Spring to Action Ltd

Small Steps to Employement (FREE entry)

Want some help to get a job? Facing redundancy and need some support to improve your confidence?

Spring is pleased to announce a FREE event for local Leicester people to raise their confidence, self-esteem and motivation and move closer to getting a job.

You can benefit from:

• 4 free, short, fun workshops to improve your confidence and skills in getting a job
• Access to a range of organisations who offer longer term support, guidance and CV writing skills
• The opportunity to learn about how your local Multi Access Centre can help you

Download Flyer pdf to find out more or  Download Poster pdf to print out and post up in your venue.

It will be held on 23rd September 2010, from 10am - 2pm at the Linwood Centre, Linwood Lane, Leicester.  Please can you email us to confirm your attendance at kash.khunkhuna@springtoaction.co.uk  If you're interested in exhibiting please download the  Download Employment Fair Exhibitors booking form or email Kash on the above address.

Keep up to date with developments on this event at the event website at www.smallstepstoemployment.wordpress.com

Please spread the word!

Standing Out in a Crowd

One of the most difficult aspects of running your own business is making sure you stand out from the crowd.

Sure, you have great customer service. Yes, we love your branding. But doesn't the guy next door do just the same?

There's just no use having six identical ice cream vans parked next to each other.  How do you choose which to visit? The one nearest you? The one in middle, in the vague hope they might not have sold out of your favourite ice cream flavour?

Businesses need to be distinct, so we the customer can have an easier time deciding who to buy from.  Price always seems like an easy one - just make sure you're cheaper than the guy next door.  But what if he drops his price, too?  Can you afford to go lower?

Instead, put yourself in your customers' shoes. What would they prefer you to excel in? Customer service? Speed of service? Choice of stock? Unique items only you sell? If the ice cream van was the only one to sell Cornish ice cream wouldn't you go there first (I'm assuming he sticks a whopping great sign on the van telling you so)? Make sure you do your market research.

Next, shout about it, from the rooftops if need be.  Tell everyone you sell Cornish ice cream made from English cows, using a traditional family receipe.  Tell them it's the best ice creams Cornwall has, in fact, it's won prizes for it.  Who can resist?

Whether you're opening a cafe, or selling products online the same basic principle applies. We want to know why you're special, then you just might have yourself a sale.

What makes you buy from businesses? Thoughts welcome.

Latest newsletter out now

We've just sent out the latest edition (only our second) newsletter.  Don't worry though, you can still read it here.

It's a short whizz through our latest news, information about recent blog posts, upcoming events you can be part of and read why Kash still loves enterprise.

You can also read older copies of our newsletter.  If you like what you see, why not subscribe - never miss our newsletter again.

Regen Roundup

The Coalition government seem to be releasing news at a rate of knots we haven't seen for years.  To help you keep up, we've compiled a quick list of some of the most important items:

• The government has announced it's intention to start a Regional Growth Fund and seeks your views
• How would you like to see Skills policy in the future? BIS starts a consultation
• Local Enterprise Partnerships are moving forward - Mark Prisk met local government representatives and business leaders to hear their views
• Meanwhile, David Cameron begins to set out his vision for the Big Society, launching it in Liverpool

What do you think the Coalition government should so about it's growth fund, how should it focus limited resources yet improve skills for all and what do you think about the Big Society? Let us know.

Newsletter out Shortly

Just a quick update, we're just in the process of writing our second newsletter so if you'd like a copy straight to your inbox it's really simple.  Just tell us your details, or pop back to visit us and you can download it direct from here. 

But what do you want to hear from us:

News, views and updates?

Or advice, guidance and top tips for business success?

Or maybe more about our upcoming workshops and events?

We'd love to know what is most important to you.  Just leave us a comment and we'll do our best to act upon it.

Beginners Guide to Market Research for Startups

There are many things we all try to avoid and in the startup world it's no different. There is a clear look of apprehension on people's faces where market research is concerned, but there really needn't be. Recently a few people have asked me about this area, because the idea of asking people questions horrifies them or they

Research is all about finding out what customers want. That's it, just what they want. What they want to pay, what they want to buy, what they want to see improved.  For any business to be successful you need to know these simple things because otherwise you might buy products no one wants or you might sell them at the wrong price.

The most important market reserach is done with customers, because no matter what the statistics say, the size of your market just isn't that important if no one wants what you're offering.

So let's start at the beginning.  Please bear in mind you can make this as complex as you like, I'm just keeping it easy for everyone to understand.

