City of Liverpool College Students Battled Through #IAmEnterprising BootCamp

Yesterday saw the next round of the #IAmEnterprising competition over at City of Liverpool College. And college students were put through their paces for BootCamp!

The students spent the day in intensive sessions learning all about Market Research, Marketing and Branding, Legal Aspects, Financial Planning, and Presentation skills.

After a few light exercises to start the day and wake up the students we got down to business and started with Marketing and Market Research sessions.

Senior Business Advisor Mike Marsden told the students: ‘You don’t realise it but you are researching every day. Every Facebook comment and status you read. Every trip advisor or ebay review you read is giving you insight into what people think. So when you are asked to go out and conduct market Research, don’t feel like you are starting from scratch’.

Over in the Marketing session, students learnt about branding, packaging, creating a buzz and money saving tips to get their word ‘out there’.

Following to morning sessions we were on the move over to a VIP room over on Prince’s Dock waterfront for the afternoon sessions. It was all very ‘Lord Sugar will see you now’.. a great environment for the budding entrepreneurs to feel inspired and empowered.

But not before we all refuelled with a good helping of Domino’s pizza.  

*And there was more...

The afternoon session started with a very special guest Donal Bannon from Morecrofts, and lead sponsors on the competition, who came and talked about legalities of business. Everything from trademarking to terms of business, he had it covered. And anything he didn't, the students were not afraid to ask.

Finance and presentation skills were the last sessions of the afternoon where training co-ordinator from The Women’s Organisation, Bernie Cox, helped the students with hints and tips for if they reached the final stage of the competition. And Mike Marsden presented cashflow exercises and advice to help students understand the numbers.

We don’t call this stage of the competition BootCamp for nothing! It sure was an intensive day but the feedback was great and students and now armed with lots of information to develop their ideas ahead of the 8^th April where we will then short list the best five to come through to the final pitch of the competition. 

Good luck to all of the entrants, thank you as always to all of our sponsors and may the best business win.

Meet The Sponsors; Judith O'Brien, Managing Director of Bold Online Marketing

#IAmEnterprising is in full force! The deadline for submitting the first Business Briefs is over, and Business Bootcamp is on its way! So we thought that now would be the perfect time to introduce the sponsors of #IAmEnterprising. The sponsors are a massive part of the competition and help to make up the Prize Package for the winner of this year’s #IAmEnterprising!

Our third sponsor to announce is the incredible Bold Online Marketing! Bold Online Marketing will be offering the lucky winner of the #IAmEnterprising competition support with their web development or help to develop a digital marketing strategy for their business. What a great opportunity! As we have worked with many business start-ups, we know that websites and digital marketing can be something that people struggle with, so this fantastic prize will certainly go to good use!

So, who are Bold Online Marketing? They told us, that Bold Online Marketing is a digital agency with bold results!

Bold Online Marketing pride themselves on having passion for all things digital, a great track record in excellent customer service alongside an in-depth understanding of what developing and growing business online is all about.

Their team have helped lots of companies achieve online success. They offer a bespoke range of Digital Marketing services to suit a wide variety of needs. They believe that your success is their success and know that a happy customer is a loyal customer and there is nothing better than having a great customer relationship – both online and offline!

As with all of our sponsors, we asked them the same question, what words of wisdom did they have for the #IAmEnterprising entrants?

“The more ways you market, the more people you reach.

A business idea is just another idea unless it is backed up by a business plan, great marketing, commitment and hard work.”

- Judith O'Brien, Managing Director of Bold Online Marketing

Meet The Sponsors; Nicola Pink of Pink Media Ltd

#IAmEnterprising is in full force! The deadline for submitting the first Business Briefs is over, and Business Bootcamp is on its way! So we thought that now would be the perfect time to introduce the sponsors of #IAmEnterprising. The sponsors are a massive part of the competition and help to make up the Prize Package for the winner of this year’s #IAmEnterprising!

