SPEED Project

And it's good night from me...

2008-12-23T17:00:00.002Z

Well, the moment you've all been waiting for has arrived, the last post (from me anyway!)

As I'm sure you're aware, Nottingham Trent University is continuing to support Student Enterprise with it's new 'Enterprise Inc' programme, which Phil will be running next year. I have given him ownership of this blog, he may start up another but I trust you will continue to support him as you have supported me.

Anyhow, as my role here at The Hive ends, I thought I'd share with you some of the highlights of SPEED 2006-2008. Ahem, mentioning no names...

Best excuse for not turning up to the Hive- Ran out of petrol on the dual carriageway...hmmm...

Worst excuse for being late - "Erm, I was asleep" ...yes, obviously...

Most frequent comment, post SPEED - I didn't realise how long it would take to set up, I wish I'd worked a bit harder earlier...no-one can tell you this, but hopefully now you've learnt to seize the day...

Most hungover award...you know who you are...

Best of times...SPEED Awards 2008...what a good day, well worth the effort!

Worst of times...Today. It's over but only for me. For you guys it goes on. Keep on keeping on

See you on the other side

What makes a good entrepreneur?

2008-12-10T10:11:00.000Z

This article gives 5 key attributes of an entrepreneur, and while I recognise that they are all important, I question whether they are the most important ones. What about having a good idea? Is that an attribute worth having?

What do you think?

Public Relations and Press

2008-12-05T13:24:00.003Z

This is a great article on how to pitch your story. Although it's aimed at bloggers, it rings true for press releases too. If you were unable to attend either of the events on PR, have a read and get some tips on getting your story out there.

Unrelated on the same website, how to tell jokes...Oh dear, officially, I have seen it all...

Awards update

2008-12-02T14:28:00.014Z

Winners...well everyone who has completed their SPEED placement is a winner in our eyes...but we had to narrow it down otherwise we'd have been there all afternoon! Check out the slideshow above to see other photos. More to be posted on Facebook and pasted on lamp posts around the campus later...

All photography by Andrea Palmer www.andreapalmer.com

Highest Achiever, Kawsar Miah, with the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Councillor Gul Nawaz Khan. Not sure what Kawsar can see of to his right, but whatever it is, it's scaring him!

www.digicomsolutions.biz

Spirit of SPEED Award winner Amy Simons was presented her award by Chair of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Joan Taylor

www.pipalina.com

Andrea Palmer, winner of the Creative Business category, with Shed Simove - our guest speaker for the day

www.andreapalmer.com

Will Anderson, whose Contrast Media business won in the Multi Media Category www.freshguides.tv

Adam Roberts collecting his award for Best Business Plan from Shed
www.godine.co.uk

Nathan Thompson, who won the 'Shed Standing in a Hole' award, no hang on... he won Best Product!

www.newmsg.co.uk

Jasbir Bindarh picked up the award for Best Student Focussed Business with Student Solutions

www.studentsolutionsonline.co.uk

Julianne Catkin won the award for Social Business with 'Start 2 Learn' www.start2learn.co.uk

Glyn Daniel and Nedstar won for best Web Retailer

www.nedstar-uk.com

Blogging for Business

2008-11-28T12:25:00.005Z

photo credit: Will Lion

Is it worth blogging for business? This article seems to think so, although I'm not sure I agree with the daily updates instruction!

View from the Top

2008-11-25T09:49:00.003Z

First pictures of our exhibition. If you have any to add, please let me know or upload them to the Facebook group.

More to follow!

Thanks again!

2008-11-21T09:14:00.004Z

A quick post to say thanks for your support with our event at View from the Top, photos to follow.

If you weren't able to make the awards ceremony and networking lunch and still want to see what we've been up to, take a trip up to the 4th Floor of Waterstones and look at our exhibition. We'll be there until Monday 24th.

Oh and for those of you who took our marketing seminar with Russell Kennard, remember his willow pattern plate exercise??? I think this takes it one step further!

Celebration of SPEED at Nottingham Trent University

2008-11-12T11:51:00.004Z

To mark the final months of the SPEED (Student Placements for Entrepreneurs in Education) programme, Nottingham Trent University’s business incubation unit, The Hive, is holding an exhibition of SPEED businesses and projects.

The revolutionary programme has provided students taking a placement year the opportunity to set up and run their own business in The Hive, instead of pursuing a standard industrial work-placement scheme.

The event will take place during Enterprise Week at the View from the Top Gallery on the top floor of Waterstones Bookstore in Nottingham, from Wednesday, November 19 to Sunday, November 23.

We are really looking forward to meeting 'The Ideas Man' Shed Simove at our special event on Thursday 20th November, and also at Thirsty Thursday at Oceana at 6.30. Why not meet us there and network, learn and be inspired!

New Pathway To Enterprise Event

2008-11-10T13:07:00.002Z

‘Pathway to Enterprise’

Forthcoming Events

Wednesday 3 December 2008

12.00 to 2.00 pm

Hive Seminar Room

‘Getting to grips with PR Planning’

Presenter: Vivienne Tregidiga, Managing Director, Impact 108

Vivienne, whose senior management experience working in
newspapers & magazines spanning over 20 years, will deliver this
interactive workshop and will cover topics, such as:-

Getting your business out there
Public Persona
Your image
How do your customers perceive you
Crisis Management

Never under-estimate the value of PR and what it can do for small businesses
– not to be missed!

Suitable refreshments will be provided

If you are interested in attending this event,

please contact Karen Doxey on 0115 848 4354 or e-mail: karen.doxey@ntu.ac.uk

2008-11-03T10:00:00.000Z

We've been asked to distribute this information across our networks. It could be an interesting and informative event, check out the website for more details. It is the day before our event..forgotten what that is? Click here!

EXPO 2008

19 NOVEMBER 2008

EPIC CENTRE, LINCOLNSHIRE SHOWGROUND

EXPO in the East Midlands is an annual free event focusing on sustainability. It provides an opportunity to see how we can achieve our vision of a vibrant economy that values all our people and protects and enhances our environment locally and globally.

This year we are focusing on Climate Change and the ways that as a region we can respond innovatively to this serious challenge. The EXPO will provide a showcase of solutions for reducing our carbon impact of our buildings, our use of energy and resources, the goods and services we consume and the ways we move around. It provides a unique opportunity for networking across many sectors and to tour round the Epic Centre, the UK's largest 'green' conference and events centre.

