Post-course support

We understand that starting a business can feel both exciting and daunting. There’s so much to think about. Our post course support focuses on key themes, with a splattering of additional topics that are relevant to what’s happening right now.

Key support themes include:

1. Support and connection
2. Legal and finance
3. Branding and finding your voice
4. Sales and marketing
5. Publicity and storytelling

If you want to enhance your knowledge and grow your business, we have some additional training workshops available. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or have been doing it for a while, we’ve tailored our courses to suit your ability.

Delivered by experts either online or in person (when restrictions allow again), we can help expand your knowledge in key business areas. The workshops are designed around the key support themes and have been proven to really add value to members business progression.

We repeat key workshops throughout the year, so new members will have the opportunity to take part. And we update the content regularly, so we’re current and fresh.

We’re proud to say that many of the project’s workshops are delivered by Create members, who specialise in key areas of business themselves. Just another way our Create community comes together and supports each other.

Previous workshops have included:

• What is PR and how can it help you?
• How to establish a brand
• How to reach your goals
• Building resilience and handling stress
• Accountancy and tax Q&A’s
• Serve don’t sell; take the cringe out of selling

These innovative, webinar-style live audits are a new way to learn from an industry expert. Working closely with a fellow Create member, the expert analyses the company within a key business theme.

This could be looking into the business’s website and recreating a shopping experience from a customer’s perspective.

This supportive and constructive live audit enables the business owner and others, like you, to identify opportunities and enhance the experience you offer. It can help you make customers happy and stand out from the competition.

The business owner will also have additional mentoring support from the expert before and after the live audit.

This is where you’ll meet, connect and build on personable and professional friendships.

You’re not alone on your business journey, and it's really important to us that you feel supported. Our online support clubs are a great place to meet other Creators, build on existing connections and discuss key topics, successes, and challenges.

Our monthly business support and connections clubs are run by Create ambassador and mentor Jo Hompstead. She specialises in bringing people together to achieve great things. Jo is a Create member herself, and is founder of ConnectUp, a facilitator of thinking, ideas, and action.

We share Jo’s values; with the right culture, environment and relationships, people can perform at their best and be happier, healthier, and more fulfilled in the process.

The reason our course works is because of you. And the connections you make during and after you’ve completed it.

We’re stronger when we work together. So, our Facebook community is where you can help others with their business challenges, and have others support you too.

Our private 'Abri Create' business Facebook group has over 250 members. It's an online community that enables members to connect, share, and discover the latest Create news. And you can sign up to workshops too.

This private group is available to everyone who completes the Create start-up business course.

Supportive mentoring can help you on your business journey. That’s why we offer one-to-one mentoring to every member of Create.

We have a bank of knowledgeable, diverse, and lovely mentors to answer all your questions. You can request either general business support from a mentor, or for a specialised area of need.

Often one of the main challenges in starting a business is feeling the pressure to make key decisions every day. A mentor can help set goals, provide guidance, and external contacts who can help you.

Specialised areas of mentoring could include:

• Goal setting,
• Documentation,
• Planning,
• Branding, marketing and social media,
• Customer experience, or
• Public relations (PR).

If you feel you could benefit from this help, get in touch with us.

We understand the importance getting your products to market and gaining real feedback and experience from the general public.

Our free sponsored marketplaces are a great way to jump into a busy selling environment while being supported by the Create team throughout the day. We work with external event organisers who already put on successful markets and festivals that have plenty of public footfall.

Through the marketplaces, we’ve supported businesses who are launching a new project or service and keen to receive feedback from real potential customers.

So, keep an eye on your inbox to find out when our next marketplace will be.