We are over the moon to introduce Pink Media Ltd! This is Pink Media’s first year sponsoring the event and they will be generously donating a day of working with the Pink Media team of experts to help the #IAmEnterprising winner to develop a PR strategy for their business!

So, who are Pink Media? Based in the heart of Liverpool’s vibrant Baltic Triangle, Pink Media delivers a range of PR services including effective short and long term campaigns, press release writing and sell-in to journalists, together with effective crisis management, media interview and client photo shoots to name a few.

Their clients range from local independent businesses to world-renowned brands with an international following. At Pink Media, they appreciate that all clients are different, and with this in mind they tailor their services accordingly to ensure the best possible return on investment.

At the helm of Pink Media, is Director; Nicola Pink. Nicola started Pink Media back in 2011, working from her back bedroom after leaving her job, now in the space of three years, there is a team of three working from an office in the home of The Women’s Organisation, 54 St James Street, and a client list which includes Hard Day’s Night Hotel, Sefton Park Palm House, Delifonsecca and The Epstein Theatre. 

The Women’s Organisation has a fantastic interview with Nicola over on their blog if you’d like to find out more about her journey to success.

We asked Nicola why she was pleased to be able to sponsor the #IAmEnterprising Competition...

Director of Pink Media Nicola Pink said: “As an indepen

dent, it gives me a great sense of pride to be supporting the next generation to achieve their entrepreneurial goals, with the help of other like-minded businesses.

“Liverpool is a city that is thriving with young talent eager to break the mould. By collectively sharing our varied industry knowledge and extensive experience, we are able to guide aspiring entrepreneurs and help them take the first steps in business.

“By taking part in the #IAmEnterprising competition not only will the winner receive substantial financial backing, they will also gain an invaluable insight into the key business aspects that are essential for business start-up.”

Meet The Sponsors: Donal Bannon, Partner of Morecrofts Solicitors

#IAmEnterprising is in full force! The deadline for submitting the first Business Briefs is over, and Business Bootcamp is on its way! So we thought that now would be the perfect time to introduce the sponsors of #IAmEnterprising. The sponsors are a massive part of the competition and help to make up the Prize Package for the winner of this year’s #IAmEnterprising!

Firstly, we are delighted to introduce Morecrofts Solicitors! This is Morecrofts second year as the headline sponsor of #IAmEnterprising and they are generously funding the £1,000 cash sponsorship that makes up the £3,000 Prize Package. This £1,000 cash can be used by the winner of the competition in whichever way they see fit to help them start their business. Whether that’s buying equipment, renting premises, buying marketing materials or throwing a launch party for the business! The £1,000 cash can be used for anything to do with the business idea!

So who are the wonderful Morecrofts? We found out…

‘Morecrofts is one of Liverpool’s oldest most respected businesses. In fact, you might be surprised to learn how old.

Established in 1813, we have been in existence longer than many of our city’s most recognisable landmarks. St George’s Hall, both iconic cathedrals, even the world famous Liver Building, were all built whilst we have been busy practising law on behalf of the city’s people and its businesses.’

Morecrofts Solicitors is one of Liverpool’s oldest Family Law Solicitors and most respected Private and Commercial Law Firms, now offering services nationwide. They pride themselves on legal excellence and exceptional customer service, a formula that has resulted in clients returning to them time and time again.

Donnal with the 2015 winner; Kate Johnson of Gallery Cocoa

So now you know that who Morecrofts are, we’ve got some words of wisdom from Donal Bannon, who is a Partner there. Donal has been instrumental in the #IAmEnterprising competition, participating as a judge at last year’s Championship Event and will be helping the team at this year’s Business Bootcamp.

Here are Donal’s words of wisdom to the #IAmEnterprising competition entrants…

‘I would advise those entering the competition to plan their presentation for the Championship Event carefully, and think about their presentation. It should be clear who their target market is, how their business will be profitable and not face cash flow issues and what, if any, is the potential for growth’