What We Can Do For You
Blue Orchid provide a flexible programme of one to one business support, coaching and training available to people who live throughout the UK, particularly those considering self-employment or starting their own business, including individuals who are unemployed or facing redundancy.
Our advisors work with people on a one to one basis to support those starting up in business because we believe that everyone is an individual with their own ideas and objectives.
We work with many Business Advisors across the country many of whom are experts in their own specialised areas.
We can help you with:
- Exploring your business idea
- One to one business advice
- Specialist training workshops
- Business plan preparation
- Referral to support organisations
- Social Enterprise advice
- Support for businesses trading for less than 3 years
Blue Orchid provides a wide range of workshops and training sessions to support the clients on their journey into self employment and small business. Here is a selection of courses on offer. Please ask your business advisor about them.
Business Planning
This one day workshop, led by an experienced Blue Orchid Business Advisor, is a must for any would-be entrepreneur in the early stages of planning their business. The workshop covers all aspects of setting up a business - from getting the right mindset to basic financial control techniques, market research and writing a business plan. This is an opportunity to share your ideas with a professional advisor and trainer as well as network with like minded people setting out on the same journey.
Sales & Marketing
Are you new to running a business and need to get a Marketing Strategy in place, or have you been in business a while and need to kick start your sales and marketing activity? This workshop is for you.
The workshop covers: Defining your perfect customer and how to reach them and why they should buy from you and not the competition. The 6 hour session looks at marketing materials e.g. leaflets, business cards, websites, email marketing, networking, advertising copy and where to advertise. Telephone sales and face to face selling are also covered to ensure that the client closes the maximum number of sales.
Social Media
The three most commonly used platforms for social media in business are Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. In this workshop we will explore the usage of each application, setting up and the customisation of a profile and integrating it into your marketing plan. The workshop will give each attendee a clear understanding of the distinct differences and features of these three social media platforms and also the confidence and skills to get started.
Marketing Masterclass
Having the best business in the world is no good if nobody knows about it, this marketing masterclass will guide you through identifying your market, understanding how to attract the right attention whilst also exploring why complaint can be good in any business. Find out some of the selling techniques that are used in big business and how the social media revolution can drive a new customer straight to your door, all this crammed into a simple to follow one day course
Book-keeping, Accounts and Legality
Understanding how your accounts work and how to manage them often baffles new businesses. This workshop will teach you the basics of how to manage your books through a spreadsheet-based approach, covering all aspects of keeping accurate records, manual and computerised accounts and financial statements.
Blue Orchid Networking
Blue Orchid knows that one of the most powerful ways of generating business is word of mouth. So, to help our clients get started on building their own business networking opportunities we regularly organise networking sessions in all of our areas.
As well as meeting lots of other interesting business contacts that could help your business grow, we often invite other businesses to present which will help you manage your business more effectively.
Finding Out About Franchising
Franchising is where the owner of a successful business agrees to licence the use of its operating systems, brand and other intellectual property, and provide training and ongoing support to enable the franchisee to set up and operate an identical business elsewhere. This session is suitable for anyone interested in going into self-employment but not yet determined to start up independently.