Meetings at this year's EXPO include a Green Infrastructure Network event, Building Climate Friendly Communities workshop and a RSS seminar on low carbon design and renewable energy.

Full details are available at: http://www.emra.gov.uk/news/events/east-midlands-expo

New Hive@Mansfield Business

2008-10-28T11:08:00.006Z

Are you a professional or skilled person?
Are you working the way you want to?
Are you working enough?
Maybe you are a freelance or self-employed and would like to know what opportunities there are for you … who wouldn’t?

None of the above?

Are you are an employer who would appreciate a simple, time-efficient and cost effective way to recruit the skills you need for your business.
Would you like to avoid commissions and other hidden costs?

No?

Go for the back button then, UNLESS, of course you have managers, colleagues, family or friends who are frustrated by restrictive and expensive recruitment channels and would like to find a better way.

Share this post by clicking the little envelope icon below - and do someone a favour today.

Empowerment in recruitment begins with www.Qan-Du.com

Things are getting there, slowly!

2008-10-24T11:20:00.003+01:00

I am off to the View from the Top today to have a look at another exhibition that's similar in format to ours. I'm going to check out how they have hung their posters, fascinating I know but pretty important for our expo!

Things are coming together, but as I said to someone yesterday, I abandoned my to do list this week as it was actually distracting me. I have been a 'one-job-at-a-time worker' for the past few days, just so I can complete some tasks and move on. It's been quite liberating, I have to say!

I am beginning to get worried though, we've got a whole bunch of people joining us for the main event on the 20th November...WILL YOU BE THERE?

The GUEST SPEEDy interview- Denis Denisenko

2008-10-20T12:00:00.000+01:00

This interview features Denis, who's a SPEEDster in the West Midlands

www.copyfox.co.uk

–State your name for the record

Denis Denisenko

–Please tell us what problem your business solves in 50 words or less

It makes student life easier by providing free photocopying service

–Expand on your idea – how will you make money from it?

Companies finance the service and get advertised

–Explain who your customer is

Any company, charity or/and organisation interested in marketing to the youth

–Describe where you see yourself in 5 years’ time

I will be running a multi-million £ company.

PS We are expanding, so if you think you are an entreprenuerial type of person, do get in touch with me to discuss possible cooperation – dennis@copyfox.co.uk / 07892840399 / skype denis.denisenko

Random Questions

Who is your hero?

…a person in the mirror, honestly!

What sets the 'stars' apart?

2008-10-17T11:48:00.006+01:00

picture credit: Lily Zhu

We've been thinking about the 'Stars' of our SPEED programme here at NTU in advance of our celebration and awards ceremony in November.

I came across this blog post on Lateral Action which is very relevant to our thinking. Everyone has 'it' in them to be successful, but what have the stars got to set them apart? Mark McGuinness says

"Like many of us, the stars began with a dream. But dreams are cheap. Instead of sitting around daydreaming, they took action. Each of them did something very unusual. Something distinctive, outstanding, unique. They learned their craft. They worked hard. They took risks. They took their craft and transformed it into art. They took kicks in the teeth and learned from them. They got effective people on board. They got the word out. They promised and delivered, over and over again."

Read the rest of this well-written post here

Making our Mark

2008-10-16T11:50:00.002+01:00

We're on the Make Your Mark Website, check out our SPEED event for Enterprise week here

A celebration of the SPEED programme at Nottingham Trent University

2008-10-15T10:00:00.001+01:00

The event will take place during Enterprise Week at the View from the Top Gallery on the top floor of Waterstones Bookstore in Nottingham, from Wednesday, November 19 to Sunday, November 23.

Please do support the endeavours of our students over the last two years by coming along and networking with them.

Venue: View from the Top Gallery - Waterstones Bookstore, Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham

2008-10-13T16:42:00.001+01:00

The Hive has secured the services of a Bentley Jennison a leading accountancy company from within the city, for a series of accountancy surgeries. The first sessions were a sell-out and the feedback has been very positive;

Very useful - I would definitely recommend these - Mandy

Yes, it was great...John’s awesome he makes things very clear and simple - Simeon

Definitely worth it as it offers a second opinion and allows you to ask questions which you are unsure of but don’t want to keep going over with existing accounts – Adam

We are offering 40-minute one-one appointments – bookable in advance.

Next Session planned for:

November 2008

Hive Meeting Room

We consider this service to be a valuable opportunity for your business.

If you would like an appointment, please contact:

Karen Doxey on 0115 848 4354 or e-mail: karen.doxey@ntu.ac.uk

Patents

2008-10-01T11:21:00.002+01:00

Some useful lessons in patents, trademarks and design registraion can be learnt from this post on Steve Van Dulken's Patent Blog.
I'll reproduce it in full below:

The Tangle Teezer®

Dragons' Den is an entertaining TV programme as so often those asking for cash for their ideas are naive, but sometimes the experts do get it wrong. Shaun Pulfrey's Tangle Teezer® is an example.

A year ago he asked for £85,000 in return for a 15% stake in his new hairbrush. Its teeth are designed to flex just the right amount to minimise tugging while smoothing the cuticles, says a story on the invention. An experienced London hairdresser, Pulfrey had thought of the idea 15 years ago but only made a prototype in 2004. All the dragons dismissed it.

A few weeks ago, Boots agreed to stock the product at 600 stores. Turnover (largely on the Internet, at £9.95) is already £800,000 annually, a quarter of which is profit. It looks as if the dragons missed out on a nice profit.

I had a look at the intellectual property behind the idea. In March 2005 Pulfrey applied for a European Community trade mark for the name, probably his most powerful selling tool.

In March 2007 he applied for a British patent, which was published a week ago as a Hair care device .

Then in April 2007 he applied for a Community design, one of the drawings of which is shown here.

In October 2007 he applied for design protection in the USA with American "design patent" D576804.

Finally in January 2008 he filed for a US trade mark/ trademark for the name. There may be other applications waiting publication, such as, perhaps, an American patent application.

The difference between designs and patents is, broadly speaking, that the former protects the appearance while the latter protects how it works. He used Marks & Clerk, a firm of patent attorneys, to advise him on his strategy and to write the applications.

