BE CREATIVE IN YOUR BUSINESS CHOICES!

Creative Launchpad

You are truly never too old to start a new venture or to transform that dream idea into reality! Starting your own business can provide you with a tremendous feeling of self-fulfilment and independence. The great advantage of starting in business when you are older is that age gives you greater experience and confidence to express your talent and ability.

My name is Sue Hope and I have been a self-employed interior designer for 30 years. I returned to University four years ago and am now also a practising glass artist. I have been able to start a new career whilst linking it into my existing business.

Unfortunately, when I first started up in 1977, there was really no business advice and help available. It was very much a matter of blindly trying to fight your way through a fog of uncertainty and confusion. Now, however, it is much easier to start up and there is a plethora of help available. What makes Creative Launchpad unique is that it specialises in providing help to creative people who want to become self employed. This is why I have joined Creative Launchpad so that I can use my experience of self-employment to help other like minded individuals.

Do you want to expand your ideas into a creative field such as fine art, sculpture, photography, any of the arts and crafts, music, song writing, performing, record producing, web design, artist management, interior design, graphic design, fashion, furniture making, product design, events management and many other creative areas? If you are thinking of setting up your own business on either a full or part-time basis or have started working for yourself in the last 12 months, you can obtain free advice, mentoring, guidance on developing your business plan plus free training.

Creative Launchpad offer:

1) 1-2-1 consultancy.
A trained Business Advisor sits and talks through your idea with you, assisting you in clarifying your ideas. They discuss the different forms of business that you can set up, the legal requirements with relation to tax and insurance plus such advise relating to specifics such as intellectual property, marketing etc.. They will provide you with relevant information and signpost you to other help that is available.

2) Your Advisor is available to give you ongoing support through further meetings and also via e-mail and telephone contact.
" Regardless of how big or small your dreams are, to ensure your success it is vital to put together your business plan which formalises your ideas and helps you work out your future progress.

3) There are training courses and events which are specifically tailored for people working in or developing creative businesses.

4) Information on funding, submissions, events, jobs, studio space and much more is also available.

This is not a quick fix response. Your Advisor works with you throughout the first year of trading, mentoring you and giving you the support and confidence to follow your vision. At the end of your first year, you can also have a review so that you can evaluate how you are doing and how you can take your business forward into a creative future. Even then, you can get help as we forward you onto Business Link and their advisors to steer you through the formative years of your company's growth.

Creative Launchpad can help those of you who live in the West Midlands or anywhere from Leek to Coventry, Oswestry to Ross on Wye or Evesham to Rugby, Bishops Castle to Nuneaton why not give us a call on 0121 224 7375.

Talk to people who can help because they know what it's like working in the creative sector!

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