Think Enterprise Issue 37 by SFEDI Group

TE THINK ENTERPRISE QUARTER. 2 — 2022

READ INSIDE

MENTORING AS A TOOL TO UNLOCK YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL POTENTIAL FEATURE ARTICLE

COPING WITH CHANGE IN A SMALL BUSINESS MEET A MENTEE

CHERYL-LYA BROADFOOT, SOULS COMPASS COVID-19

BUSINESSES BORN IN LOCKDOWN

THINK ENTERPRISE Quarter 2 — 2022 Vol. 37

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SARAH TROUTEN, IOEE CHIEF EXECUTIVE Welcome to our Spring edition of Think Enterprise! With flowers blooming and the sun shining it really

This month we are pleased to feature Cheryl-

does feel as though summer is almost here and we’re

Lya Broadfoot whose consultancy business has

pleased to bring lots of positive stories and articles

blossomed with the support of Lloyds Banking

reflecting the light and energy of summer! We begin

mentor Meha Shukla.

with a reflection on the national kickstart programme

Fellow, Valentia Lorenzon who discusses why

which we were proud to be involved as a gateway

mentoring is crucial to entrepreneurial success. -

provider, enabling many small and micro businesses

this is certainly something we can profess to.

We also hear from IOEE

to access the kickstart programme, recruiting much needed talent at a time when recruitment seems to

And finally last month saw us bring together our

be harder than ever.

We hear from some of the

centre network for an online workshop during which

businesses we supported and also our very own

we provided an update on some of our funded

Jonathan Harper who has made a huge impact at

qualifications to which there shall be some changes

SFEDI and we’re pleased to say is now a permanent

from August this year, if this affects your delivery

member of our team.

plans please do get in touch we are more than happy to discuss your plans and how we can best support

We also reflect on businesses born during lockdown,

you.

a time which meant temporarily closing for some, saw others grasp an opportunity and use the time

So get yourself a coffee and enjoy this edition :-)

to start a new business. No matter the sector the pandemic presented challenges and opportunities which meant businesses needed to have the right skillset and mindset to cope with the changes that they faced - we discuss what small businesses can do to be better equipped to deal with change on page 14.

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Mentoring to Unlock Your Potential

Meet a Mentee Cheryl-Lya Broadfoot

Coping With Change

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Kickstart Fresh Starts for Fresh Minds

Businesses Born In Lockdown

Funding Update

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Say goodbye to mediocre enterprise. Say hello to iOEE. Find out more at ioee.uk/become-a-member/

Mentoring as a tool to unlock your entrepreneurial potential Valentina Lorenzon Over the last couple of years, the business environment has considerably changed and the COVID pandemic has acelerated many processes that were already under way but would probaly have taken longer to be implemented under normal circumstances. During this period of crisis and transformation, the headlines have been dominated by business closures, but the other side of the coin has been characterised by a considerable number of new beginnings. Acording to statistics published by Companies House, the number

Behind the decision to start a business there are a variety of reasons from the need to respond to new customer’s preferences to pursuing a passion project. As someone who has grown up in a family business, I am deeply convinced that entrepreneurship adventure that can help us reach our ful potential. However, it can also be a lonely place where we feel like we are the only one facing certain issues.

Why is mentorship key for entrepreneurial success? At every stage of a company’s lifecyle, an entrepreneur needs new skills to face the

continuous

learning

and

as entrepreneurs, it is essential to speak with someone that we can relate to and, at the same time, is able to chalenge our

makes a god mentee-mentor relationship but in practice the nature of the exchange can vary enormously depending on each individual’s needs and the type of bond mentor can provide invalube support not only with the running of your business but also with your personal development as an a arv iety of aspects including developing technical competences, acting as a sounding board, and providing an objective, external perspective as wel as making relevant introductions and helping with networking the development of entrepreneurial and leadership skills, a mentor can provide emotional encouragement, help you build

Don’t look for a single mentor, create a support network instead. and how we should go about selecting

development,

sources. Among them, counting on the

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support of a trusted mentor can be an extremely useful opportunity to share knowledge, exchange notes on comn experiences and receive real-world advice