What questions do you need answers to?

What does your business need to know?  This could be, will you have mainly female or male customers?  Where else do they shop? If it's a business, what do they currently pay for what you offer?  What are the main things influencing their purchase?  

Write out your questions and try to use tick-box answers so it's easier and quicker to answer. Be really clear and get someone to check for any errors.

How will you implement the research?

Talk to your customers directly and ask them to answer a few simple questions, try an online survey software like www.surveymonkey.com Ask as many people as you can, from different age groups, different genders, living/working/shopping in different locations.  If you need to ask businesses this is more tough - perhaps have an incentive or go through an organisation like the Chamber of Commerce.  Can you ring potential customers for 5 minutes of their time (prepare yourself for a few knock-backs)?

What next?

Collate all your research together and see what findings you have. Be really open minded about the results and look at your business from your customers viewpoint.  What are they telling you they want?  How will you provide it?  How will you be different from your competitors?  If they can already easily and cheaply get what they want, is this is the right business to be in?

What else could you do to talk to your customers and get under their skin?

How Do we Support High Growth Businesses?

Much has been made of late about where business support is heading, that is, should the government pay for it? The focus appears to be heading toward high growth businesses who apparently will be employing the masses of ex public sector workers who are likely to be laid off as a result of the cuts.

Sounds fair, doesn't it? Let's incentivise high growth businesses to employ lots of new staff, cutting the welfare budget and the public sector wage bill.  Win win, eh?

Little discussion or focus appears to have been made around how these high growth businesses will be found. How do we decide which businesses have the potential for high growth, and indeed which don't? What has worked either at home or abroad to 'make' these businesses dramatically improve their profits and employ more people (are the two always linked?).

There is another important question for me.  When we've helped these high growth businesses grow, and they are ticking along nicely, how do we assist the next generation of high growths? 

This is a discussion which will probably roll on, but it's important we start the debate anyway. And then let's continue the debate about how we should support all people, regardless of background, to start new businesses because that's a very important point. Something we at Spring are very concerned about.

Leicester Farmers Market

Thursday saw the much-anticpated return of the Leicester Farmer's Market, this time in Gallowtree Gate and around the clock tower.  Although the image above probably doesn't show it as well as it could've, the area surrounding the Farmer's Market was packed with foodies, looking for some unusual and tasty bites.

In the midst of much negativity about our economy and the recession, this was a real triumph of enterprise.  From rustic breads to homemade nougat, to rare-bread meats, there was something for everyone.  Before long my purse was empty and I'm sure I wasn't alone.

Although the traditional venue of the Leicester Market is much protected, this new venue seemed to really successful. Shoppers, people on their lunchbreaks, pensioners and young families all centre on this part of town and it was pretty hard to avoid. 

Everything looked scrummy, so well presented, with friendly stallholders who can tell you all about their produce and there was a real variety of items.  This has to be the future of local markets - gone are the days of sub standard veg (no matter how cheap it may be!), wilting plants or car boot sale items.  And now we've had a taste of what local produce is out there the demand will continue to rise.  Well done to the Leicester Market staff for arranging a very successful event.  Find out when the next Farmer's Market is in your area  - and let's all do our best to support them!

Tomorrow is D Day for the Budget

Finally the day arrives when we all get to hear about where the budget cuts are falling and just how fast.  Is anyone else feeling a little nervous?

Already we've heard snippets of news, that Business Link's regional offices will be shut, that public sector pay and pensions will be frozen, that startup support will drastically change, and that local workspace capital developments have been stopped.

Indeed, when I wrote about this a few months ago, I asked what would you cut?

The question is developing as the days go past...now I would ask what would you cut and WHY? Let's face it, we can go ahead and cut everything that costs a significant amount of money, but we really need to ask ourselves what projects does this country need to prosper?

Which projects or developments will help us create jobs, build more prosperous communities and businesses, make the UK a better place to live and work in these tough economic times?

I just hope these aspects are being considered alongside the monetary aspects. Otherwise it really will be a return to the 80's of boom and bust. 

Starting a Food Business?

Starting a catering business can be a complicated task with so many areas to consider - premises, employing people, health and safety, food hygiene, pricing.. the list goes on.

This handy guide from the Food Standards Agency gives a quick and simple run-down of all you need to know.

Often, the main considerations are seen as being 3 things: pricing, customer service and most importantly the food itself.  How many places have you been to where at least one of those areas doesn't make the mark?