A problem for anyone interesting in foreign protection is that this must be sought within 12 months of filing for a patent, or within 6 months of filing for a design. "Filing out of convention" by missing those deadlines means that your own domestic filings can be used to show that the idea is not new. Many who might be interested in filing abroad do not (yet) have the finance, or are not certain of product appeal, and therefore decide not to gamble on filing. Failure to file in a country means that the idea can be used there by others.

Building an email list - but don't forget the exhibition in November!

2008-09-11T10:56:00.002+01:00

Can you use any of the tips in this seminar?

PLus you have to watch this guy's attempt at a viral video...!

Searching Intellectual Property

2008-08-29T09:06:00.004+01:00

I'm by no means an expert on Patents, Design Rights and Copyright. I rely very heavily on the Intellectual Property Office, but luckily their website is very clear and loaded with help and information. If you need any guidance on what intellectual property rights you can secure, click here to visit it before going to an expensive Patent Attorney.

Another UK organisation with a vast body of knowledge is the British Library, whose patent blog is written by Steve Van Dulken. I read it through my RSS reader, and he probably updates about once a week, which is just about right in my book, many more update and I have too many blogs to read on a daily basis! Mostly he’s pointing out the quirky and ridiculous patent submissions through history, but sometimes he gives an insight into everyday but revolutionary products, such as the Dyson vacuum cleaner.

The British Library has a Facebook group for aspiring entrepreneurs, click here to visit it. They also have a YouTube channel, which for some reason I can’t locate right now, so check out this video on their Business and IP centre here.

I also subscribe to a website called ‘Killer Start-Ups’, which reviewed a new start up for searching patents. A Patent Search is the first thing you should do if you think you have invented something unique, and this website may help with that. A patent search will show you:

a) If you actually have got a unique invention,

b) Whether you’re infringing someone else’s intellectual property and

c) If it’s really worth pursuing!

If you want to read more about Patents and intellectual property in a language that doesn’t confuse or befuddle, read ‘A Better Mousetrap’ by Peter Bissell and Graham Parker. It makes it clear what you can do yourself and what is better left to the professionals. You don’t even have to buy it, NTU Library has a copy (I know I ordered it!)

Another take on tasks

2008-08-22T10:42:00.003+01:00

So I have a to-do list and it seems to works ok.

The Nag is another way of working with tasks, in that they send you 'nags' of things you might do (in their case to help the environment or whatever). So you get a nudge or reminder to do things that you might not otherwise do.

One way of doing this for yourself is to set reminders, for example using Microsoft Outlook, you can set tasks with dates way off in the future. They might be 're-visit business plan' to remind you that you need to look again at the goals you set yourself when you started out, or 'pay council tax' if you always forget to do this regular but mundane task. then you can just forget about it until it becomes due.

Genius

More to do lists

2008-08-11T11:18:00.005+01:00

You'll remember our last post on to-do lists . Well, much as I love the Zen-like simplicty of Now Do This, it turns out it's a bit linear for my mind.

I've gone back to Ta-Da list, because I don't have to write my list in the order I need to do things. But honestly, for everyday tasks I have gone back to recycling scrap paper and writing up a list for each morning, either before the work of the day starts, or just before packing up time.

Picture credit:Florian

I also heard something somewhere that you should aim to do three things off a list per day, to avoid running yourself down because you're not clearing the 'Learn Esperanto' item that's been on your list for the last 3 million years. Dustin Wax from Stepcase Lifehack recommends you have a Someday/Maybe list. Could work, except would this list simply grow with no incentive to tackle the items on it.

Others recommend that you break the items on the 'long' list down and put the first step of that onto your daily list.

So in order to learn Esperanto, I need to find a free podcast course. The next day I could go to iTunes and sign up to the podcast, day three, download onto iPod, day four watch first episode and so on. These steps would go onto my daily task list one at a time and before I know it I'll be asking 'Ĉu vi parolas Esperanton?'

Oh and for the TV fans, Learn Esperanto was on Arnold J Rimmer's to do list in series 2 of the BBC show Red Dwarf. How do I know this?... Wasted youth.

What's the weather like up there?

2008-08-04T16:14:00.004+01:00

We are so lucky, we've got the chance to exhibit at Nottingham's creative venue, View from the Top!

The NTU SPEED exhibition will run from 19th to 24th November, with set up day on the 18th. I'd love for everyone to exhibit something, but I guess I'm too much of a realist to think that would happen (Violins please!)

As a reward for all your hard work over the last two years, we're even putting on a SPEED awards ceremony! The special guest star is booked (can't release the name just yet though!), the catering is being sorted and the invites being written.

Will you be involved? Leave a comment and tell me what you'd like to see! Plus, guesses about the identity of the mystery guest are welcome!

Are you a 'Gym Gerbil'?

2008-08-01T14:25:00.009+01:00

It's funny what can give you inspiration. Mine often comes from other blogs, conversations with people and seeing people's business ideas slowly gain momentum.

So I guess it's not that unusual that a blog post would make me think 'hey there's something in that!' But this article from Stepcase Lifehack is about getting into a rut when you workout, not varying your gym routine and your level of fitness suffering as a result. I should add at this point that I am most definitely not a gym bunny, so I certainly haven't fallen into a rut. (In fact the rut just is a scratch in the earth to me)

this quote from the post says it all:

Your body is highly adaptive when it comes to exercise. Especially when it comes to these low intensity, gerbil-on-a-running-wheel-type routines. We see results at first because just doing any type of exercise at all is enough of a change to elicit some type of metabolic reaction. In order to keep seeing results you need to create variety. And the more gym experience you have the chances are the more variety you’ll need. Your body will become increasingly more adaptive as you make progress.

It got me thinking though, about how variety can make a business leaner and fitter. Whether it's in your advertising, your sales call, your daily routine even, are you doing things just because you've always done it that way? Consider mixing it up a little, and see what happens.

And the real reason this article appealed to me? My gerbil Jevon (RIP) looked just like the one at the top of the Lifehack article. I'll dig out a photo and you can compare and contrast.

The SPEEDy interview AP Photography

2008-07-31T10:00:00.001+01:00

–State your name for the record

Andrea Palmer

–Please tell us what problem your business solves in 50 words or less

People have many special times in their lives. They want to be able to store their memories in visual images. Businesses and public bodies are increasingly using visual media to get their message across. Traditionally commercial photography is boring and expensive. I offer competitive but tailored solutions with my commercial packages

–Expand on your idea – how will you make money from it?

