Cotswold Women in Business is a successful community collaboration offering inspiration and practical support to women who want to find out how to start and run their own businesses. “Cotswold Women in Business” is supported by three schools, Chipping Campden, Farmor’s in Fairford and Tewkesbury. The collaboration is run by Sarah-Jane Menato of SJM Coaching and Training who designed and delivers the programme. Courses deliver not only business skills, but structured support for participants. Consideration is given to complex issues such as how to balance important caring responsibilities (such as being a parent) with running a business. The emphasis on this balance is one of a number of features which distinguishes this programme from other existing business start-up programmes. In addition to offering a sound grasp of basic disciplines such as marketing and finance, the programme boosts personal and professional confidence. It helps each woman to define success on her own terms, to see her life as a whole and build a business that has her own unique priorities embedded its foundation. For women who have an idea for a business but aren’t sure if they have the right skills and wonder how it could fit with their already busy lives, the programme is a unique opportunity to explore and risk-assess the whole picture in the company of other like-minded women. Courses and workshops run throughout the year in friendly and accessible locations around Gloucestershire. Cotswold Women in Business offers: • One-Day-Taster Sessions where you can put a toe in the water and find out more about what’s involved in starting a business • Comprehensive Business Start Up Courses to get you up and running • Next Steps an intensive boost for women already running their own businesses • Workshops that include: Legal Surgeries, Tax Workshops, Marketing Workshops, IT Clinics, Time Management, Effective Networking and more Find us on Facebook!

Price:             £12.50 per person or £20 for two if you bring a friend!

Time:              9.30am to 2.30pm

Date:              Wednesday  4th December 2013
Venue:           Farmor’s School, The Park, Fairford, GL7 4JQ

Date:              Wednesday 26th March 2014
Venue:           Chipping Campden School, Chipping Campden, GL55 6HU

Starting and running a business may be easier than you might think. This workshop is an opportunity for you to put your toe in the water, explore what’s involved and see for yourself just how easy it can be to set up and run your own business.

If you have a business idea, a hobby you’d like to make money from, or are simply wondering if you’ve got what it takes, this event will help you decide whether or not you want to take yourself and your ideas seriously. In the company of like minded women you will have a lot of fun and explore topics that include:

• What is an Entrepreneur?
• Why choose self employment?
• What are the skills and qualities of an entrepreneur, and have you got what it takes?
• Work-Life-Balance and your vision of your future.
• Business Plans. What are they and who are they for?
• You as your best marketing resource.

This flexible workshop will help answer your questions and support you in exploring how self-employment might work for you.

Places are available from £99.00. Women who can contribute more are invited to do so with a suggested payment of £200. The real cost of each place is £525 per person.

Time:              9.30am to 2.30pm one-day-a-week for 8 weeks

Date:              May 1st – June 26th 2013 every Wednesday (no session May 29th)
Venue:           Chipping Campden School, Chipping Campden, GL55 6HU

Date:              Jan – March 2014 (no session week of half term)
Venue:           Farmor’s School, The Park, Fairford, GL7 4JQ

Places are limited to 8 participants so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Starting and running a business takes not just an idea but motivation, time, energy and skill. This is an opportunity to explore what’s involved and see for yourself just how easy it can be to set up and run your own business. If you have a business idea, a hobby you’d like to make money from, or are just wondering if you’ve got what it takes, then this course is for you. In the company of like minded women you will have a lot of fun and explore topics that include:

• What is an Entrepreneur?
• Why choose self employment?
• What are the skills and qualities of an entrepreneur?
• Work-Life-Balance and your vision of your future.
• Business Plans. What are they and who are they for?
• You as your best marketing resource.
• Managing paperwork, finances and what the tax office need.
• Legal matters
• Time Management

This highly engaging and participatory course is comprehensive and specifically designed for women. The course runs one-day-a-week over a 9-week period. There is no session over half term week.

