Rocket Launch Your Business Project (2) – Existing Businesses

February 2021

The Rocket Launch Your Business Project – Round 2 is part of the Community Leadership Programme funded by RBKC.

Participants have to fulfil the requirements below:

1. RBKC existing businesses or Community Interest Company (CIC)*
2. They were not part of the Rocket Launch Your Business Project before.

PBC will organise 5 courses between June 2020 and March 2021 that RBKC residents can register for and attend in full.

This February the course will be designed for existing businesses only. Participants will be able to improve their business, presentation, digital, and financial skills, as well as build their confidence to be ready to give their business a boost.

Each participant will also be able to access one-to-one online appointments with a qualified business advisor to further discuss their needs, as well as attend a Q&A session at the end of the course. More information on our business advisors and their expertise available at the bottom of the page.

Tuesday 16^th February 2021

9:30am – 10am: Get-to-know-each-other meeting (for attendees)

10am – 12pm: Goal-setting for your business – a coaching approach – R.A Williams

Wednesday 17^th February 2021

   10am – 12pm: Goal-setting for your business – a coaching approach – R.A Williams

  2pm – 4pm: Refresh and energise your communication, imagery and visuals – Jilly Clark

·         Review your imagery and communication style; does it still connect with your customers?

·         Pros and cons of new ways of communicating with your customers, online and offline

Thursday 18^th February 2021

10am – 12pm: Working in a disruptive market place – Carole Pyke

·         Research – new competitors in the market place, gaps in the market

·         Changes in customers’ buying patterns, needs, wants

·         Recognising your own and your business’s strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats

2pm – 4pm: Benefits of collaborative working – Carole Pyke

·         Suppliers

·         Customers

·         Partners

·         Competitors

Tuesday 23^rd February 2021

10am – 12pm: Financial Management – Elsa Caleb

·         Budgeting & financial management

·         Exploring the grants and loans available for business expansion

2pm – 4pm: Digital media strategy – David Taylor

·         Shift to digital media, changing consumer preferences, disruption caused in the industry due to technical advancement, rising incomes, the millennial generation’s need for instant gratification, worldwide exposure / demand call for not just a marketing strategy, but a digital strategy

Wednesday 24th February 2021

10am – 12pm: SEO – Mike Loomey

·         Tips to make your website rank on the first page of Google (Search Engine Optimisation)

2pm – 4pm: Improve your website – Emma Pearce

·         Tips on customer journey, CTA, content (including landing pages as part of a digital marketing campaign)

·         An introduction to Google Analytics and the key information you should review for your website

·         Google My Business – what is it, why is it important for SEO, and how do I set it up for my business?

Thursday 25th February 2021

10am – 12pm: Free online tools  to promote your business – Emma Pearce

·         Mailchimp for email marketing

·         Video editing apps for social posts

·         Eventbrite for events

·         Canva for super simple graphic design

12pm – 12:30pm: Networking & feedback meeting

2pm – 4pm: Q&A meeting session with all the lecturers: Ask your questions and get the answers you need live!

PLEASE NOTE:  The course will be delivered online via ZOOM (2-hour sessions, 6 mornings and afternoons over 2 weeks) with a short break every 50 minutes.  The majority of sessions will be delivered as ‘webinars’ which means neither your image nor your name will be visible to other attendees; this will enable us to record the sessions, so if you miss one you can catch-up at a more convenient time (using a link that we will forward to you via email).  We strongly advise you to attend all live sessions and to let us know in advance if you can’t attend one of them.

To join the course you will need access to the Internet, a tablet, computer, or a smartphone. You will get a chance to meet other participants at our ‘get-to-know-each-other’ networking sessions, please note these will not be recorded.  If you are new to using ZOOM and want some support, please let us know and we will arrange a session to help you navigate the platform.

To register, please complete the online registration form by clicking the button below:

Due to demand, places will be offered on a strict first-come, first-served basis. Whilst we do our best to accommodate all interested residents, a response from you does not guarantee that a place is confirmed.

Our Business Advisors are just a phone call away:

Elsa Caleb: a business strategist with over 20 years of experience, Elsa assisted scores of entrepreneurs and start-ups with how to gain market traction, find funding, and expand growth possibilities. With a solid background as a Small Business Advisor to the Government, Elsa is a results-driven, dynamic, and resourceful professional with the expertise and a proven track record of helping business owners to reach new heights. Based on your unique needs and stage of the business cycle, she can help find bespoke solutions with in-depth analysis, securing grants, loans, sponsorship, marketing, forecasting as well as a business viability assessment. As an entrepreneur herself, she knows the uphill struggles and setbacks that many find deterring, but she aims to provide workable solutions to move past challenges. Through due diligence and incorporating sound strategies, Elsa has enabled businesses to exceed their projected sales forecast and maintain sustainability. LinkedIn profile.

Laurie Bernard: a business growth specialist, Laurie has been working with Portobello Business Centre for over 20 years delivering business training, consultancy, advice, and mentoring. He specialises in marketing and general common-sense business advice and has been described as dynamic, motivational, inspirational, and knowledgeable. Read more here or visit his LinkedIn profile.

Keith Nicholson: Keith worked for NatWest Bank for 40 years, mostly working in the branch network before moving into Business Banking in 1995. After spending many years supporting Branch Managers, he became a Business Advisor in Croydon where he spent 3 years advising start-up clients. He then moved up to a Business Relationship Manager position looking after a portfolio of 200 SME customers. Again an advisory role with lending responsibility which involved credit analysis, assessing business plans, financials, and forecasts relating to borrowing requests. For the past 10 years he has worked in the Corporate and Commercial Division, still in a relationship role, but with a smaller number of clients. Still an advisory role, but more focused on lending and looking at other avenues for funding, including private equity, crowd funding, asset finance, and invoice finance. LinkedIn profile.