I offer all kinds of photography packages from special events to commercial shoots. People can order and pay for their photography online. In fact I see my website www.andreapalmer.com as an online shopfront, where a large proportion of my business takes place

–Explain who your customer is

Businesses, public bodies, such as councils or the police force, and the general public

–Describe where you see yourself in 5 years’ time

I’d like to have a studio and have a business employing staff

Random Questions – choose one and answer

Who would you most like to have dinner with? Someone who can make me successful, quickly!!

Links for Creatives, but not exclusively!

2008-07-30T10:28:00.006+01:00

Fellow Hiver Debbie Bryan told me about the first of these links, Image Loft. It's a website where you can upload photos of your work for journalists to use in publications. Making sure you have your pictures tagged with useful keywords will be crucial, so people can actually find your work. Debbie has since had her work picked up for use in three magazines, including the Financial Times! Click the image or the link above to go there...

Rhea Clements has registered on Indie Quarter, a UK based Designer's Blog. It looks great, for promoting your creative business, for finding inspiration from the other designers, or for shopping! Click the image or the link to visit it...

Zen, and the art of to-do lists

2008-07-25T12:48:00.003+01:00

Anyone who's sat in an office with me for more than five minutes, will probably know that I like to write a list of things to do. Some of you have noticed that if I don't write down what I say I'm going to do, I probably won't do it. Not necessarily because I look back at my notes, but because the act of writing it down seems to store it in my head.

Plus, I have a note of it to prompt me when I forget.

Head like a sieve.

So when someone gives me a tip on to-do lists, organising my day, generally being task focussed, I feel the need to share it. I found a lovely little web app today that I'm just busting to share. Unfortunately for you guys, there's no-one here right now, so you're all gonna get it!

Its so simple, it's great!

Read this blog post on Manage Life about making tasks easy!

2008-07-10T08:57:00.007+01:00

I subscribe to the EnterQuest Bulletin, which is a weekly newsletter about small business issues, and usually includes great articles about sales, staff, commercial behaviour and so on.

I read this morning's headline article as I sat in a (very) quiet Hive, and thought how interesting it was that the Hive provides just such a workspace to NTU SPEED students free of charge and very few of you actually use it. How bizarre! I reproduce the article below, but if you want to read it in it's original location, click here (actually, I'm hoping they'll have it posted by the time you click it!)

The benefits of serviced workspace

Finding suitable and affordable workspace has always been a major hurdle for people deciding to start their own business. In fact, many individuals who initially go down the freelance route often continue to use their home well into their third or fourth year because of the obstacles in taking on permanent premises.

Business owners are faced with a dilemma because location and the working environment can be the difference between success and failure. Yet property management is not something you'll want to worry about, let alone a long-term lease.

Serviced offices enable businesses to have accommodation that suits their needs without the hassle of leasing and managing a place of their own.

One of the main reasons why many businesses choose to take space in a serviced office is the flexibility it gives them. Conventional leases, which typically last for 10 years or more, tie businesses in to their offices. This means that if during the life of a lease, a business's space requirements change, they are unable to adjust without incurring significant costs, administrative issues or delays.

In a serviced office, tenants are able to expand and contract as they wish, usually at very short notice. This can be beneficial to a business when times are good and you need more space quickly, or equally when times are bad and you need to contract.

As well as flexibility, serviced offices allow businesses to enjoy an all-inclusive service. For a fixed price, tenants can expect to receive everything they will need to run their business, from desks, chairs and telephones to staffed reception desks, cleaning services and refreshment facilities.

The costs involved will vary depending on location, how many desks are taken and the length of stay, but serviced offices should not be thought of as an expensive option once all the associated costs involved in leasing or buying an office are taken into account.

Small businesses can benefit greatly from serviced offices, with the ability to set up quickly (within days) and enjoy facilities they would otherwise not be able to afford.

While serviced offices will never be a solution for every business, the flexibility and convenience of serviced offices can offer a great stepping stone on the road to expansion.

So how about it people, are you gonna take advantage of the facilities offered to you?

Competition- just for the Chicas

2008-07-04T12:29:00.000+01:00

Women make up half of our population, but interestingly nowhere near half of our entrepreneurs, company bosses or managers. According to the BBC, almost half of private companies in the US are headed up by women but the UK is lagging behind. Many agencies are trying different strategies to encourage women in the workplace, one of whom is the Make Your Mark campaign.

They have launched the Girls, Make Your Mark Competition which is designed to find and reward outstanding female achievement in enterprise. Find out more by clicking the link, and most importantly enter it! (If you're a chica that is)

But hurry, the closing date is the 21st July 2008

2008-07-02T14:13:00.003+01:00

Well done to Kawsar, another glowing report in the local press. If you picked up a copy of the Evening Post on Tuesday, you'll have seen three beatific grins looking out at you from the business pages (That's Phil, K and Chris Hall) If you didn't, read the article here

Kawsar's website is www.digicomsolutions.biz and is currently under construction.

Want to promote your business? Get in touch!

New Competition

2008-06-25T12:50:00.000+01:00

Ever dreamt of winning a high profile award? We've been told about the Midlands Business Awards, why not find out more?

This year entries have become even easier and can be submitted online, to enter please visit the website: www.midlandsbusinessawards.com

The categories for entries are:

- MIDLANDS ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS NETWORKER OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS EXPORTER OF THE YEAR

- MIDLANDS NETWORKING CLUB OF THE YEAR

You are now able to enter the awards, please log on to the website (nominations may be made for yourself, your company. as well as for any other company or person for any of the categories)

If you want some help with your entry, let us know!

Promote your website

2008-06-24T09:30:00.004+01:00

Got a business, got a website, sit back and wait for the cash to roll in. Hmmm, brilliant strategy! (At your SPEED interview, you might have got a few huffs and puffs from Mr C, showing his true feelings about this strategy)

Just one tiny little problem...where are your customers? Oh hang on, they're still there. Everyone knows that the web is where everyone is doing their business these days (*pah, don't get me started on that one!)

So why aren't they buying from you? Could it be, shock horror, no-one knows you're there? But, you have a website, surely they know about it (note heavy sarcasm).

Search Engine Optimisation - surely that will solve all your problems. Ok, it might help, but don't assume it's easy, because if it is, all of your competitors are doing the same.

How to promote your on-line business? Answers on a postcard please...

