Starting up in Business

Looking at how to start your own business but not sure where to begin? Our Starting Up in Business evening course can help you to get take the next steps.

Taught over 10-weekly evening classes, this part-time course will highlight the key considerations for a business Start Up, from marketing and sales to finance and legal requirements.

Topics will include:

• The psychology behind starting a business and processes involved
• Business formats
• Market research
• The importance of cash flow.

Who is it for?

If you have an idea for a business – or you've recently started one - this course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to turn your business into profit.

Timetable

Starting up in Business takes place once a week at 18.30 for 10 weeks.

City Short Courses follow the academic year, delivering courses over three terms. These include:

• Autumn - October
• Spring - January
• Summer - April

Benefits

• Develop entrepreneurial skills and gain essential knowledge in planning, marketing and managing finance
• Led by industry experts who have started businesses themselves
• Combines academic expertise with practical knowledge
• Delivered as 10-weekly evening classes online

Over the 10 weekly sessions on our Business Start Up course, you will:

• Understand the stages involved in setting up a business
• Gather an understanding of the financial needs and legal requirements for a small business
• Be able to construct and prepare and present a business plan
• Understand the nature and requirements of the market and marketing
• Budgeting to enable better business cash flow management.

Topics will include:

• The psychology behind starting a business and processes involved
• Business Plans and marketing plans
• Legal identities, intellectual property and brand development
• Understanding financial information and books of account
• Quality control production issues and international trade issues
• Customer relationship management, licensing and affiliates
• Controlling resources and reducing overheads in the business
• Use of digital, customer engagement and brand personality
• Raising finance and an overview of grants.

Each week you will focus on a main subject topic and a supplementary topic depending on the level of classroom involvement. You’ll be encouraged to do research in your own time. You may choose to write a business plan while studying the course, although this is not compulsory.

There is no formal assessment and you are not given any formal qualifications on completion of the course However, if you attend 70 percent of the classes you will be awarded an official City, University of London certificate.

We do not ask for any prior knowledge or experience to enrol on the Starting Up in Business course, but you should have developed – or be keen to develop - your own business idea.

Anyone who has just started running their own business, or is thinking of doing so, will benefit.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.