As entrepreneurs, we face every day a

multiplicity of opportunities, challenges, and decisions that we may not be fully prepared for. These decisions require a wide range of dierent skills and competences that can only be developed through 4rst-hand experience and the exposure to a variety of role models and inspirational peers. tissafetosaythatitishighlyunlikelyto4nd someone who has the breadth of knowledge and depth of expertise required to have all the answers to your questions. This is why you should deliberately seek more than one mentor and identify professionals with dierent specialties that could support you with speci4c aspects of your business. You probably will not call on all of them at the same time, but they will become part of a support network and will help you with their unique experience. One of the bene4ts of this approach is that it is really valuable to hear the opinion and advice of multiple experts, especially when it comes to particularly complex issues that may need truly innovative solutions. These insights will inform your decisions and will help you develop your own leadership style and the right mindset to face future challenges as well.

How do you choose your mentors? Traditionally, when selecting a mentor, there has been a tendency to choose someone who is very similar to us, with a shared background and, in most cases, a signi4cantly higher level of seniority. Even though this may certainly still be an appropriate solution in certain contexts, I would suggest moving beyond the set rules and assumptions that we might usually

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experiment with dierent forms mentoring and consider individuals who are not necessarily part of your immediate circle of contacts.

. Be proactive and strategic. In the end, you are ultimately responsible for building valuable mentoring relationships so play an active role in engaging with people, networking on- and o^ine and make a deliberate choice to engage with individuals based on your strategic objectives and speci4c challenges. Not all mentoring relationships will necessarily be successful, but you will never know until you try - and there is still a lot to be learned from each experience.

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Meet a Mentee Cheryl-Lya Broadfoot, Souls Compass

This month we spoke to Cheryl-Lya Broadfoot, one of our current mentees on the programme. Cheryl-Lya runs a coaching, planning and consultancy business called Souls Compass. We spoke to Cheryl-Lya about the impact a mentor has and the visible effects a mentor can bring to your business. Cheryl-Lya was paired with Meha Shukla, a Lloyds Banking group mentor, by Paul Harper. Paul matches mentors and mentees in a way that has proven to be successful. The mentoring scheme is in collaboration with UKFinance and has been running for many years, with some amazing results. Paul really does a great job at initiating mentoring relationships that are effective and last. We wanted to know more about the experience from a mentees point of view and understand how the programme really works out for them. Straight out of the gate, Cheryl-Lya said that the mentor programme has been a real benefit to her and her business. She had mentioned that you can’t really split yourself from your business. “You are your business” and having a mentor lets you share some of the stress and pressures that comes with running a business. When you are so involved in the day to day running of your business, I can imagine that things get a little hectic. Finding ways to disconnect from the stress may sometimes be difficult, so having that mentor there may be one way to offload your stresses, even if it is just saying them outloud. She said that sometimes running a business can get a little bit lonely. You’re sailing the ship on your own and you end up having to do many things all at once. Sometimes you can overlook small details, or perhaps “you become so busy working on delivering your services that you don’t have time to look at how your business is running”. The mentor programme steps in here. The mentor gives the mentee a sounding board to bounce ideas off. Cheryl-Lya said the mentoring ThinkEnterprise Enterprise 12 | | Think

relationship is a no judgement zone and she felt comfortable throwing ideas around and asking questions. It could be a long call, it could be a quick email, but communicating with your mentor is something you will find yourself doing naturally over time. It may stop being appointments and it may become little questions here and there or just quick calls. We asked Cheryl-Lya for some details on the importance of a mentor and she said “it’s all about that other perspective”. Being able to ask for a fresh pair of eyes on a new idea, plan or strategy is really important in the start up and maintenance of a business. That additional support and other perspective is what the mentoring programme is all about. Meha, CherylLya’s mentor, said that the conversations created the solutions, and communication was key. When I asked Cheryl-Lya about her experience, in terms of workload and how the mentor programme fit into her schedule, Cheryl-Lya said that having a mentor such as Meha, takes the overwhelm away. You have more time to focus on other areas of your business and you don’t feel like you are on the journey alone. You have someone to talk to, to ask questions and to give feedback. It was very important, too, that the relationship be conversation based. The interaction needs to be two-sided, meaning, both parties talking and not a one sided arrangement. Cheryl-Lya and Meha have been communicating about new ideas, structures and internal business arrangements in a way that suits them both. The relationship between our mentors and mentees is a natural one. Where both parties are doing their best to get the most out of the experience. The relationship develops naturally and gives the mentee access to industry knowledge or support for around a year. Though, naturally, the relationship may last longer or shorter than this, the mentor programme is really there for people to build that support network