Feedback

2008-06-23T09:48:00.006+01:00

Getting feedback from your customer can be tricky. We are all told that market research is important in writing your business plan for start-up. But what about on-going feedback about your product or service?

photo from urban mixer

Comments on a blog such as those below (!) can be useful, but how many of us really have time to formulate and then type in our ideas? How about a poll? Blogger allows me to include a poll in my blog template (see top left) but how useful are the results?

There are plenty of survey websites and online polling such as Survey Monkey, NTU's own Autoform (used by our SPUR researcher Sara Chamberlain) and I found this one recently- Poll Daddy

The first two rely on you having access to the target group, as you have to direct people to the survey. There may be random people out there who do online surveys for fun, but let's face it, would you trust their answers? Maybe you would... Anyhow, Poll Daddy seems to allow you to survey people who visit your website, so as long as you get the traffic, maybe you'll get results.

What do you think, what ways of market research work best for you? Comment below!

Parkinsons Law - update

2008-06-18T10:00:00.000+01:00

How spooky is that? A post about Parkinson's Law, then Michael Parkinson is named a NTU's new chancellor!!

The SPEEDy interview- Tribbles Giftstore

2008-06-17T14:17:00.003+01:00

–State your name for the record - Diane Ryan

–Please tell us what problem your business solves in 50 words or less

Brings lots of themed ideas together, saving the internet shopper time, effort and money when gift shopping for friends, family and pets

–Expand on your idea – how will you make money from it?

I sell at retail, via my website and on eBay, a wide range of quality animal themed gifts and accessories

–Explain who your customer is

Primarily women, aged 35, looking to spend £25+ per visit, with a keen interst and awareness in animal welfare

–Describe where you see yourself in 5 years’ time

Running the business as part of a larger enterprise, covering holistic animal care. Having the income to enjoy the lifestyle I’ve been working towards – to make a sizeable contribution to animal welfare.

Random Questions –

Who would you most like to have dinner with? The Dalai Lama

Parkinsons Law

2008-06-08T10:00:00.000+01:00

I have recently had conversations with some of you that your business is taking a lot longer to set up than you had originally anticipated.

I found the blog post below really interesting. I have found that when I worked for myself I had plenty of time to complete projects, but they still took up all that time. Have you noticed that if your boss gives you a task, even one with a really tight deadline, you can pull out all the stops to deliver on time, but if you don't really have a time limit, you'll take longer to complete it.

I guess what I'm suggesting is that if things are taking longer to set up than you thought, maybe you need to be your own 'boss' and set tight deadlines for yourself. You may find yourself delivering things much more quickly!

My last employer, the award winning Neil Coles would always say that work expands to the time available, and it's quite true. What I hadn't realised that someone had proved it. It's called Parkinson's Law and you can use it to your advantage, as the following blog post from Lifehack.org suggests...if you don't want to read it here, click this link to read it on their website

Author : Joel Falconer

Work expands to fill the time available for its completion. If you’re into productivity, you’ll know this proverb as Parkinson’s Law. This interesting statement was made by Cyril Northcote Parkinson, the famous British historian and author, in 1955 - first appearing as the opening line in an article for The Economist and later becoming the focus of one of Parkinson’s books, Parkinson’s Law: The Pursuit of Progress.

Parkinson was qualified to make such a statement, having worked in the British Civil Service, seeing first hand how bureaucracy ticks. Bureaucracy itself is a by-product of our culture, thanks to the limiting belief that working harder is somehow better than working smarter and faster.

Parkinson’s Law - work expands to fill the time available for its completion - means that if you give yourself a week to complete a two hour task, then (psychologically speaking) the task will increase in complexity and become more daunting so as to fill that week. It may not even fill the extra time with more work, but just stress and tension about having to get it done. By assigning the right amount of time to a task, we gain back more time and the task will reduce in complexity to its natural state.

I once read a response to Parkinson’s Law insinuating that if it were an accurate observation, one would be able to assign a time limit of one minute to a task and the task would become simple enough to complete within that minute. But Parkinson’s Law is exactly that - an observation, not some voodoo magic. It works because people give tasks longer than they really need, sometimes because they want some ‘leg room’ or buffer, but usually because they have an inflated idea of how long the task takes to complete. People don’t become fully aware of how quickly some tasks can be completed until they test this principle.

Most employees who defy the unwritten rule of “work harder, not smarter” know that, despite the greater return on investment for the company, it’s not always appreciated. That’s related to the idea that the longer something takes to complete, the better quality it must inherently be. Thankfully, the increasing trend of telecommuted employment is changing this for those lucky early adopters, but only because employers have no idea what you’re doing with all that spare time!

Let’s look at a few ways you can apply Parkinson’s Law to your life, get your to-do list checked off quicker and spend less of the work day filling in time just to look busy. This is relevant whether you work in an office or at home, since “work harder, not smarter” is a cultural idea that many individuals fall prey to even when nobody’s supervising their work.

Running Against the Clock

Make a list of your tasks, and divide them up by the amount of time it takes to complete them. Then give yourself half that time to complete each task. You have to see making the time limit as crucial. Treat it like any other deadline. Part of reversing what we’ve been indoctrinated with (work harder, not smarter) is to see the deadlines you set for yourself as unbreakable - just like the deadlines your boss or clients set.

Use that human, instinctual longing for competition that fuels such industries as sports and gaming to make this work for you. You have to win against the clock; strive to beat it as if it were your opponent, without taking shortcuts and producing low-quality output. This is particularly helpful if you’re having trouble taking your own deadlines seriously.

At first, this will be partially an exercise in determining how accurate your time projections for tasks are. Some may be spot on to begin with, and some may be inflated. Those that are spot on may be the ones that you are unable to beat the clock with when you halve the time allotment, so experiment with longer times. Don’t jump straight back to the original time allotment because there may be an optimum period in between.

If you work at a computer, a digital timer is going to be very useful when you start doing this. It’ll also save you a bit of time, because a timer allows you to see at a glance how much longer you have. Using your clock involves some addition and subtraction! There are free utilities available for OS X, Linux, and Windows.

Crush the Cockroaches of the Productivity World

Look for those little time-fillers, like email and feed reading, that you might usually think take ten or twenty (or even, god forbid, thirty!) minutes. These are the “cockroaches” of the productivity world - little pests that do nothing but make your life a pain in the backside, pains that you can’t seem to get rid no matter how much you run around the house with a shoe or bug spray.

