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Ready to Start Newsletter - volume 5 Spring 09

Welcome to the 5th Ready To Start newsletter!

As the winter snows melt into warm spring weather, Ready To Start is moving forward too. More than 300 RTS entrepreneurs have now launched their businesses, with 900 more progressing through the programme. Some of our earliest clients have been working for themselves for nearly two years now. One of them, Lisa Hutt, shares her experiences below.

Our external warts and all evaluation, which some of you participated in, is being finalised as we speak. It’s great to hear that RTS has made a real difference to so many disabled entrepreneurs, filling the gaps between other provision. One of the things that did arise from the evaluation is the fact that some entrepreneurs felt that we don’t communicate as well as we might. To look into this two groups of Barclays-employed undergraduate students are carrying out some research and will be making recommendations to us in June. Watch out for letters and emails from them. As a thank you for participating, those entrepreneurs that return questionnaires to them will be entered into a draw to win one of two sets of £30 gift vouchers!

Network events are also being organised across the country. June Ann Eardley, who sells constume jewellery and accessories, is pictured here attending a Wolverhampton event, organised by Sam Eve and Access to Business. To find out about events in your region please contact your regional co-ordinator or check out the Online Network http://readytostart.rowan.tincan.co.uk/?cat=14

Suitability

If anyone is looking for paid employment to supplement their self employed earnings, Suitability may help. Suitability is a new Leonard Cheshire Disability website which offers support to disabled and disadvantaged jobseekers. It launched on 16 February at the British Library, London. The site offers innovative services, including advice sheets, e-learning courses, a job search facility and the chance to connect online with like-minded jobseekers. Find out more at www.LCDisability.org/suitability

Mentoring

Last edition, we introduced you to two members of our in-house business mentor team. Here, we’re focussing on what business mentoring is and how it can support entrepreneurs.

Business mentoring can bring a fresh perspective and a range of relevant business skills. It is available to Ready to Start entrepreneurs, via a team of internal and external distance mentors plus a limited number of face to face opportunities with Barclays buddies. While many people prefer the idea of face to face support, access to buddies is restricted by the necessity of living close to an available buddy, and this can lead to long waiting times. With greater availability, distance mentors can speak to you on the phone or communicate by email or text. If you like using it, most mentors will also use Skype, where you can see and speak to your mentor via computer. How you work with a mentor is your own choice.

Mentoring compliments the work you do with your regional coordinator. Where the regional coordinator will provide local knowledge and, subject to available funding, may help with a computer or essential business expenses, mentors provide regular support in particular business areas such as clarifying the business idea, testing the concept, marketing, customer service, premises or finding suppliers.

RTS client Tracy De Gietelink, who describes herself as the most charming biological hazard you’ll ever meet, is supported by distance mentor Cherry Potts. Tracy says of mentoring, “If it wasn't for our regular conversations, I would never have got off the ground with my business. My subject matter is hard going (blood borne viruses no less) so to be able to discuss tactics, theories, to ask questions, even silly ones, and voice ideas and sort the wheat from the chaff is a boon. All of these things have the ability to make you doubt your own sanity. But a chat with Cherry helps me put things into perspective. I have never come away from a conversation with her without positive and constructive feedback, wider options and a better overview and plan of what I'm undertaking."

With the help of Cherry and regional co-ordinator, Ann Chaplin, Tracy has developed Woman Aloud – The C In Me, which is not quite a stand up but much more than a workshop, to educate people in an engaging and humorous way about the dangers of Hepatitis C. Find out more about Tracy and Woman Aloud on the RTS Online Network at http://readytostart.rowan.tincan.co.uk/?p=415

So what is Mentoring?

Mentoring is
• Delivered by trained mentors who are all professionals.
• An aid to personal and career development.
• An ideal means of supporting you to develop and grow your business ideas
• Will encourage you to take responsibility for your own development


A mentor will
• Agree goals with you
• Help you to identify development opportunities
• Monitor and evaluate your progress
• Give constructive feedback

You are asked to
RTS Distance Mentor, Kim Dalton
• Keep mentor appointments, or cancel in advance if you need to change one
• Carry out any activities assigned between sessions
• Respect the boundaries set by your mentor


Tell me about group mentoring
• These are held weekly by conference telephone call. Full, simple, instructions for joining in are provided in advance.
• Each Group is region specific.
• The session provides an overview of what mentoring is and the role of both mentor and client.
• They are an ideal opportunity for clients to assess whether mentoring is right for them.
• They encourage clients to share experiences and find out about other disabled entrepreneurs in their region.


Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I get the most out of my mentoring session?
A: Your mentor can only assist you if you are committed to the mentoring relationship. Attend all sessions and let your mentor know in advance if you cannot attend a session
Q: Why does my mentor ask me to agree an action plan before the next session takes place?
A: This will enable you and your mentor to prepare and plan sessions effectively
Q: Who do I tell when I feel I am ready to finish with my mentor?
A: Your mentor will carry out regular reviews with you to ensure the service is meeting your requirements. If you would like to end the mentoring relationship, please discuss this with your mentor.

Online Networking

The online network is a great place to find out more about events, opportunities, share experiences and to network with other people interested in enterprise and disability.