and develop their list of useful contacts. CherylLya now has access to Meha’s expertise, and is able to ask questions or talk through ideas. I wanted to know more about the timeline of a mentee.

How important is a mentor, to be honest?

When should someone get a mentor?

“I would say as soon as you can, get a mentor”. Cheryl-Lya went on to say even if you’re looking for ways to improve your softer skills, share business ideas, get feedback or share some of that overwhelm you may be feeling, a mentor is a useful tool.

Cheryl-Lya answered, anyone should get a mentor. Whether you’re at the start of your business or you’re developing an existing business, a mentor is beneficial. Is there a point in your business’s life that a mentor will be most effective? Finding a mentor at peak times in your business’ life may not be effective. “Having that ongoing support is more consistent but also more effective.”

“Having a mentor is hugely important.” Is a mentor something you would recommend?

It was great to hear from Cheryl-Lya and to hear about how the mentor programme works for our mentees. If you are a small business and would like to learn more about finding a mentor head to https://ioee.uk/free-mentor-support/. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

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Coping with Change in a Small Business: How to Survive and Thrive During Turbulent Times No one said that running a small business would be easy. After a turbulent year, full of change, I think we have all learned that change is one of the biggest hurdles when running a business. If you're finding it difficult to keep your business afloat, don't worry - you're not alone. Many small businesses have succumbed to the pressure of change in today's economy. However, there is hope. We will discuss some strategies that you can use to survive and thrive during times of change.

What is CHANGE? Change is a constant in today’s business world. In order to stay afloat, small businesses must be able to adapt to their ever-changing environment. Many small businesses fail because they are unable to keep up with the pace of change. This is often due to a lack of resources or an unwillingness to change. Change can come in many forms, but for small businesses, it is often most apparent in the form of economic change. This can include changes in the market, changes in consumer spending habits, or even

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changes in government policy. All of these factors can have a significant impact on small businesses - and not always for the better. Many small business owners struggle with change as they strive to be in control but this only leads to more stress and anxiety. To be successful, small business owners must learn how to embrace change and use it to their advantage.

WHY IS CHANGE SO DIFFICULT TO COPE WITH? Change can be difficult to cope with for a number of reasons. For one, it can be difficult to predict. This means that small businesses often have to make decisions without knowing what the future holds. It's human nature to want to be in control and know what is going to happen but when it comes to change, this is simply not possible. Change can lead to disruptions in workflow, communication, and even customer service.

times of change as staff feel they are part of a small business that is overcoming adversity. The change will show which employees are able to adapt and be flexible with their roles.

This can be very disruptive and lead to small businesses having to change their operations, which can be costly and time-consuming. Change can often be out of our control. This means that small businesses may have to deal with changes that are beyond their power to influence or change. It's crucial to know that change isn't always a bad thing as we will discover the reasons for change. Change can actually present small businesses with new opportunities. For example, a change in the market can create new niches for small businesses to fill. Additionally, change can also lead to innovation. This can help small businesses to find new ways of doing things that are more efficient or effective. Finally, change can also help small businesses to grow. For example, a change in consumer spending habits may lead to more customers for small businesses. The final benefit of the change is that it can help small businesses to become more resilient. This is because small businesses that are able to adapt to change are often more likely to survive during difficult times. Company morale can actually increase during

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WHY CHANGE HAPPENS IN THE WORKPLACE There are many reasons for change to happen in small businesses. As we mentioned before, economic change is a major reason. However, there are other reasons as well. Technology can also play a role in change. For example, the rise of social media has changed the way that small businesses communicate with their customers. Additionally, small businesses may also need to change in order to stay competitive. This can mean adopting new business models or changing the way that they operate.

