your business idea forward, the tools to make it sustainable; and also the crucial information you require to develop your operational plan, marketing strategy and financial plan.
- What should I do to make my business work?
- Why should my customers care and how will they benefit?
- How can I make money to allow my business to be sustainable?
- Basic business facts that will help you succeed
- Identifying, protecting and maximising your IP
- Considering your personal values, energy and ambitions
- Balancing your passions, talents and economic drive
- Mission statement summarising aspirations for your business
- Evidencing the impacts of your business
- Illustrating what success will look like for your business
- Identifying your customer base
- Understanding the interrelation of the business, customer expectations and the qualities of your product or service
- Turning your draft operational plan into a more detailed picture
- Considering the different types of relationships you need to develop in the four key areas of business activity: Generator, Realiser, Distributor and Customer
- Considering the importance of pricing your products or services for the market you want to reach.
- Creating a framework to consider the key elements that should be in place for you to connect with you customers
- Understanding their potential customers spending power and how to reach them
- Developing a marketing plan that allows you to prepare your communications strategy to ensure you maximise impact
- Introducing the vital role of finance to allow you to control your business activities
- Personal survival planning so you know what you need to take out of the business and if the business can support you in the early years and if not how you will support yourself whilst getting the business off the ground
- Cash Flow is a tool to let you understand how money flows into and out of the business. By understanding this you can be in control of your business finances to ensure you keep a healthy and sustainable business that meets your aspirations.
The training program is developed in the basis of NESTA Creative Enterprise Toolkit and materials of Percy Emmett, a UK professional business consultant and trainer.
 Percy Emmett is a consultant that specialises in business intervention programmes for creative entrepreneurs. Percy has worked in and with SMEs for the past 20 years. He has run 5 businesses (achieving annual incomes of £1.2m) and business intervention programmes for over 700 entrepreneurs and SMEs. He's been a guest speaker at various conferences and events across the UK, Including EEUK, HEEG and Futurising on business policy and best practice. He has run national business programmes and has collaborated with over 30 Universities across the UK and Ireland. Percy is an Industry specialist Mentor for the National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship (NCGE) and has been awarded for his work across UK business sectors. He is also a main developer and deliverer of NESTA’s Creative Enterprise Toolkit.
- Young creative entrepreneurs with a creative idea\product\service with no established business yet
- Young creative entrepreneurs trading up to 18 months
- Working in any of creative industries (film, music, design, fashion, crafts, gallery business, photography, architecture, publishing, performing arts, etc).
- Living and working in Russia
- Speaking fluent English (equivalent of IELTS 6, the certificate is not required).
If you would like to participate in the Workshop, please, complete the Application form and e-mail it to evgenia.gerasimova@britishcouncil.ru by 18:00 on Friday, 21 September 2012. The selected applicants will be contacted by 24 September 2012.
 The number of participants is limited to 30 people.
The travel costs of regional participants will not be covered.
The working language of the program is English.
The programme brief and schedule
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