Instead of doing the leisurely 20-30 minute morning email check, give yourself five minutes. If you’re up for a challenge, go one better and give yourself two minutes. Don’t give these tasks any more attention until you’ve completed everything on your to-do list that day, at which point you can indulge in some email reading, social networking and feed reading to your heart’s content. Not that I recommend you spend all your spare time that way!

These are tasks where 10% of what you do is important and 90% is absolutely useless. This forces you to tend to the important tasks - feeds you need to read in order to improve in your work (for instance, if you’re a web designer who needs to be read up on new practices), and emails that are actually high-priority. Experiment with how far you can take this. Make your criteria for what makes an email important, really strict and the penalties harsh! That means using the Delete button, by the way - I’m not advocating violence against your colleagues.

You can experiment with Parkinson’s Law and squashing your deadlines down to the bare minimum in many areas of your life. Just be conscious of the line between ‘bare minimum’ and ‘not enough time’ - what you’re aiming for is a job well done in less time, not a disaster that’s going to lose you employment or clients.

10 Common Start Up Errors

2008-06-06T10:00:00.000+01:00

This blog post was found on www.localbusinessadvisor.co.uk and I reproduce it in full here. Food for thought!

10 common start-up errors

Every new business owner kicks off with big dreams - but it's essential to keep your feet on the ground and avoid the kind of mistakes that cause around half of start-ups to close down within three years. Here are ten of the most common errors to look out for

Bad planning. The lack of a business plan, or a poorly executed one, will drastically reduce your chances of getting funding. It can also leave you underestimating the running costs of your business and overestimating what you can achieve. Make it a priority to write a comprehensive business plan.
Over-optimism. Positive thinking is good but believing your market to be bigger than it is, or that customers will pay over-the-odds for your product or service, is foolhardy. Rigorous market research will help set your sights at a realistic level.
Splashing the cash. Over-investment in property, plant or other fixed assets can lead to cashflow problems, as can over-stocking. Think carefully before making major purchases and carry out efficient stock control.
Easy credit. Offering customers and suppliers credit terms which are too lenient can leave you, again, with cashflow difficulties. Carry out thorough credit checks and make credit terms clear. This is especially important in today's uncertain economic climate.
Ignoring the bottom line. Concentrating on turnover rather than profit is dangerous. You can use up your financial reserves and find yourself unable to fulfil orders - in other words, you'll be over-trading. Slow and considered expansion is preferable.
Dependence on a single customer. Concentrating on one big customer or supplier will leave you at their mercy. They could go under, choose to go elsewhere or start dictating terms. Spread your risk.
Appointing the wrong people. Your employees are one of your business's major investments. Choose your people carefully. You should be sure enough of their abilities to delegate with confidence.
Overlooking the competition. Setting up your own business will consume most of your time and energy - but you should never take your eye off competitors. Remember, too, that competition can come from unexpected directions.
Complacency. Interest hikes, instability in overseas markets, changes in the regulatory landscape and technology leaps cannot always be anticipated. You need to have reserves to weather difficult times and consider new directions if necessary.
Failure to acknowledge your limitations.Taking independent, external advice from experts such as accountants, lawyers or business advisers is essential. Don't assume you can do everything yourself - the most successful entrepreneurs know when they need help and seek it out.

PDA - Digital Content Blog

2008-06-05T12:45:00.003+01:00

You know I love all things web and so as you can imagine, I love this blog! I especially like the elevator pitch feature, it's a bit like Killer Start-ups but less often so easier to keep up with. Great for showing me what new ideas are out there and where technology and start ups are moving.

Interestingly, Twitter (what is that? I'll let Lee LeFever show you) is the service so many people are creating platforms and services for. I have signed up for it, just to find out what it's about. You can follow all sorts of people, even me if you want! I'm following, amongst other the Mars Phoenix Lander, which 'tweets' about itself in the first person, so lovable!

Anyhow, could you pitch your start up on their elevator pitch feature? Could you answer their questions?

Tag lines

2008-06-04T10:00:00.000+01:00

Do you need a tag line? A sentence that encapsulates your business ethos, that sums up your product or service in one sweet phrase.

The ones that work...try and guess the brand from the line.
I'm loving it
Obey your thirst
You're worth it
Be your own label( no? ok, Clarks shoes!)

This we bsite has a great database of tag lines and slogans from all kinds of brands. Great for inspiration or testing that your idea is original (or not!)

Do you have any examples of ones that don't work?

Summer School

2008-06-03T16:44:00.002+01:00

Just to show you that life here at NTU does not stop after term ends, here are a list of courses available from the school of Art and Design

Stats all folks!

2008-05-28T16:13:00.008+01:00

Considering these words mostly go unread, I am chancing the hideous pun in the title!

As you know I can't really get enough of the internet. Now I can't stop looking at my blog stats. It's intriguing to try and figure out what caused spikes in the numbers, why there's been no views for a few days and then bam, 20 visitors! I am pleased to know that there's probably max 60 people who know about the blog from me or through the SPEED Project, but I'd say we've had a good proportion of them view it!

It's also interesting to see what people search for...for example SPEED Project blog (pretty obvious) Hive SPEED Project, Coypu Speed (???). But since I put on the post about market research sources, I've had 5 visits from the keyword Silobreaker and funnily enough some of them were interested enough to have a look around!

The key is returning visitors, something I am trying to work on all the time, finding new topics to post about is pretty tricky actually.

Any suggestions?

Go Viral

2008-05-23T10:35:00.008+01:00

Another cool article, found and sent to me by Mike Huxley of The Hive@Mansfield (aside- check out their blog, David has posted on setting up RSS feeds, using Google maps for your business and other technical help)

Last time I reproduced a blog post in full- which made for a very long post, maybe this time you could click this link to read it...

Another great link is to the Guardian's Viral Video Chart, check out the MUTO wall painted animation by Blu

Just a reminder, your NTU SPEED team are here to help you go from this...

To this!!

See you soon!

Researching your idea

2008-05-22T10:20:00.005+01:00

Neil Infield's blog 'In through the outfield' can be hard work sometimes, in fact I subscribed to it thinking that the reference to the 'outfield' meant there would be more cricket talk and less business! Ho hum, nothing so far

Anyhow recently he reproduced this great post on background research which I thought really insightful, so here it is...

...Information expert Karen Blakeman of RBA Information Services publishes a list of top business research tips on her blog at the end of each of her Business Information workshops.

This is the list generated by the researchers attending her workshop in April. As you may have spotted the 10 has grown to 15 in this instance.

FITA Import Export Business and International Trade Leeds. http://www.fita.org/. The “Really Useful Links”in the menu on the left hand side of the screen takes you to a range of international sources on business information. One participant of this workshop found the “Doing business”, and in particular in the Middle East, especially useful.
Nationmaster http://www.nationmaster.com/.An interface to a plethora of statistics on web sites world wide. Some of the statistics are 2-3 years old but there are links to the original site so that you can search for more up to date information. Several participants suggested that this site is a good ‘index’ of where data is likely to be found.
Blogpulse http://www.blogpulse.com/.One of several blog search engines, but this was singled out for its Trends graphs. These show how often your search terms are mentioned in posts over a selected period of time. In a business context the occurrences will usually match reports in the mainstream media. When they don’t, click on the peaks in the graph to see what is going on behind the scenes. Superb for picking up on rumours and gossip.
Yahoo Finance. Go to any Yahoo and click on the Finance link. For the UK version go to http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/. Yahoo Finance provides basic information on stock exchange quoted companies on the major stock exchanges around the world. Information includes current share price information (delayed by 15-30 minutes) provided by the stock exchanges;
company profiles; charts in which you can compare the company share price with another company, the sector and an index such as the FTSE 100; current news on the company and focussing on the regulatory news; and daily historical share prices as figures that can be downloaded to spreadsheets.
Freepint Bar http://www.freepint.com/.Head for the discussion area, labelled as the Bar, where you can post your query and tap into the knowledge of regular ‘tipplers’
Silobreaker.http://www.silobreaker.com/. A new site pulling news from
the usual newspapers and journals, but also blogs, video and audio. In
addition It offers geographical hotspots, trends and a network visualisation tool, which was singled out by one participant.
Contact a relevant research, trade or professional body for help inlocating experts. sources of information and reports. They may not have anything on their web site but there may something ‘on file’ that they are willing to supply free of charge or for which they are prepared to negotiate a fee.
Intelways. http://www.intelways.com/. An interface to many search tools grouped by type e.g. news, video, image. Type your search terms in once and click on the different search tools one by one. A reminder of the different types of information that you should be looking at and of the wide range of search engines that are out there.
Click on the Advanced Search option for any of the tools that you encounter, be it Google et al or a web site’s own search option. They offer great ways of focussing your search by date, file format, site, author etc.
RBA Business Sources. http://www.rba.co.uk/sources/.Selected sources of business information organised by type e.g. statistics, share prices, company registers. Yes, it is my own site [blush] but they did insist!
Phil Bradley’s web site and blog. http://www.philb.com/ and http://philbradley.typepad.com/. Excellent sources of information on Web 2.0 ’stuff’ and search tools. In particular, his blog has no-nonsense reviews of new search tools that claim they will change the world of search.
Intute. http://www.intute.ac.uk/. Forget about the ac.uk label.This is an excellent starting point for anyone working in business and wanting to identify quality resources on a wide range of subjects and industries.
Hometrack. http://www.hometrack.co.uk/.This site provides key statistics and data on the UK housing market and financing of that market. Especially relevant in the current economic climate.
Alacrasearch. http://www.alacra.com/alacrasearch.A Google custom search engine that focuses on business sites selected by Alacra. [A personal note: this is in my top 5 favourite search tools].
CIA World Factbook - country profiles. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/.Key statistics on every country. For those of you of a more adventurous disposition when it comes to travel, it even includes the number of airports with unpaved runways!

Next Event, book early please!

2008-05-15T16:34:00.002+01:00

Creative Goal Setting

photo credit: dogfrog

Wednesday 25 June 2008

12.00 to 2.00 pm

Hive Seminar Room

Presenters:

Adrian Reynolds & Annie Dickinson

If you're going to embrace creativity in your business, start by using it in the way you set your goals. In this session you'll experience a simple way of tapping into your unconscious desires that brings renewed life to business planning, and new perspectives on your priorities.

Annie Dickinson works as an Executive Coach with Fortune 100 companies across Europe, focusing on changes that impact the bottom line. Clients include IBM, Unilever and AstraZeneca.

Adrian Reynolds is an award winning screenwriter with a background in advertising. His clients include HMV, Motorola, and Paul McKenna Training.

Suitable refreshments will be provided at this event

If you are interested in attending either of these events, please contact

Karen Doxey on 0115 848 4354

or e-mail: karen.doxey@ntu.ac.uk

Video

2008-05-14T12:53:00.000+01:00

This video comes recommended by Michael Huxley of Mansfield Hive

SPEEDy Interview - Fit Brits

2008-05-12T10:08:00.003+01:00

www.fitbrits.co.uk

State your name for the record- Warren Paul Nash

Please tell us what problem your business solves in 50 words or less - The problem is that many of us don’t eat healthy; we all have our excuses why this may be; my business solves these for you!

Expand on your idea – how will you make money from it? - My business poses great potential for sponsorship. It provides video-podcasts of cook-a-long recipes. These podcasts will be sponsored by a certain brand of food I am using in the podcast or equipment I may be using. As the website develops, I hope to add a feature where the user can transfer their personal shopping list to an online grocery vendor, I hope to get a % commission from this as well.

Explain who your customer is- Essentially, my customer is anyone who says one (or more) of the following:

‘I don’t eat healthy because:

I don’t know what healthy food is’
I don’t know the ingredients’
I don’t have time to go shopping’
I don’t have time to cook’
I don’t know how to cook’

As you can imagine, this is quite a broad clientele, so, I am initially focusing my business on males aged 20 to 50 years.

Describe where you see yourself in 5 years’ time- I see myself having a mainstream television show on one of the 4 major terrestrial TV channels! Pah, not, have you seen my latest podcast?!!! Anyway, video podcasts are much better because they are far more relevant to the user who downloads them. Sorry, I’m going seriously off topic here. Anyway, as ridiculously over-ambitious as it may sound, I want to get Britain cooking again. People don’t realise how easy and cheap it really is, and if I can say in 5 years time, I made a difference to the health of the nation, I’d be happy with that (how corny!!!). I also want a Maserati (for the record)

I keep seeing so many more ways to lead a healthy lifestyle as well, I was thinking of healthy fast-food restaurants (and no, Subway is NOT a healthy fast-food restaurant!) a while back, how good would it be to have somewhere that sold smoothies instead of Cola and food that actually contained 100% meat. Anyway, that’s a project for another day! When I have my Maserati, I will pursue it!