 

Dates:           Wednesdays only 16th Oct – 20th Nov 2013 (no session 30th Oct half term)

Venue:          Chipping Campden School, Chipping Campden

Time:            9.30am –2.30pm

Price:            £220.00 includes group sessions and a one-to-one coaching session

Next Steps is for women who have already registered a business and want to re-view, re-focus and re-new. The course has a focus on better understanding your product/service and your customers. This means marketing! Taking part in Next Steps you will:

• Put you and your business on a more professional and secure footing
• Grow your existing business and get new clients
• Ensure your work remains in balance with your other priorities
• Have a one-to-one session with me to work on your specific needs (for example strategy , features and benefits, business model )
• Learn more about use of Social Media (Facebook, Twitter etc)

Here’s what Debbie Sarjant said about Next Steps: “This is a chance to focus on the development of your business, plan for the future and move things on. It’s a chance to be with other women running small businesses and learn from their experiences. It reminds you what your business means to you and gives you practical selling and marketing tools. You will leave feeling supported and energised to take the necessary Next Steps.”

Janet Barbour said: "The opportunity to FOCUS on what I am doing and where I am going was absolutely invaluable at this stage. I really benefited from a small informal group and learnt so much from every individual.”

Next Steps gives you jargon-free motivation and direction, a chance to review what you have already put in place, and gain specific tools. As the driving force in your business, you’ll benefit enormously from group support and a fresh professional overview. You will be given the time and space to develop a strategy to grow your business and reach more customers. This hands-on, practical course will be highly interactive. While it will require you to work hard, it will also be stimulating, fun and encourage you to accept new challenges.

The following workshops take place throughout the year in Chipping Campden, Fairford and Tewkesbury. Please call 01386 701 868 or email sjm@sjmcoachingandtraining.co.uk or visit our Facebook page that is regularly updated for dates and venue information.

“Work/Life Balance” with Sarah-Jane Menato

“Internet Security” with Olly Kemp

“Tax Self Assessment” with Jim Heywood from HMRC

“Legal Surgeries” with Vanessa Hammond from Nick Hutchinson Solicitors

"Looking the Business" with Berith

“Time Management and Prioritisation” with Sarah-Jane Menato

“What is an effective web site and how do I get one?” Olly Kemp

“Knowing your Features from your Benefits” with Sarah-Jane Menato

“Writing good copy” with Debbie Sarjant

“Negotiating skills” with Sarah-Jane Menato

“Simple book and record keeping” with Louisa Coley

If you have a workshop you would like to offer to the CWiB network, please get in touch. Additionally, if there is a workshop you would like to attend, please get in touch. We have generous experts on hand with a wide range of skills that are usually very willing to run workshops for us.

 

Cotswold Women in Business is proud to have supported many amazing women in the development of their businesses and ideas. These women include:

Alison Harmer     www.danceofdelight.com
Ann Donnelly    www.gannetglass.co.uk
Audrey Curnock    www.education-unlimited.co.uk
Bernie Van Helden     www.vanheldendesigns.co.uk
Camilla Peake     www.sezincote.co.uk
Carol Welch     www.carolwelchtherapy.co.uk
Caroline Andrews     www.talkingofhealing.com
Catherine Nelson    www.woolsoft.co.uk
Christine Bass     www.holidayhomepirou-normandy.co.uk
Christine Bass     www.simplysewwithchrissie.co.uk
Christine Clark     www.gartersinblue.co.uk
Debbie McGreevy     www.aukward.com
Denise Wrathall     www.access2education.co.uk
Deirdra Rowles     www.minsterflowers.co.uk
Elisalex Grunfeld de Castro     www.ninadolcetti.com
Emma Haley     www.gloss-nails.co.uk
Gitte Pedersen    www.gitte-pedersen.co.uk
Fiona Perry    www.fionaperry.com
Heidi Brogden      www.heidiscakesoflechlade.co.uk
Jane Eayres      www.farmcoteherbs.co.uk
Janet Barbour     www.janetbarbour-paintedinteriors.co.uk
Jennifer Gillespie    www.by-the-book.co.uk
Judith Burt    www.executype.co.uk
Julie Baxter    www.juliebaxter.co.uk
Julie Dove     www.thestonecottagecompany.co.uk
Karen Wones    www.mintmosaics.co.uk
Kate Barry    www.katejbarry.co.uk
Katherine O’Connell     www.thequalitybureau.com
Kay Julian    www.welcomespace.co.uk
Liz Quarterman    www.flythekite.co.uk
Lesley-Jane Edgar    www.musictogrow.co.uk
Lorna Stafford    www.newdawnholistics.com
Louise Bowles    www.louisebowlesphotography.com
Louanne Gill    www.myrtlehouse.co.uk
Lynette Turner     www.cherrypickdating.com
Margaret Sadler    www.corethread.co.uk
Mel Wakeley & Cas Pollen    www.wakeleypollenparties.com
Meriel Swain    www.merielswain.co.uk
Nicola Hall    www.daisylovedesign.co.uk
Nicola Leyland    www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/nicola.leyland
Nikki Priestnall    www.arrayflowers.com
Paula Wilkins    www.fairfordfurnishings.co.uk
Rachel Bloxham    www.morethanjustamouthful.com
Rachael Tapping    www.pinkblueandyou.co.uk
Sally Gill    www.sallygillflowers.co.uk
Sarah Constable    www.inkwellmedia.co.uk
Sharon Callcott    www.fairfordchiro.com
Sonia Hiley    www.cotswoldangel.co.uk
Sue Harrison    www.purrfectcattery.co.uk
Sue Heady    www.headycommunications.com
Sue Rew    www.suerewmosaics.co.uk
Sylvia Morris    www.theshakespeareblog.com
Vanessa Rigg & Keyna Doran    www.creative-cows.com
Yvonne McKenzie    www.digestiblenutrition.co.uk

Some of the wonderful people who contribute their time and expertise to Cotswold Women in Business include:

Jane Heaton     www.janeheatonassociates.com
Nicola Hall     www.daisylovedesign.co.uk
Vanessa Hammond     www.nickhutchinson.co.uk
Alison Fielden     www.alisonfielden.co.uk
Berith     www.b-image.co.uk
Olly Kemp     www.oliverjamesenterprise.com
Kirstie Cutler     www.bredonhillconsultancy.co.uk
Louisa Coley     louisa.coley@btinternet.com
Melissa Neill     www.lushcommunications.co.uk
Debbie Sarjant      debbie@deborahsarjant.com
Helen Dowling      www.exceptionalthinking.co.uk
HMRC      www.hmrc.gov.uk/index.htm
Gill Bryan     www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/libraries/bis

Many thanks to you all,
Sarah-Jane

CWiB testimonials

Previous participants have said:

Sue Nixon: “The course was phenomenal. I have gained confidence, and a wealth of knowledge.”

Sharon Callcott: “I have a focus now and a direction to move in to make a success of this venture. We all left today feeling that we had been empowered to move ahead and that our ideas and contributions were valuable.”

Ruth Wright: “I am near to banking my first £1,000! Everyone says I look well, self employment obviously suits me. I have some delightful clients and I can't tell you what a relief it is not to be an employee. I am building up my hours and from May onwards I will be committed as fully as I want to be.”

Fiona Perry: "Sarah-Jane’s energy, enthusiasm and encouragement are second to none and you can’t fail to come away from her courses inspired and fired up with a desire to succeed. Her realistic approach is refreshing and she doesn’t pretend that running your own business is easy. This is countered with her genuine belief that once we tap into our potential, the sky’s the limit. I am in my fourth year of trading with an annual turnover that is steadily growing and has exceeded all my expectations."

Suzanne Lomas Smith: “I joined the course as a way to meet new friends after 6 years living overseas. I met a group of creative, capable women and, with guidance and support, learned how to move my business idea from a woolly place in my head to a concrete reality. I would not have achieved this alone. The course, in manageable bite-size tasks, steered me through all aspects of creating an effective business of my own. Cotswold Women in Business is an invaluable local resource. I am very grateful to have taken part in such an effective training programme!”