So, is now a good time to start or grow a business after some challenging years? Recent economic reports suggest it might be. For instance, a recent report from Sawbrook highlights growing confidence among SMEs. Nearly 9 in 10 (86%) SMEs expressed confidence in their business prospects, with a quarter (27%) feeling extremely confident. In contrast, only 4% admitted to not feeling confident at all.

While only time will tell if the confidence is well-placed, we at BIPC Bristol are here to provide help and support to all start-ups and young businesses in the coming months, no matter where they are on their business journey.

After the successful launch event in August, the second CatalystHER women's networking event will take place on Thursday 19 September at 6.15-8pm at Junction 3 Library. Our theme will be The Power of Collaboration. Snacks and refreshments will be available.

Guest speakers:

Emma Dark is a marketer, designer, and founder of The Creative Crunch, blending creativity and strategy to craft unique brand stories and impactful campaigns.

Helen Sanders has not only achieved success as a business recruitment expert but also made history as the BBC's first-ever female football commentator!

Hiring on a Shoestring: Building your dream team even when funds are tight!

Join Expert in Residence Helen Sanders, founder of Your People Partners, on Monday 30 September from 1-3pm at Bristol Central Library for a workshop on attracting top talent with limited resources.

Helen will share creative hiring strategies, including leveraging the gig economy, tapping into your network, and using fractional hiring. Ideal for solopreneurs, startup founders, and anyone looking to build a great team on a budget.

The workshop will be repeated on Wednesday 30 October at 10am-12pm at Bristol Central Library.

Monday 9 September at 10am
~ Content creation & video marketing – create compelling messages
with MIINT Marketing

Monday 9 September at 1pm
~ Launch your growth with paid social media advertising on Facebook
with MIINT Marketing
 
Wednesday 11 September at 2pm
& Monday 21 October at 10am
~ Start-up guide to business numbers and terms - explained and simplified
with Business Consultant Nigel Lloyd-Jones

Wednesday 18 September at 10am
~ Sales – a Ready Steady Grow workshop
with Lisa Yelland Coaching

Wednesday 18 September at 2pm
~ Foundations for success: building a business plan
with Business Consultant Amy Morse

Thursday 19 September at 6.15pm
~ CatalystHER networking event for women
Guest speakers Helen Sanders & Emma Dark
 
Wednesday 25 September at 9.45am
~ Introduction to starting a business – the essentials course
with BIPC Staff & Business Consultant Nigel Lloyd-Jones

Monday 30 September at 10am
~ A start-up guide to building a marketing plan
with BIPC Staff
(Hybrid event - attend in person or online)

Monday 30 September
~ Hiring on a Shoestring: Building your dream team even when funds are tight!
with Helen Sanders of Your People Partners

Monday 7 October at 10am
~ SEO and analytics - drive more traffic, improve visibility
with MIINT Marketing

Wednesday 9 October at 10am
~ Accounts & bookkeeping - a Ready Steady Grow workshop
with GS Accounting & Bookkeeping Ltd

Wednesday 16 October
~ Crafting your irresistible offer - sales workshop
with Lisa Yelland Coaching

Wednesday 30 October
~ Hiring on a Shoestring: Building your dream team even when funds are tight!
with Helen Sanders of Your People Partners

Our Ready, Steady, Grow programme of two hour workshops is free for businesses/residents in Bristol and surrounding area. The programme is a BIPC Bristol initiative funded by the Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) through the West of England Combined Authority.

Selected weekdays
~ Business & IP information clinics
~ Marketing
~ Planning for success
with BIPC Bristol Staff

Mondays
Website design & build for start-ups
with Alice O'Neill of Web Wisdom

Thursdays
~ Digital marketing - developing a strategy
with Hanna Popova of Keepnetics

Wednesday 2 October
~ Intellectual Property advice clinic with IP Attorney
with Lewis Hands of Handsome IP (Bath)

Thursday 19 September, Thursday 17 October
~ Musicians rights clinic / IP for creative enterprises
with Mark Wilden of 3PB Barristers

This issue arose in a case resolved last month between the Staffordshire driveway cleaning business “EasyJetwash” and the owners of the airline brand “easyJet”.

Small-business owner Jozsef Spekker claimed he was aware of the potential for an objection to his trading name from easyJet, so he applied for a trade mark assuming it would provide assurance for using the name.

However, the trade mark was registered in the form pictured here, protecting specifically the full-six word phrase combined with a distinctive logo. In easyGroup’s opinion, he should have known this would not permit his use of the domain name “easyjetwash.com” in the course of trade, where there is much greater similarity to the existing easyjet.com trade mark.

The Chairman of easyGroup stated, “Mr. Spekker deliberately set out to profit from the reputation of easyJet […] by using the exact word in his domain”.

The case was settled before reaching court, with Mr. Spekker surrendering the trade mark and agreeing to pay damages and legal fees. He has been given a concessionary 18 months to educate his customers about the rebranding of his business.

BIPC Bristol helps businesses avoid the consequences of trademark infringement through free one-to-one sessions with IPO-trained staff and monthly sessions with IP Attorney Lewis Hands of Handsome IP.

COBRA can be accessed on all PCs at Bristol Libraries. If you have a Bristol Libraries card, you can also use COBRA from home by clicking on the link below and submitting your card number.

Launching a new business has many key components, as you may have seen on the BIPC web site or newsletters, including from researching the market place, identifying customer buying patterns or how the new business should be structured, plus are there any IP matters to consider such as trade marks.

Planning is frequently mentioned in terms of developing a Business Plan to focus people on what is required to build their business.  This planning process will need to in depth consider the various financial aspects, from the costs of the product / service, the associated business overheads, be those storage, shipping, technology, insurance, accounting etc.  Ultimately, it is vital that the income that can be generated covers the sales and operating costs, plus importantly provide the level of personal income to the business owners.

Therefore, getting to grips with the key financial numbers as soon as possible will better enable you to go forward knowing what to expect and to have clear goals on turnover and expenditure.

As for what comes first, the chicken or the cash - well, I shall leave you to consider that one ...