MIND YOUR OWN
BUSINESS! the newsletter of Business Insight part of Business & Learning, Central Library
www.businesssupporter.co.uk
Issue No3
The dust has been flying in BI! Spring has sprung and we’ve been having a good clearout. After some false starts and a few delays BI is being re-imagined! Our old counter has gone and a new service hub is re-sited right in the middle of the action. Partitions have come down and airy vistas have opened up. It’s all rather refreshing and we hope it will allow us to offer our friends, clients and customers a more flexible and integrated service. It’s improved the environment too; come and see what you think. There’s the added satisfaction of knowing that this is a very local initiative, conceived, and in large measure realised, by BI staff. It’s been a challenge and there have been some frayed nerves along the way but we’re emerging at the other end intact and for that I’d like to thank everyone who’s taken part in this little adventure. I think we done good!
The new counter.
The new database hub
The Feature Bit LOUISE BOSS Image Consultant Louise Boss has been sharing her expertise with BI clients for three years now. And she will tell you, first impressions count, especially in the competitive world of business. Don’t you owe it to yourself to “Dress for Success”? As a society we are increasingly aware of the value of our personal image. From celebrity magazines to ‘how to look good...’ programmes, the body and its various adornments are constantly discussed, evaluated and appraised. Here in Business and Learning we are acutely aware of this trend and we particularly recognise the relationship between personal branding and business development. As image plays a crucial role in the communication of such attributes as vision, values and skills, it is vital that you manage other peoples’ perception by actively using your personal appearance. By understanding the impact that a first impression creates, you can begin to influence and shape your business relationships. With these points in mind we have built a successful partnership with local fashion and image consultant Louise Boss over a number of years. “Dress for Success” is an integral part of getting you ready to succeed in business. Louise will enable you to assess your own image and develop an understanding of personal branding. She will give you fashion industry tips, such as the ‘30 second rule’ and advise on the techniques of body image projection. Louise understands that discussing body and dress styles can cause anxiety and approaches each session as a ‘critical’ friend, providing advice within a relaxed, informal and confidential setting. For further enquiries or to book a session call us on 0121 303 4531.
The Service Bit Business and Innovation Day We’ve been running Business and Innovation Day for three years now and it keeps going from strength to strength; last year attendees came from all around the country, from the Wirral to the East of England. There are many successful companies that have no real idea of the value of their intellectual property or how they can make it work for them. There are also individual inventors working in relative isolation who are coming up with great ideas but don’t know how to take them to the market. The Business and Innovation Day is a way of addressing some of these knowledge gaps. This year we’ll be running seminars on funding, licensing and effective business planning for innovators. As a first, we’ll be holding workshops on creative thinking, looking to get to the heart of where great ideas come from. It’s a great chance to meet up with people with new ideas and fresh approaches to business and to build partnerships that can push your ideas forward. If you’d like to attend, give us a call on 0121 303 4531 and book your place for the day. View video clips from last year’s seminars at: www.YouTube.com/businessandlearning1
The Calendar Bit HMRC tax and self-employment workshops June 7th 2010 June 14th 2010 June 15th June 23rd
Newly Self Employed Self Employed Expenses & Tax Allowances
9.45 - 12
Newly Self Employed
9.45 - 12
9.45 - 12
To reserve your place ring 0151 242 8380
iSE - social enterprise advice sessions June 2nd June 9th July 7th July 14th
Sept 1st Sept 8th Sept 22nd
For more information or to book an appointment ring 0121 771 1411 or email angela.pal@i-se.co.uk
LawWorks - legal advice clinics Every Tuesday evening 17.30-19.30 ring 0121 303 4531 to book
Billy Carslaw - self-employment advice Free Hourly Sessions from 10.00 - 19.00 Thursday June 3rd Thursday June 10th Thursday July 1st Thursday July 8th
Thursday July 15th Thursday July 22nd Thursday July 29th
Ring 0121 303 4531 to book.
The Resources Bit If you have used Creditsafe to find company information you’ll appreciate just what an invaluable tool it is. So you’ll be pleased to learn that we have now acquired a range of Creditsafe international reports which will be available from July. The countries covered and terms of access will be as follows: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Ireland, Spain, Sweden. Reports will be available online instantly. Czech Republic, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Malta, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine. Reports will be emailed to you in 24 hours. Just a reminder, these will not be available before early July. The standard Creditsafe service is available as normal.
BUSINESS INSIGHT CONTACTS Phone: 0121 303 4531 Fax: 0121 303 4532 business.library@birmingham.gov.uk www.businesssupporter.co.uk www.facebook.com/BusinessandLearning www.Twitter.com/BhamBusiness www.YouTube.com/businessandlearning1 Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3HQ Now check out the Learning Centre, our partner in Business & Learning. Don’t let a gap in your knowledge spoil your dream of being your own boss. In the Learning Centre you will find all the advice, resources and support you need for brushing up your existing skills and learning new ones, whether for business or leisure.
LEARNING CENTRE CONTACTS 0121 303 4306 learning.centre@birmingham.gov.uk www.birmingham.gov.uk/learningcentre Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3HQ