Some of the things that you might have missed on the online network are:

Half price websites for RTS members courtesy RTS entrepreneur Leroy Jenkins http://readytostart.rowan.tincan.co.uk/?p=344

Ablequip Wheelchair Carrier
Ablequip is looking for a new owner http://readytostart.rowan.tincan.co.uk/?p=304

A new website has been launched to help businesses in West Midlands weather the financial storm. http://readytostart.rowan.tincan.co.uk/?p=365

There are also lots of articles on training and networking events, plus news from the business world. Check it out at http://readytostart.rowan.tincan.co.uk/

How to contribute to the RTS Online Network

Anyone is welcome to comment on articles in the RTS Online Network. Simply use the ‘comment’ link beneath each post to leave your feedback. RTS members can also sign-up to become network authors. To find out more email

Supplying the Public Sector

The public sector spends £175 billion a year and public bodies are being urged by government to make it easier for small companies to tender.

You can find out about contracts up to £100,000 on www.supply2.gov.uk. You will have to register (free) and specify the type of contract you are looking for. You will get an email alert if the right type of contract comes up in your area.

Do you want to supply the 2012 Olympics?

You can register with CompeteFor https://www.competefor.com/london2012business/login.jsp

Again you have to register (free) and you will get email alerts.

The national CompeteFor helpdesk number is 0845 2177804

There is also a nationwide network of Business Support organisations helping companies become Olympics suppliers. Follow this link to find your local agency www.london2012.com/get-involved/business-network/business-support/index.php

Are you a disabled person? Would you like to have your voice heard at board level? “Gain” are currently seeking disabled people to take part in the Gain board development programme. The deadline for applications is 30th March. Gain offers professional development training and networking opportunities to disabled people, with the aim of getting you onto the board of one of over 40 exciting arts, sports and heritage organisations including London Transport Museum, Oval House Theatre, and Lyric Hammersmith.
Please see www.itc-arts.org/gain for more details or contact Kevin Durjun on 0207 089 6820 or email

Deafine goes from strength to strength

Lisa Hutt was one of the first disabled entrepreneurs to join RTS. Since establishing Deafine, a British Sign Language training organisation, 18-months ago, Lisa has gone from strength to strength and has just welcomed her 500th learner! Lisa has expanded the business and taken on three more staff to cope with the growing demand for high quality, bespoke provision of British Sign Language courses. With the help received from Ready to Start and Lisa’s Barclays Buddy, Naeem Hussain, she was able to formulate a sound business plan and launch the business idea that had been floating around in her head for years. The Ready to Start development fund paid for training materials enabling her to set up her very first class teaching basic BSL to nursing students at Coventry University. Since then Lisa has delivered a variety of courses to organisations such as West Midlands Ambulance Service, Warwickshire Adult and Community Learning Service, The Prison Service and even Gatwick Airport. Lisa is now looking forward to welcoming her 1000th learner in the near future! www.deafine.co.uk

Behind the scenes

Ready To Start regional co-ordinators and distance mentors recently met at Leonard Cheshire Disability head quarters in Vauxhall, London. From left to right they are: Kim Dalton, Leonore Lord, Martin Moore, Vanessa Marshall, Annet Lukkien, Cherry Potts, Ann Chaplin, Sarah Ryan, (part of) Elaine James, Samantha Eve, Catherine Casolani, Noel Jones.

Finding the money to run your business

Few businesses start with enough cash, but there are grants and loans available.

If you have reasonable credit rating the ethical banks are still lending. The Co-operative Bank, for example, did not invest in American mortgages or the other risky loans so they do have cash to lend.

There are several ways to search for grants and loans. Here are some of them.

Business Link has a simple grants and loans tool on its website that takes five minutes to use. Below is a link. Many grants and loans are targeted at disabled people, women-led businesses and businesses run by people from an ethnic minority, so do take the time to tick the boxes.

www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/gsdChoosePurpose

There are 2 funder-finder sites that require you to register, but they are free to use.

www.j4bcommunity.co.uk/Default.aspx

www.grantnet.com

Try your local enterprise agency as they sometimes have small grants available for business start-ups. Your local council might also have a scheme to help with business start-up costs. Tooting in London, for example has a scheme that helps with the cost of refurbishing shops.

STOP PRESS!

Ready To Start is creating an online business directory for you to advertise your product or service to other entrepreneurs and to the public! We will be sending you a link to a web page where you can put the information that you would like included in the directory before Easter. Watch out for the email in your inboxes!

How to contact us

Linda Holland
National Project Manager

07738 033083

Terri Wilson
National Project Assistant

07500 443731

Ann Chaplin
Regional Coordinator for London and Kent

07738 033 098

Samantha Eve
Regional Coordinator for Central Region

07738 034 115

Leonore Lord
Regional Coordinator for Essex, Suffolk and South West

07738 329 508

Martin Moore
Regional Coordinator for Wales and West

07738 328 998

Noel Jones
Regional Coordinator for East Midlands and Peterborough

07738 033 989

Sarah Ryan
Regional Coordinator for North West

07738 034 116

Vanessa Marshall
Regional Coordinator for North East and Yorkshire

07738 033 987

Alternatively you can call Innovative Projects at Leonard Cheshire Disability on 08456 717173 or email