Business Link “boot camp” a flourishing success (From Watford Observer)

Business Link “boot camp” a flourishing success

1:03pm Thursday 15th July 2010 in

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Following the success of the Start Your Own Business Boot Camp, Business Link in the East of England has introduced a new Business Boot Camp for start-ups with high growth potential.

The new programme meets the needs of entrepreneurs who are starting businesses with the potential for high growth and who need a solid base with the right foundations from which to grow.

The intensive two-day residential Boot Camp workshop provides a fast-track solution to starting and developing a high-growth business. It includes structured guidance on strategic planning, market research, sales and marketing techniques and building a management team. Areas such as networking and developing and presenting an elevator pitch are also covered.

Launched in April, the new Boot Camp is aimed at businesses from the pre-start stages up to the first year of trading with the potential to reach a turnover of £500,000 in the first three years. Delegates benefit from the opportunity to focus on intensive business planning with other like-minded people in a structured and focused environment. The workshop also offers one-to-one sessions with Business Link Advisers, Researchers and other external experts.

Viv Starkiss, Enterprise Awareness Manager for Hertfordshire, said: “High-growth enterprise helps create employment opportunities, and it’s important to encourage this kind of development locally. Business Link is very keen to work with partners to help identify businesses that have the potential to be part of the engine of recovery in the wake of the recession.

“We understand that the prospect of a two-day intensive course could seem overwhelming, or time may simply be too tight, which is why we will be holding free taster sessions in the run-up to Boot Camp.

”The taster sessions are a great way for local entrepreneurs to chat to Business Link representatives about their needs, benefit from structured guidance and advice, and decide on the next steps for their business.”

More information and an application form are available at www.startupbootcamp.org.uk. Spaces are limited to 12 for each Boot Camp – successful applicants will be contacted following submission of an application form.

To find out whether Business Link’s High Growth Business Boot Camp is right for you, book a free taster session in Hertfordshire at www.bookevents.org, or by calling the events team on 0845 601 1000.