Monthly Newsletter - "WEBS for Women in Business"

This is an online copy of the monthly WEBS newsletter featuring project updates and items of interest for your business. Make sure you don't miss important information for your business by signing up now.

This newsletter is produced for information only. While we believe the content is accurate we can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. © WEVH Ada House, 77 Thompson Street, Manchester M4 5FY

The next newsletter will be emailed out on Wednesday 28th September

IN THIS ISSUE

~ welcome

~ Feature: Alexis Black Consulting

~ Funding news & work opportunities

~ free workshops & courses

~ Marketing tips

WELCOME TO THE WEBS NEWSLETTER

Dear all,

After a month of skeleton staff (not literally of course) we're back from our holidays and are sweating it out in our warm office attic. We hope you had a good August too?

Here's some bits of news from the WEVH and the WEBS project. We have some new additions to this list so welcome to new members, if you read this and still aren't sure what WEBS provides just give us a call.

Cheers,

Eliza & Baigal, WEBS project

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

What is WEBS?

Free practical business support funding advice & IT rescue!

Any women-owned business across Manchester is eligible for free WEBS business advice and practical on-site IT assistance.

WEBS offers help and advice on many aspects of running a business, including how to use computers and the internet to make your business more profitable; with particular experience of working with creative industry businesses. We offer free access to PCs and Macs with all the latest design software available for you to use at certain drop-in times.

We can help you set up your website and advise about selling your product over the internet too. If you are having an I.T crisis we can visit you and advise, whether thats upgrading your email, advising on the best software for your needs or helping getting you online.

Alongside this women can get general support with business planning, marketing and promotion and getting the funding you need to start-up or develop.

We can help at any stage of your business, and its all FOR FREE. We can offer you this because we are funded by the European Union and supported by Manchester City Council.

Call Eliza or Baigal on 0161 833 3319 to book a visit

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WEBS feature - Alexis Black Consulting

A Call for New Urban Regeneration Practitioners…..

'Bored and fed up, sick of routine, in need of a new career? - I have just what you need! Read on....

Due to a skills shortage, did you know more and more people are defecting to the exciting and vibrant sector of Urban Regeneration from unconventional and richly diverse backgrounds?

With high uptake rates for their skills and experiences by mainstream urban regeneration organisations, the sector itself rose by a staggering
6.5% last year exceeding previous years and is still rising. Therefore the time is right for you to get on the crest of this career wave.

So why not let a regeneration career expert review your resume to fully market your skills and experiences to known regeneration employers out
there. Remember "You have nothing to lose" only everything to gain!

Contact me now to get ahead.

Name: Jean-erica
email: gsturing@aol.com
mobile: 079894958

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Freelance work for you artists out there?

Freelance Outreach Co-ordinator (37 hrs per week)

C21 are looking for a freelance outreach co-ordinator to further develop community outreach work for the C21 project with aim to
increase arts involvement, participation and audiences within the population of Blackburn with Darwen.

The artists will be paid a flat fee of £11,500 for 6 months work, this is to cover all expenses and you will be responsible for all
your own tax and national insurance.

Closing date: Thursday September 8th.

For more information please refer to the vacancies section of the CN4M website www.cn4m.net
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Foundation Course in Fundraising Practice
10th-13th October, in Manchester

The Institute of Fundraising is running a four-day training course aimed at those involved in fundraising who require a structured
induction to fundraising and their role within it; those who have been working in one particular area of fundraising and wish to expand their knowledge and understand some of the 'theory' behind fundraising; and fundraisers who want to use the course as a refresher or as their chosen route to the Certificate in Fundraising Management.

The course, which follows the fundraising cycle, provides delegates with a framework which will assist them greatly in the planning and executing as well as monitoring and evaluation of fundraising activities.

To reserve your place, please complete the online booking form http://dotm1.net/t.asp?l=66798&i=25184583 quoting the code FCF, or alternatively please call T: 020 7391 4816.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Introduction to VC funding

This blog is US-orientated, but provides an informative and practical introduction to the concept and process of getting venture capital (VC) funding for your business.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THE MANCHESTER CREATIVE ANNUAL
In association with Adline and Prospect

Manchesters reputation as a creative centre has never been stronger. To celebrate this fact, CIDS in conjunction with Prospect and Adline magazines, is to publish the Manchester Creative Annual. This publication will be a detailed survey of what the city can now offer in terms of creative industries.
The publication will provide a one stop shop for those who want information on the Manchester creative scene. These will range from marketing services clients to inward investors such as the BBC.

CIDS are offering a free listing to any Greater Manchester-based businesses with a profile on the CIDS website. If you have a profile on the CIDS website you will automatically be included in the publications Creative Directory. To check your profile, log onto the website now at www.cids.co.uk using your username and password, then click My Profile.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Businesses need to protect their names

Many businesses run the risk of trade mark claims being made against them, having failed to register their business names, according to the UK Patent Office. A mere 20% of businesses have registered their names, but 44% of those surveyed were aware of the potential for problems and think they don't have enough protection. The reminder was issued as part of the Patent Offices campaign to raise awareness of intellectual property issues, called 'What is the Key?'

For more information, go to:
http://www.patent.gov.uk/media/pressrelease/2005/2208.htm
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Flexible workers need better technology

Although small businesses in the UK now commonly offer staff flexible working opportunities, more men than women are taking up the option, according to research carried out by Microsoft. 56% of women work flexible hours, compared to 68% of men, but the reason may be more to do with a lack of investment in the technology needed to work from home or at least stay in touch with the office.

You can read more about the surveys findings at:
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/press/content/presscentre/releases/2005/08/PR03500.asp

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Slow food picks up pace in Britain

Slow Food, the movement which originated in Italy and which aims to publicise and promote the use of real ingredients in cookery, and protect small local producers into the bargain, has finally seen the establishment of Slow Food UK. A founding congress was held on the Isle of Skye, and the movement will open a UK office in 2006.

You can find out more about the worldwide organisation at:

http://www.slowfood.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Recruitment drive for charities

A major new campaign is aiming to recruit more trustees for the UK's charitable organisations after research found that over half of all charities have problems recruiting trustees. The initiative particularly aims to attract more young people into charitable work, as well as more representatives from minority communities.

Find out more about the campaign at:
http://www.getonboard.org.uk
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Evaluate your business via a one day intensive workshop

Creative Advantage, originally designed by Merseyside ACME, is a day-long event which will help you to take a step back and evaluate your business via a one day intensive workshop. On the day, we will help you to identify the steps you need to take to develop your business and, through a follow-up session, well link you into the support that can help you go forward. There has been fantastic feedback from our pilot earlier this year, so were offering free places onto the event to businesses either at pre-start-stage or in their first 12 months of trading. To be eligible, you must be based in the Manchester City Council area.

At CIDS offices in Manchester city centre
Thursday 15th September, Thursday 22nd September & Thursday 6th October.

To book a place, email annie@cids.co.uk.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Tips for effective market research

A market research questionnaire is a useful tool for collecting and understanding the views of potential customers.

The responses will help you estimate levels of demand, market size, amount to charge and so on, to help you profile your target market, develop or test new products or services.

Here are a few tips to help you craft your market research questions to make sure you get a clear and unambiguous response.

Ask your questions in a logical order. The first question should tell you whether it's worth continuing with that respondent. For example, if you're trying to research the market for fresh coffee, 'Do you drink coffee?' could be asked first.

Make the wording of questions as simple as possible, and clearly define any technical terms.
Avoid double-barrelled questions like 'What do you think about the colouring and design of this product?' These can be confusing to answer and difficult to analyse.

Avoid leading questions which put words into the respondent's mouth (for example, 'Most people choose Brand X for its quality, why do you buy it?').
Phrase questions relating to age, income or status carefully. Instead of 'Can you afford a holiday?', ask your respondent 'Will you be going on holiday this year?'

Avoid asking questions beyond the respondent's span of memory (for example, 'What TV programmes were you watching this time last year?').

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Free giveaways work so well for two reasons…

First of all, they give new prospects a chance to test your product or service on a risk-free basis. Hopefully they will recognise its value and continue to buy from you. Or even better, they'll become so hooked or besotted with your product or service that they won't be able to do without it. That's assuming you've at least got a half decent product or service to sell, of course.

But secondly, the fact that you gave away a free gift to your prospect often results in them feeling that they owe you a big favour in return for your generosity. This can compel them to return the favour by continuing to buy from you and use your service. And they may also end up raving about you and your generosity to their friends and family, resulting in an even bigger flood of new prospects.

The key to sensibly offering free giveaways is to know your total customer value. This is the amount of profit you will generate from each customer over the total length of your business relationship with them.
And don't forget that this doesn't just include the business you get directly from them, but also the value of referrals you might get.

Have a think and see if you can come up with some ideas for trying this strategy in your small business. If you've got something fairly low-cost but of high perceived value to your prospects, this could easily work for you.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Finding and interpreting statistical information - marketing

Statistical information is useful for finding out about trends in your market, where your target customers live, how old they are, and how much they earn - all key information when you're developing a marketing plan.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the main official source of statistics in the UK. Most of the information is available to download from the ONS website www.statistics.gov.uk free of charge. Highlights include:
· Census data. The last Census was taken in 2001, and the ONS provides a range of tables and reports condensing its findings and looking at issues such as population demographics, ethnicity and religion, household income levels and so on.
· Guide to Official Statistics (last published in 2000). This comprehensive directory of UK statistics is a great starting point for your research. It covers social trends, sectors and the economy, listing all official and some non-official statistical sources for the UK.
· Social Trends reports. This is a general report about life in Britain, published every year. It covers topics such as health, education, leisure activities and household expenditure.
· The ONS also produces short guides, snapshot summaries and regular press releases detailing everything from latest population estimates to information on UK trade and inflation. For example, see www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk for snapshots of local statistics on income, population and socio-economic trends searchable by postcode.
· Online information publisher UpMyStreet can also provide statistical analysis of an area defined by its postcode, outlining the property market, consumer classification types, spending habits and public transport provision.
· Other sources of statistical reports might include your local authority, Chamber of Commerce or trade association.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Having a problem with these links? Just copy and paste
the entire address into your browser and hit "enter".

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This newsletter is produced for information only. While we believe the content is accurate we can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. WEVH Ada House, 77 Thompson Street, Manchester M4 5FY

The next newsletter will be sent to you on or around Wednesday September 28th 2005