Business counsellors

Every Bradford Kickstart member has a business counsellor who offers support every step of the way. These are local professionals and experts who are employed full time by Bradford Kickstart to support and encourage our members - by sharing their experience, ideas and enthusiasm.

The business counsellors all have individual skills and knowledge so, when you join Bradford Kickstart, you will be introduced to the business counsellor who we believe best suits your needs and your business. The business counsellors all have access to the same services and opportunities available through Bradford Kickstart, and they work together to constantly improve the scheme and develop the help offered.

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Financial Support

The Kickstart Knowledgebase contains lots of information to help start-up businesses and growing enterprises to work out what funding they need and how to get it, including advice about how to forecast cash-flow, an introduction to VAT, and grants for developing new products to name just a few.

However, members of Bradford Kickstart also have access to financial help via their business counsellor. This includes assistance building a compelling business plan that can be used to secure a loan from a bank. Loans for £500 up to £30,000 are available to Bradford Kickstart members who have a strong business proposition but who cannot borrow from the bank. There is an additional £30,000 available for equity investments where appropriate, and business counsellors are able to access other funds to top up this amount if required.

These loans can be used for many purposes - from start-up capital to get your business up and running, to marketing and promotional exercises, and property grants to adapt your business premises - or even find new ones if required.

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Test trading

If you are over 25 and not on any NEW DEAL programme, or on incapacity benefit, then you can test your business idea with Bradford Kickstart - without losing your benefits.

If you have a great business idea that has the potential to generate sufficient profit, the test trading scheme within Bradford Kickstart allows you to advertise your product or service over a set period time and begin trading - so you can see how successful it could be.

During the test trading period any profit generated has to be paid into a client 'bank account' administered by Bradford Kickstart. However, you don't lose this money. During the test trading period some of the money may be used for business expenses agreed with your business counsellor. And, if you agree to continue working full time, any profit generated will be released to you as a lump sum at the end of the test trading period to provide working capital for your business and added financial security for you.

Your Bradford Kickstart business counsellor will be with you all the way - from discussing your initial ideas, to offering advice, guidance and practical assistance, as well as helping you to access all the additional support available through Bradford Kickstart and Kickstart Community.

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Professional services

Bradford Kickstart offers a range of services to young businesses in the Bradford District, particularly those who have been trading for less than 18 months and are hoping to grow their business, take on staff and register for VAT. These services include practical help with book-keeping, legal advice, IT support and human resources management.

Your business counsellor can help you set up an efficient book-keeping system, either manual or computer-based, and then provide training and on-going assistance. They can also put you in touch with an accountant, a legal advisor, an IT consultant, or a recruitment and human resources expert - who can give you free advice and guidance when you need it.

Regardless of whether you have already started your business, or are still at the planning stage, there is a vast amount of information available to Kickstart Community members in the Kickstart Knowledgebase, plus a broad range of training courses available through Bradford Kickstart - all designed to help you develop your professional skills and understanding. Once you are a member of Bradford Kickstart, you will have access to our Skills Brokerage Services so that we can match your knowledge and skills with the courses available. Not all of these courses are free but we will make it very clear when there is a charge - and help you find funding if it is available.

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Disability support

If you're disabled or suffer from a sensory loss Bradford Kickstart can help you. We have an occupational therapist who will work with you to identify existing and potential obstacles to self-employment and devise solutions to overcome them. These solutions might include additional services, home or business premises adaptations and provisions of specialist equipment.

Applicants must be members of Bradford Kickstart to qualify for this help. The Kickstart business counsellor you are allocated will be able to help with your application.

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Marketing

When it comes to starting or expanding your business, the image you portray to your customers is almost as important as the products you make and the services you offer. Your Bradford Kickstart business counsellor will be able to help you develop a marketing plan to cover every element of your business - from creating a great brand to producing a professional website. This includes the basics such as business cards, stationary and brochures, but also point-of-sale, e-commerce sites, advertising and public relations. And, as your business grows, your business counsellor can help you define sales strategies and customer-care policies - to ensure you keep the customers you win.

In some cases, your business counsellor may also be able to secure you a Bradford Kickstart loan to pay for one of these items, such as a website or leaflet.

There is lots of information on the Kickstart Knowledgebase about sales and marketing, including topics such as advertising and PR, marketing and market research, and selling and sales promotion.

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Skills & training

Details of many training courses are available on the Kickstart Community under events. However, Bradford Kickstart members are also able to join the Skills Brokerage Service so that we can help you find courses that best match your requirements and develop your skills and knowledge. We have very good links with local schools and colleges, and the University of Bradford - and, although Bradford Kickstart does not have grant funding for skills training, we will always try to help find other sources of funding if it is available.

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Jobs brokerage service

If your business doesn't work out this time, or if you decide that working for yourself just isn't for you, then Bradford Kickstart has a jobs brokerage service called Jobs@ who can help you find a new job.

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