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Springboard Business Development Program |
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The Springboard Business Development Program is an exciting opportunity for people in small business to work on the development of their business in a supportive environment. The program has been used successfully throughout Australia and provides a very tailored response to your individual business development needs.
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Each Springboard Business Development Program Group consists of up to12 people who run businesses in the local area. They will each have been selected for having high growth potential.
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Each Group has a dedicated business development facilitator who guides and manages the process. The facilitators chosen for this program have extensive experience and knowledge of working with home based businesses in your region.
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The groups meet for 8 two hour sessions. The timing and location of most of these meetings is negotiated. There is a general course outline but specific course content is determined by the group.
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The participants take a very active role in the process. They must be willing to share ideas and experiences and learn from one another. The Springboard Business Development Program is essentially a group business coaching process. Participants work co-operatively to support one another in working on their businesses.
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What Will You Get From The Program?
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Under the guidance of the professional business development facilitator you will:
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- Meet other people running businesses in your area. You can compare notes. Are your experiences unique or have other people been through similar things?
- Put the time aside to reflect on your own business. How are you doing? What needs to happen next?
- Gather and try out ideas and learn from other peoples experiences. Bounce ideas off people in a similar situation to yourself.
- Find creative solutions to your key business development problems. There are no quick fixes. This program is about ongoing business development.
- Make new business contacts and build a relationship with a professional business facilitator.
- Find out about resources and support which may be available in your area.
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Participants are expected to attend all eight sessions. Information exchanged in the session is treated in confidence.
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Program Outline
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Each Springboard Business Development Group will determine the specific program content in negotiation will their facilitator.
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Session 1 Registration - Introduction and Networking Session
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This session brings together all the participants and facilitators involved in the Springboard Business Development Program. It is an opportunity to meet other business in your local area. After the introductions and networking time, each group will get together with their facilitator. The aims, objectives and content of the program will be discussed and agreed. Participants are asked to bring along a short business biography of no more than 250 words to be complied into a ‘who’s who’ of the Springboard Business Development Program
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Session 2 Home-based Business - Mickey Mouse or Mini Empire?
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This session starts with the big picture, the pros and cons of doing business in your area, and then focuses in on the more specific personal aspects of each business. What are the key issues and challenges in running and growing a business: managing time and stress, balancing work and home life, working and as well as on your business.
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Session 3 Marketing I: What sort of business are you in?
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This session focuses on defining businesses in terms of customers and markets. Who are the competition? What makes the participants’ businesses different to other businesses in their industry, town or region. What gives them the market advantage? Which product or service developments would bring greatest returns?
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Session 4 Marketing II: Getting the word out, marketing yourself and your products
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Once they have defined their market niche this session considers how participants can most effectively reach their potential customers and build a broader customer base.
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Session 5 Benchmarking financial performance and structuring your business for growth
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This session focuses on how well participants know their business. Knowing the specific costs and returns of each type of business activity gives an insight into where development time and ideas should be invested. Structuring business for growth means setting up and fine-tuning the systems that will allow growth - without burning out! Effectively interacting with financial institutions can be a key challenge.
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Session 6 Information and communication technology - making it work for you
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A key concern for people in small business, in this session participants will sift through the ‘hype’ to determine which technology can really add value to their business and how to get the support they need to really make it work.
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Session 7 Growing your business - Making decisions and planning action
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In this session the broader implications of growing their business will be considered. Participants will be encouraged to consider the context in which their business development plans sit, and form action plans and strategies based on their work in the program, with a focus on strategies that will help their business to grow - sustainably - so that they have a balanced approach to their life and their business!
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Session 8 Networking function and presentations
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This final session brings the members of all the groups back together for an opportunity to meet, network, discuss business and develop opportunities. The session will include presentations of certificates to all participants who have successfully completed the program. Time will also be given for feedback and evaluation of the program. Participants and facilitators are encouraged to plan a review meeting for later in the year.
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