Small businesses may also change in order to respond to customer needs. This can include adding new products or services or making changes to the way that they do business. Without change, your company will quickly become stagnant.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CHANGE To deal with change in an effective manner it is important to understand how change can occur. Here are some of the most common types of change that small businesses face: Structural change: This type of change refers to changes in the way that small businesses are organised. This can include changes to business models, operations, or even ownership structures. Technological change: As we mentioned before, technology can often lead to a change in small businesses. This can include changes to the way that small businesses use technology or even the introduction of new technologies. Economic change: Economic change is a broad term that can refer to changes in the economy, markets, or even consumer spending habits. The 2008 financial crisis is an example of economic change that small businesses had to cope with. Economic change is often out of our control, which can make it difficult to deal with. Political change: Political change can refer to changes in government policy or even

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changes in the political landscape. Political change can often have a significant impact on small businesses due to the fact that small businesses are often highly regulated with new laws or policies. Social change: Social change can refer to changes in social norms or even changes in demographics. For example, an ageing population may lead to changes in the way that small businesses operate. Planned change: Planned change is a type of change that is initiated by small businesses themselves. This can include changes to business models, operations, or even strategies. The benefit of planned change is that small businesses can control the process and the outcome. This will ensure company morale stays high. Unplanned change: Unplanned change is change that small businesses have no control over. This can include changes in the economy, markets, or even technology. Unplanned change can be difficult to deal with, but it is important to remember that it can also present small businesses with new opportunities.

STAGES WITHIN THE CHANGE PROCESS These stages of change are important for small businesses to be aware of as they go through the process: Pre-change stage: This is the stage where small businesses are first made aware of the need for change. This can be a time of uncertainty, as small businesses may not know how to respond to the change.

Post-change stage: This is the stage where small businesses have made the changes and are now adjusting to the new reality. This can be a time of growth for small businesses, as they may find new opportunities in the change.

Change stage: This is the stage where small businesses actually make the changes. This can be a difficult and challenging time, as small businesses need to adapt to the new change.

STAGES WITHIN THE CHANGE PROCESS People often react differently to change, depending on where they are in the change process. Here are some common reactions to change: Pre-change stage: People in the pre-change stage may feel scared or uncertain about the future. They may not know how to respond to the change and may be resistant to it. When you know change is on the horizon you must accept it, and begin to educate yourself and your team about what the change may entail. By educating yourself and your team, you can begin to develop a plan on how to best deal with the change.

stage may feel a sense of relief or satisfaction. They have made the changes and are now adjusting to the new reality. One way to cope with this is by communicating with others who are going through the same thing.

Change stage: People in the change stage may feel a sense of excitement or opportunity. They are actively making the changes and may be open to new possibilities. A great way to deal with change is to write a list of all the things you are feeling worried about, cross out all the issues you can't control and then come up with a plan to deal with all the things you can. Post-change stage: People in the post-change

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METHODS TO COPE WITH CHANGE Change is always going to happen but that doesn't mean that your small business has to suffer. By being proactive and prepared, you can weather any storm. There are a number of different strategies that small businesses can use to cope with change. Below are just a few examples:

Diversify When small businesses diversify their products and services, they become less susceptible to changes in the market. This allows them to continue to serve their customers, even when times are tough.

Be flexible Flexibility is key for small businesses when dealing with change. Being able to adapt quickly to changes in the market can make all the difference.

Innovate Small businesses need to be constantly innovating in order to stay ahead of the competition. This means being open to new ideas and ways of doing things. Innovation can come in the form of new products, services, or even business models. Change can be difficult for small businesses, but by being prepared and using the right coping strategies

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Diversify your business This means having multiple revenue streams or products/services that you can offer. This will help to insulate your business from the impact of any one change.

Focus on the money producing activities This means that you need to focus on the activities that will make your business money. This can help small businesses to stay afloat during difficult times. Rather than worrying about the small details, focus on the big picture and what will bring in revenue.

