About Business For Starters

Business for Starters is a proven support programme for anyone new to setting up and running a business and is delivered by Oxford Brookes in the South East of England. The full programme comprises 64 sets of easy-to-read modules and fact-sheets, many with accompanying templates for documents such as business plans, cash flow forecasts and marketing brochures. The module sets run in a logical sequence; for example, the first 16 sets lead to starting a business and the following 48 provide essential information about running and growing a business. Module sets may be downloaded from the Members' Area of this website as required although the first 16 module sets are also available on the Business for Starters "Start Your Business" CD.

The educational material allows anyone new to business to progress through the important stages of planning, starting and running a business and no prior business knowledge is required. The programme is supported by mentoring from the Business for Starters team. But that's not all: as the programme progresses, the member is asked to develop three documents: (i) a business plan and cash flow forecast, (ii) a mid-year financial forecast after six months and (iii) a new business plan for growth in year two. Templates are provided for all of these documents. Satisfactory submission of all three assignments can lead to the university qualification: the Certificate in Small Business Management.

The programme was trialled over 12 months with almost 150 new businesses and proved to be a spectacular success – the programme achieved a 95% approval rating from members in an anonymous survey undertaken by University staff. And, best of all, the programme made a real difference to the sustainability of new businesses. In other words... it works!

To find out how to become a member of the Business for Starters programme, click here