MIND YOUR OWN
BUSINESS! the newsletter of Business Insight part of Business & Learning, Central Library
www.businesssupporter.co.uk
Issue No2
Welcome to our second edition. It’s a new year, a new decade and the beginning of a new era, not only for us in Business and Learning, but for the whole library service. The Library of Birmingham project has broken new ground, literally, with the first stage of major excavations in Centenary Square. Meanwhile here in BI HQ we’ve broken new ground of our own with a three-way foray into Web2 territory. Yes - we’re tweeting! In this issue we will be taking a look at what’s occurrin’ and how we can start an ongoing conversation that will help to create the library service you want. From now on, the information game is an open forum, so let’s mingle and get creative!
And on behalf of everybody here it gives me great pleasure to say
Welcome back Geraldine! That’s Geraldine - on the left there - one face closer to a full set of mugshots. Only a couple of colleagues holding out now.
The Feature Bit Global Entrepreneurship Week 2009 We’re pleased to report that GEW 2009 was even more successful than its predecessor. Another grand job by Debbie Assinder and her team; well done chaps! You can take a look at some statistics in a moment but first let’s hear from one of the young entrepreneurs who attended special events aimed at the businessmen and businesswomen of tomorrow. “What does an antique sewing machine have to do with a group of sixth form students starting up their young enterprise business, you may ask? Well, it was perhaps a turning point in the marketing approach of Arden School's creative and enthusiastic Young Enterprise group, ‘Closet’, a company making scarves. However, the successful businessman who gave us this advice wasn't suggesting that we use some rusty old Singer in the production of our scarves, but that we would use it to draw attention to our stall and intrigue our target market. We realised that the way a product is marketed is not just about colourful logos, cheesy puns and slogans; marketing has to be different, it has to make a statement about the company. This epiphany happened at the Birmingham Institute of Directors on a chilly Autumn morning last year. It was all part of a special Young Enterprise Day for the Birmingham entrants of this international competition. There, we were given first hand advice and guidance from some of the top local businessmen and women, as well as a 2007 X Factor finalist, Nikki Evans, who spent years working as a dinner lady in Kingshurst, before changing her life on the X Factor and persevering in a successful career in show business. It was people like Nikki, who after the X Factor spent a year on stage in the West End, and the rags-to-riches businesspeople we met that day, who showed us that even though we had no business experience or expertise, by counting on our own optimism, organisation and drive for success, we could face up to any challenges the competition throws at us”. Article by Tom Rowell, student at Arden School and young entrepreneur. Thanks Tom.
GEW 2009 seminar with John Sealey
GEW 2009: some statistics
The Service Bit WEB 2 (that’ll be social networking then!) Do you use networking websites such as Facebook or Twitter? If so, you’ll be pleased to learn that we have now joined the social networking revolution! You can log-on to find out what we’ve been up to, join us in our current adventures, learn more about our services or get regular updates about future events. So why not look us up on Facebook and become a friend? Our profile name is Business and Learning and we’d love to hear from you. Alternatively you can follow us on Twitter; you’ll find us at BhamBusiness. If YouTube is your thing, you might want to visit our channel, businessandlearning1 - it contains a number of useful guides on subjects such as Intellectual Property, business planning and licensing agreements. You may even have material you’d like to share with us; video, audio or text - don’t forget, this isn’t just about what you can learn from us, it’s equally about what we can learn from you. So please, join our conversation and let’s get this thing flying!
The Calendar Bit Business Advice Sessions with Billy Carslaw, Chamber of Commerce Billy Carslaw’s business advice sessions remain as popular as ever so it’s good news for aspiring local entreprenuers that he’s announced the following extra dates here in Business Insight Thursday 1st April Thursday 8th April Thursday 15th April Thursday 22nd April Thursday 29th April Thursday 6th May Appointments are available between 10.00am and 7.00pm and last about an hour. Best of all they’re FREE. HMRC Workshops Feb - May Free seminars by Her Majesty’s Customs & Revenue Phone 0151 242 8380 for details and to book 13th Apr 2010 14th Apr 2010 23th Apr 2010 27th Apr 2010 19th May 2010 27th May 2010
Custom Warehousing Outward Processing Relief Employers Annual Returns Becoming Self Employed Self Assessment Becoming Self Employed
10 - 1 10 - 1 10 - 2 10 - 2 10 - 1 10 - 1
The Staff Bit Hi! My name’s Debbie Assinder and I’ve worked in and around businesses for the past 25 years. I hold undergraduate and post-graduate qualifications and I’m a member of the Institute of Business Consultants and a SFEDI accredited business advisor. As Business Development manager for Business Insight, and one of a team of eight on-site business advisors, I help to deliver a free advice service to budding entrepreneurs. We typically help with business planning, cash-flow forecasting and profit and loss accounts. We also offer post-start up support, in particular with marketing. I oversee our marketing strategy and lead in the creation of reciprocal links with other business-supporting organisations throughout the West Midlands. Recently I have been working with iSE (Initiative for Social Entrepreneurs) to bring seminars and workshops to Business Insight and map out a future relationship between iSE and The Library of Birmingham. I am currently arranging a joint event with Mums’ Business Club and the International Trade section of the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. Over the past five years it has been my pleasure to head-up Birmingham Libraries’ participation in Global Entrepreneurship Week. I devise a programme of free seminars, workshops and advice sessions based on customer requests for specific guidance (such as “search engine optimisation”). Several months of planning are required each year to secure the services of expert speakers, many of whom are now regular contributors and good friends of BI. A full report is compiled and sent out to partners after the event. Business Insight provides services under
contract to many UK libraries and other bodies (eg Birmingham Science Park, Aston) and I am responsible for the promotion of these contracts. The subscription fee is an important source of income, the money being reinvested in Business Insight for the benefit of Birmingham council tax payers. In addition to all of the above, I also contribute to our general business enquiry service as part of the broader BI team. I am currently joint “BEST” Champion for the department (BEST is a council initiative fostering core beliefs, excellence, success and trust within our teams). And the remarkable thing is I manage to do this in just two days per week! I enjoy my job and find it very rewarding when a business I’ve helped set up takes off. I feel my job enables me to make a positive difference to people’s lives, particularly when I can help someone set up a promising business after a long period of unemployment.
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