Keep morale high Change can be difficult, and small businesses need to make sure that they keep their morale high. This means communicating with employees, and making sure that they are all on board with the changes. You can keep morale high by setting small goals, and celebrating when they are achieved.

Handling Confusion and Uncertainty During Times of Transition Often, small businesses go through periods of change and transition. This can be a difficult time for employees, as they may feel confused or uncertain about what is happening. It is important to communicate with employees during these times, and let them know what is going on. You should also encourage employees to ask questions, and offer support if they are struggling. Your employees are the backbone of your small business, and it is important to keep them happy and engaged. During times of change, small businesses need to be extra careful to communicate with their employees. By doing this, you can ensure that your business comes out the other side stronger than ever. It’s a great idea to have a weekly meeting where everyone in the company actually sits face to face this allows for open communication and gives employees the opportunity to ask questions or voice concerns.

going forward. Change can be difficult, but by being prepared and communicating with your employees, you can make sure that your small business comes out stronger than ever! When going into these meetings anticipate employee questions and concerns, this will help the meeting to run more smoothly. Be sure to have a plan for how you’re going to communicate the change, and what steps you’re going to take to make sure that everyone is on board. It’s also important to keep an open mind and be willing to listen to employee suggestions as they are experiencing things in the business you aren’t. They may have some great ideas that can help your small business to thrive during times of change.

It also allows you to keep everyone up to date on what is happening, and what the plan is

CONCLUSION Change is never easy, but it’s a necessary part of life. For small businesses, change can be especially difficult because there are so many different factors to consider. But with the right tools and resources, you can improve your ability to cope with change and thrive in today’s everchanging business landscape.

At the IOEE, we have many qualifications that equip you with the tools you need to make the most of every opportunity and overcome any obstacle. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your business grow, how to develop your own skills and thrive in the world of business.

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Need Funding? Through the strategic partnership with SFEDI Awards, IOEE Academies have access to a range of regulated qualifications to support your customers. Many of these are eligible for public funding via two governmental bodies. To find out more email our funding team at: funding@ioee.co.uk

FRESH STARTS FOR FRESH MINDS

Many young people found 2020 a difficult year. But there was a silver lining in that dark cloud. In 2020, the kickstart scheme was introduced to give young people some paid work experience and improve their employability skills. This scheme was created to give young people, 16 to 24 years olds, getting 6 months of paid work experience with a potential opportunity to stay on at their place of work. This scheme gave employers enough funding to set up their new starters with equipment, pay their wages, statutory contributions and support to give their new Kickstarters employability skills. With some employees getting the chance to complete a qualification, CPD training as well as role specific training, the Kickstart scheme was welcomed with open arms. The Kickstart scheme was put in place to help those claiming Universal Credit gain a work placement, and some valuable work experience. It allowed those who signed up the chance to try out jobs they may not have tried before. It gave those seeking a career a foot in the door of some local businesses and organisations. Not only helping them get a job, but also giving them important training and experience that will help them further down the line. As a Kickstart gateway, the IOEE have worked with many kickstart employers who have gone through the process, seen new workers bring new ideas to their businesses and provided young people some paid work experience to Kickstart their careers. As a Kickstart gateway, we worked with other businesses and organisations to help find them kickstarters. One of our Kickstart employers, ARCUS LGBT CIC, which is an organisation that delivers counselling, support and therapy to members of the LGBT+ community. We asked them about their experience on the Kickstart Scheme, they said the kickstart scheme was “Excellent we gained some great people with minimal cost! It has been a pleasure

