Build Your Business

Build Your Business in Northamptonshire

The Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire are launching a programme of business support in Northamptonshire.

Build Your Business is a new programme aimed at small businesses, entrepreneurs and anyone thinking of starting their own business.

The programme consists of:

1:1s
webinars
workshops
access to specialist business databases
mentoring
networking

Modules cover the key areas of running a business:

Module 1 Build Your Business - start here!

This module provides a valuable introduction to the Build Your Business programme, including details of the support available and the grant application process and requirements. This is also an opportunity to start building your network of other local business owners.

Module 2 Markets and Customers

Importance of marketing and the impact it can have on your business
Understand your market, opportunities, trends, and market potential
What is a brand? Why is it important to a start-up and small business and how does it deliver growth and impact?
Brand identity development, what’s your personality, what are your values and what do you believe in?
Creating a marketing plan
Digital channel overview – what is the best way to reach your audience and communicate with them effectively?

There are bookable 1:1 mentoring sessions available for this module open to Northamptonshire businesses. We have a limited number of sessions available, so this will be on a first come first serve basis. To book a mentoring 1:1 Email: bipc@westnorthants.gov.uk

Module 3 Business Growth Strategy

Use a range of established strategic tools to help consider what will work best for you, your business and your ambitions
What is important to maintain and develop in your business using the Business Model Canvas
Help you develop your own strategy for business growth to share with investors and lenders
Effective resource management, which assets are most important to your business and what assets do you need to develop
Build effective processes and polices for people management

Module 4 Financial Planning

Enable you to read and use the financial information your business needs to thrive
Use a range of simple tools to measure progress to ensure that sales will generate profits, and that profitability will not be at the expense of future stability
Look at the key forecasts for your cost, cash and contributions
Finance and planning for growth

Module 5 Personal Development for Business Owners

Examine the behaviours that can get in the way of running a successful business and those that contribute
Content will include time management, prioritisation and delegation as well as holding on to purpose and resilience

There are bookable 1:1 mentoring sessions available for this module open to Northamptonshire businesses. We have a limited number of sessions available, so this will be on a first come first serve basis. To book a mentoring 1:1 Email: bipc@westnorthants.gov.uk

The programme is completely flexible so businesses can access as much support as they need, tailored to them.

Find out more about Build Your Business workshops and webinars

As part of the programme weekly business support drop-ins in Brixworth, Towcester and Wellingborough Libraries are already being offered. Bookable 1:1s are available in Northamptonshire Central Library, Brixworth, Kettering, Towcester and Wellingborough Libraries as well as online.

This project is part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides £2.6 billion of funding for local investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus