About the School

We have designed the school to:

• Provide a forum where you can learn from the experiences of successful entrepreneurs
• Develop your business skills, including: Business Planning, Financial Planning, Intellectual Property, Strategy, Marketing and Networking
• Provide an opportunity to apply your skills within a 'safe' environment
• Help you to clarify your business ideas and provide inspiration, confidence and planning for the next steps
• Help identify sources of further help and advice for the early stages of your business development and growth

The School distinguishes itself from mainstream start-up provision through its strong focus on developing your entrepreneurial potential as well as exploring the viability of your business ideas. The School is delivered by seasoned entrepreneurs and business professionals and will help you develop essential business skills as well as overcome any confidence barriers to starting up in business. By associating with like-minded entrepreneurial peers, powerful networks and communities of entrepreneurs naturally emerge, accelerating the business start-up process and providing sustainable ongoing opportunities for peer group learning and support.

The School will be delivered in a facilitative style involving training, exercises, case studies, discussion, networking, mentoring and presentations. Individual sessions are intensive and challenging and lead up to friendly ‘Dragons Den’-style competitive pitch to a panel of experts in the art of starting and growing a business. This is followed by signposting to further business support and the awarding of Enviro-Entrepreneur Certificates for attendance on the School.

Each day will include:

1. Knowledge sharing sessions where professionals who work closely with entrepreneurs will show you how they have started and grown their ideas into successful businesses
2. Practical Assignments to allow you to put the 'How To...' into practice and work on your ideas with the support of your peers and the team
3. Workshop sessions where experts will help you to build skills or deal with the practicalities of starting a business
4. Informal sessions to network with speakers, entrepreneurs, experts, etc.

At the end of the School you will:

• Have learned what it takes to start up in business
• Have learned how to take your business to the next level of growth
• Have gained a better insight into your potential as entrepreneur
• Be part of a community of like-minded enviro-entrepreneurs
• Have built a network of contacts with both the business community and seasoned entrepreneurs