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to see them grow while also having them help us grow too!”. ARCUS took on Admin and Social Media Admin team members and may be planning to keep someone in the role. This scheme allowed them to find someone to join their team, and help the organisation grow. We wanted to know how the experience went for their Kickstart employee, and they said that the experience was a “Great experience and allowed me, the kickstarter, to further my knowledge within an admin role as well as gaining the confidence and will to further my education within counselling as this was already an area I am interested in”. This sounds like a total success, and when asked if it was a success, ARCUS said “Yes, most definitely!” We also spoke to Startingpoint, a software development company that set out to revolutionise the way you showcase your talents, skills and abilities. Startingpoint took on sales assistants, admin assistants and most recently Data Analysts. Some of these kickstart employees are now promoted to team leader positions. Startingpoint are already making plans to offer permanent roles to some of their Kickstart employees. They have also helped young people gain those skills they needed to apply for their dream jobs, move into university and have a career change. Startingpoint were really happy to help

these young people grow. We asked how the process went for Startingpoint, they said “It’s been an incredible journey so far and we have had some unbelievable support along the way. We had a fantastic start with the help of Steve, Sean and the team at the Darlington Youth Enterprise Initiative helping us to find so many capable young people that were just looking for a chance. Sarah and Laura at IOEE have been there to answer our many, many questions. We were hesitant about starting the scheme as we thought we’d be bogged down with paperwork and red tape but they have been there to literally hold our hands and we had no need to worry. Nothing has been too much trouble and thanks to their advice and assistance we have been able to concentrate on developing our Kickstart family.” It is no surprise that when we asked if the scheme was helpful, they said “Useful doesn’t quite describe it. I cannot express how proud we are to have been part of the scheme. It has helped our little family to gain confidence, skills and ability. We knew we would be helping the young people to create their better selves and improve their employment prospects but we hadn’t realised how much they would bring to our company. We wish we could keep them all on.”

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The IOEE have also had some Kickstarter’s work with us on various projects. Jonathan came on as a Junior Social Media and Marketing Executive in the summer of 2021. Coming into the business with limited experience, Jonathan spent the first couple of weeks training in areas he had not come across before. He gained experience in many aspects of the business, including admin, centre support and social media, before focusing in on his areas of interest and strengths, where he was able to develop his skills and confidence. After a couple of months Jonathan started working on our learning content, writing content for some units within our level 1 Passport to Enterprise and Entrepreneurship qualification. This content can be used by centres to support their learners and provide a more streamlined approach to the teaching process. This should make the process easier and more simple. Jonathan was then taken on with a permanent position here at the SFEDI group, after his 6 month Kickstart position, and is now our Communications Executive. Still working on the learning content as well as being more proactive when engaging with our centres, writing for our social media, article writing and attending events. From a 6 month government scheme to a full time position, the Kickstart scheme gave the applicants training, experience and paid work. The Kickstart scheme allowed us to give 6 months employment experience to a few different employees that were claiming Universal Credit. The employees were able to try out different tasks and roles, to give them valuable experience and provide them with some work experience to add to their CV’s. We also gave them the opportunity to complete a qualification, so they had an additional qualification on their CV. This qualification worked well with the Kickstart scheme, as the lessons that were taught by the scheme married up to many of the units in the Passport Qualification. 24 | Think Enterprise

Developing an enterprising character, understanding customers, creative thinking and problem solving are some of the most important skills the Kickstart opportunity taught our employees during their placement. These skills are all units within our passport qualification, so it made sense to couple the experience up with our qualification. Although the Kickstart scheme has come to an end, we are still offering these units to our centres, through our Passport to Enterprise and Entrepreneurship qualification. If these units sound useful to you, or if you think your learners may benefit from some enterprising and entrepreneurial skills, get in touch today!

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BUSINESSES BORN IN Sarah and Megan thought of this idea after seeing countless occasions on social media, where people had birthdays or christenings, and they decided to set up Fizz Pop Events. The business is still running today. While Sarah and Megan say they learned on the job, the business seems to have grown so much from that trial and error development plan. One of the most important areas for this company to build, learn how to use and develop was their social media. They say that their social media was key to their launch and Instagram in particular was a key tool for them. Visually their products stand out, so they use Instagram to catch their audiences attention and advertise their business that way. A smart move for a business born in lockdown.

Box42 Box42 was another business that was born out of lockdown. Box42 is a subscription service that delivers date night boxes to your door. So when we were all sitting at home with nothing to do, Box42 came to the rescue to supply the nation with activities, snacks and some fun. Lockdown was a time for quiet, a time for shelter and a time to reflect. For some, however, lockdown was a time to take a leap of faith and start something new. Some people say that lockdown was the riskiest time to set up a business, some call it a stupid decision but these business owners are here to prove them wrong. Let’s take a look at some examples of businesses that began in lockdown.

