Spring to Action Ltd

About Spring to Action Ltd

Spring provides support to people looking to establish new business enterprises in the East Midlands.

Its services for small businesses and start-ups, including social enterprises, enable them to thrive and survive. There is a particular focus on under-represented groups, including women, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, young people and the third age.

Spring supports government regeneration policies through devising and managing a range of publicly-funded projects and initatives.

With offices in Leicester and Derby, Spring responds to business needs quickly and efficiently, providing a personal one-to-one service based on the founding Directors' experience and expertise in running a range of enterprise support projects.

Spring's client base now extends to all small business and social enterprises in the region and it delivers:

• Project and programme management
• Business advice, mentoring and consultancy
• Business events and training

To find out more contact Kate Cowan on 0116 217 9250 or email kate.cowan@springtoaction.co.uk or continue on to read Spring's blog.

 

All new January 2012 business startup workshops

New year, new start - isn't that the common saying at this time of year?  In our experience, it's particuarly true of people thinking of starting a business.  January is an extremely popular time to consider a change of worklife balance and to set goals (and hopefully achieve them).

We're delighted to start this year off with some new workshops, courtesy of our involvement in the Enterprise As a Life project.  You can follow it on twitter @enterprisaslife or read the blog at www.enterpriseasalife.org.uk

Dates are:

• Thursday 19th January
• Friday 20th January
• Thursday 26th January
• Friday 27th January
• Thursday 9th February
• Friday 10th February

All workshops are held 9.30am - 12.30am at St Martins House, 7 Peacock Lane, Leicester, LE1 5PZ

Contact us to book your place and find out more about how we can help you start a business in Leicester on 0116 217 9250 or email kate.cowan@springtoaction.co.uk

This project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Leicester City Council.

Christmas Opening Hours

Please note the following Christmas opening hours for Spring to Action Ltd:

The office will be closed from 5pm on Wednesday 21st December 2011 reopening at 9am on Tuesday 3rd January 2012.

 

Messages will be taken during that time on our office number 0116 217 9250, however please note this service will be closed on:

• Friday December 23rd - closed from 1pm
  
• Monday December 26th and Tuesday December 27th – Closed
• Monday January 2nd – Closed
  

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year and look forward to seeing you and working with you again in 2012.

New telephone number

Please note that Spring can now be contacted on our office number of 0116 217 9250, allowing you to pay a local rate if you're calling from Leicester.

New dates added - Selling to the Public Sector

Does you business or organisation want to sell to the public sector or improve their success rate?  A range of workshops have been organised including:

Introduction to Selling to the Public Sector - 14th November, 9.15am - 12.30pm

Completing a PQQ and ITT: Essential documents for tendering - 14th November, 1.15pm - 5.00pm

Writing a tender with impact - 6th December, 9.15am - 12.30pm

Advanced Tendering Skills: Winning the Bid - 6th December, 1.15am - 5.00pm

 

• All seminars will be held at Highpoint Conference Centre, 165 Glenfield Road, Leicester LE3 6DJ.
• Joining instructions will be sent to you once we have received the completed and Download Booking form - Selling to the Public Sector.

Get in touch with kate.cowan@springtoaction.co.uk or call 07921 992 194 for more information.

Learn how to do business with the public sector

Free workshops are on offer for Leicester City businesses wanting to trade with the public sector.  Learn how the public sector buys and how you'll need to get your business 'fit to supply'

This workshop provides you with the knowledge and skills to understanding the public sector procurement process, learn about Pre-Qualification Questionnaires and Tenders and put them into practice.  Discover how to write your bids, the policies required and insurance levels in addition to understanding the ways which public sector bodies buy goods and services. 

Delivered by BSS, with extensive experience in supporting small businesses in bidding and tendering for public sector work, their trainer will explain how to sell effectively to the public sector and improve your success rate.

Workshops:

31st October Book at http://31octobertendering.eventbrite.com/

14th November Book at http://14novembertendering.eventbrite.com/

28th November Book at http://28novembertendering.eventbrite.com/

All workshops are held at Highpoint Conference Centre, starting at 9am and include lunch.

New Business Startup Course Dates

As part of the Enterprise as a Life project, Spring are continuing to support people with helping local people bring their business ideas to life.  The project offers the basic business grounding of knowledge about tax, finance, marketing, writing a business plan but also offers the chance to improve people's confidence to sell themselves and manage people.

New dates for 2012 are:

Group 1: January 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th plus 9th and 10th February

Group 2: April 12, 20th, 26th 27th plus 2nd and 3rd May

More courses will take place over 2012, all will be held in a central city centre venue.

find out more at www.enterpriseasalife.org.uk or get in touch with Kate on 07921 992 194 or email kate.cowan@springtoaction.co.uk

15 years in Leicester

Pukaar News have written an article about Kate and her involvement in Spring, read it and other articles by Pukaar News. Other recent examples of press we've been featured in can be read here.

Our Leicester Day a Roaring Success

Our Leicester Day, held on 11th September in Leicester Market, was an opportunity for local community and not for profit organisations to showcase their work to Leicester.  It will be remembered not only for being very windy (we lost a brochure or two to the wind and puddle combination) but for being a clear indicator of the amount of work and community involvement the sector has in Leicester.

You can catch up with the day here, with a short film from Pukaar News.

Spring offers help to get your business idea off the ground

People with business ideas in Leicester are being offered support to consider self employment as a viable career option.

As well as one to one support the project offers you specialist workshops to help you understand the key aspects of starting a business and to build your confidence and motivation.  After you’ve participated in these workshops to provide you with basic business knowledge you’ll be supported to start with access to a business mentor.

The project, Enterprise As a Life, is open to anyone resident in Leicester City over the age of 19 years.  You may either have a clear idea or several ideas and not sure which to follow. We’ll help you with the information you’ll need to make that decision.

The next course starts on 20^th September, at 9.30am at St Martin’s House in the heart of the city centre (next to the Guildhall and Cathedral).  Get in touch to book your place.

All this support is offered free of charge, thanks to funding from the European Regional Development Fund and Leicester City Council.

For more information contact Kate Cowan on 0116 217 9250 or email kate.cowan@springtoaction.co.uk

Inspiring Enterprising Communities

(C) www.talgarthmill.com

Village SOS has been made into a TV programme, fronted by Sarah Beeny who seems to be everywhere right now.  It shows us the stories of how villages have spent their cash, raised from a competition last year to find 6 communities to revive their communities through enterprise.

When I wrote about it back last year it was hard to imagine the wealth and variety of ideas communities would come up with. They didn't disappoint tonight. Talgarth village in Wales resurrected an old mill, turning it into a working flour mill where they create local bread in an artisan bakery and have opened an on-site cafe as another income source.

65 years on from its last use, the mill has been bought back to life by talented and inspiring villagers in just a single year.

At a time when the UK faces internal challenges threatening our community life, this is a tale of people coming together, sharing skills, talents, experience and a desire to make positive change. 

This show was so popular I can't even get on their website to tell you more - maybe you'll have more luck in a day or so - check them out at www.talgarthmill.com and support them if you're in the area.