Fizz Pop Events Sarah Mills and Megan Stokes created Fizz Pop during lockdown. Sarah and Megan saw a gap in the market and decided that Lockdown gave them a great opportunity to start their business. Fizz Pop is a business that focuses on decorations that are “super extra”, including balloons in all kinds of shapes, arrangements and for all occasions.

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Box42 was yet another business that used social media to its advantage. We were all on it, when we were at home. This company took to social media, remembering the day where they had 0 followers, they took two months to build up their audience and launched as an actual business supplying a product. In those two months the company built their online presence, learned how to operate, found

LOCKDOWN suppliers and developed their SEO ranking. In just two months, the company was set up and they are still trading today. One of Box42’s top tips for starting a business and making it your full time job is to be resilient. Develop that resilience, making this move will really test your determination and passion for business.

Three Sisters Farm The Three Sisters Farm is a business set up by Jessica and Phillipa, after Jessica made the decision to relocate and Phillipa was made redundant. Three Sisters Farm is another business, of many, that used a very common day to day object to start their business. In the 21st century, a mobile phone really is a very powerful tool. With apps, the internet and other users all readily available and accessible, you have the world at your fingertips. The Three Sisters Farm took to Instagram, I am spotting a theme here, and the business was born just a few weeks later. Taking courses, learning from people in

the industry and following key role models on social media, the business took effort and determination. One thing we are learning quite quickly is social media is a really solid foundation block to have when thinking of starting a business. Social media is a free advertising option. It allows you to engage with your audience, share your products and create sales. If you haven’t got social media, and you want to run a business, you should really think about setting it up. We have some qualifications that look at the use of social media within business, so do get in touch if this is something you wish to find out more about. In some cases, businesses were born and had to be abandoned due to the ever changing nature of the pandemic, but this does not mean they failed or were unsuccessful. The pandemic was an unpredictable and volatile environment for businesses. The Covid-19 pandemic will perhaps be remembered as one of the most difficult periods for business, and our personal lives, in recent times.

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Funded Qualifications Update As we approach the start of a new Qualifications Affected academic year, we would like to share some important news with our centres ORIGINAL network which relates to changes to Level 1 Award in Passport to Enterprise some of our funded quali4cations. Theand Employment aected quali4cations are detailed below and the changes will come into REPLACEMENT force from 31st August 2022. We have Level 1 Extended Award in Passport to suggested alternative quali4cations that Enterprise and Employment oerthesameexperienceforthelearner, whilst also aligning with your funding requirements. ORIGINAL The replacement quali4cations may LevelCerti4cate 1 inPassporttoEnterprise require more units to be completed, and Employment however they can also attract a higher funding value. This means a more REPLACEMENT thorough learning experience for the Level 1 Extended Award in Passport to learner and more funding is available for Enterprise and Employment you as the delivery provider. For example, transitioning from the Level 1 certi4cate in Passport to Enterprise and the Level 1 Extended Award in Passport to Enterprise ORIGINAL and Employment, by dropping 1 credit, Level 2 Award in Aspects of Preparing to the funding increases by £150. SetUpinaNewBusiness For the Passport to Enterprise and REPLACEMENT Employment quali4cations, we areLevel 2 Award in Self Employment developing learning content to enable a OR smoother and easier delivery of many of Level 2 Award in Passport to Enterprise the units. If there are any units you wish to and Employment deliver and cant 4nd learning content or workbooks for them, please get in touch with Jonathan, Jonathan.Harper@sfedi. org.uk, and he shall note your request. ORIGINAL Level 2 Certi4cate in Preparing to Set Up If you have any questions about the inaNewBusiness funding changes do reach out to us by using our contact page (https://ioee. REPLACEMENT uk/contact-us/ ). We would be happy to LevelCerti4cate 2 inPassporttoEnterprise answer your questions and help you and Employment during this transition.

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