Random Questions – choose one and answer

Who is your hero?- Virgil Tracey!

He may only be a puppet but he’s the pilot of Thunderbird 2. Thunderbird 2 is the best Thunderbird aircraft! Virgil always confronts danger head on and it’s because of him that all Thunderbird rescue operations are so successful. Virgil also has great fashion sense and exceptional pianist skills (for a puppet anyway!). Best of all, he gets to see Lady Penelope whenever he likes!

SPEEDy Interview - Go Dine

2008-05-09T00:00:00.004+01:00

www.godine.co.uk

State your name for the record - Adam Roberts

Please tell us what problem your business solves - We help people who want to find and book a restaurant in their region, allowing them to see the menus, view photos and read reviews, ensuring they find and book the right restaurant. We are confident that people who are short of time will enjoy our service along with anyone who enjoys eating out.

Expand on your idea - how will you make money from it? It's a free service to both restaurants and diners. The restaurants pay us a fee for every customer we send them. In short, they only pay on results

Explain who your customer is - Anyone who books restaurants and has access to the internet

Describe where you see yourself in five years time - Nottingham, London and Italy...in equal measure!

Random Questions – choose one and answer

You are flying to the moon, what is the one thing you need?

Who is your hero? Sir Alex Ferguson, he's someone I greatly admire!

Do you…Twitter?

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

What is your favourite word?

Which Facebook groups do you belong to?

What’s your special power?

Spot the difference!

2008-05-09T00:00:00.001+01:00

What's missing...? You, of course!

Seriously though, we need your help. The Hive has just had new PCs installed on all the HotDesks, we have two fantastic seminars planned for May, and a further one in the pipeline for June too. What else can we do to entice you to use the Hive for your businesS work?

We're going to be asking this question to all our Hive-lives over the next few weeks, have a think and give us your honest opinion.

We miss you, come in and see us.

Intrapreneurship

2008-05-08T10:40:00.007+01:00

“ As business in the UK leaves the recession behind and communications technology spreads its wings, companies seek a new breed of manager. They seek him here, they seek him there, they seek him almost everywhere. He is required in product development, in systems development, in market development, or in commercial development. I call him the “intrapreneur”. He is the agent of enterprise development.

The term “intrapreneur” immediately sets up a creative tension. For “ intra” means “going within”, inside of; “preneur” from the French “prendre” means to take, to go out, to undertake. Within this field of tension lies, in fact, not one particular kind of manager, but a whole cast of characters, set on enterprise development. In fact, the intrapreneur is a “holding category” for seven subsidiaries: the innovator, enabler, leader, entrepreneur, change agent, animator and adventurer. How we came to these seven will be revealed in the next chapter. But the reasons why are clear. Firstly the modern corporation requires a more varied cast of characters than either the traditional manager or entrepreneur. Secondly such a cast, as far as I am concerned, should reinforce, rather than detract from, our individuality. As the Chairman of ICI said to a group of managers in a recent speech, contemporary organisations should serve the individual rather than vice versa.

This book is therefore designed to help managers develop such singular and varied attributes as:

Commercial insight and market awareness

An ability to work persistently and autonomously

An innovative and creative mind

Ability to manage and direct change

Organisational capacity and analytical skill

Stamina and staying power

Ability to get on with people at all levels “

For many of you who will perhaps not at this stage go further with your own business ideas but decide to take a job in commerce and industry, the message is that the skills and attributes you learn and develop with do not go to waste but are valuable assets to take with you. Enterprise and entrepreneurship is not wasted effort.

Now that's what I'm talking about!

2008-05-01T09:00:00.000+01:00

My blog stats have improved! Thanks for sticking with me through subject changes, style tweaks and the like.

I hope you will return your interview responses so you too can be main feature on our blog!!

2008-04-30T11:16:00.002+01:00

What leads to success?

I saw this presentation on the blog PowerPoint without Bullet Points!

I just thought it said so many things, not just about great presentations but about entrepreneurs and successful people too.

It's three and a half minutes long, watch, you might like it!!

The SPEEDy interview - The Man

2008-04-25T10:19:00.007+01:00

State your name for the record Philip Clarke

Please tell us what problem your business solves in 50 words or less Helipak provides a comprehensive range of first aid products for everyday minor injuries and specifically for those obtained during the pursuit of outdoor sporting activities

Expand on your idea – how will you make money from it? A first aid kit is a “must have” for everyone. The USP for me is in the mixture of quality, content and portability.

Explain who your customer is The kit is for either personal, group or business use. Its specific targeted market is in the field of outdoor sport and other extreme sports.

Describe where you see yourself in 5 years’ time I would like the Helipak brand to be well-known, selling through an e-commerce portal and making me some money!

Random Questions – choose one and answer

You are flying to the moon, what is the one thing you need?

Who is your hero?

Do you…Twitter?

Who would you most like to have dinner with?

What is your favourite word? It varies daily..I love words and like both the sound and meaning of them. Let’s take Coypu as one for today…although Troopers does have a special meaning for me. Get me drunk and I will tell you all!! Ha Ha.

Which Facebook groups do you belong to?

What’s your special power?

2008-04-24T10:05:00.010+01:00

This tip comes from Michael Huxley from the Hive@Mansfield:

You may have heard about Martin Lewis and his "Money Saving Expert" Website

For those interested in selling on eBay he has some interesting articles:

Selling on eBay
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/selling-on-ebay

Getting a cheap parcel delivery service: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/cheap-parcel-delivery

and boosting your income
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/make-money

Forthcoming Pathway to Enterprise Event

2008-04-17T14:27:00.007+01:00

Forthcoming Pathway to Enterprise Event

Business Health Check

‘A Breath of Fresh Air’

Wednesday 14 May 2008
1.30 to 3.30 pm
Hive Seminar Room
Presenter: David James Ross

A valuable opportunity for you to take some time out, stand back and get a fresh perspective on your business whatever stage you’re at. With the help of a creative business coach, you will identify the aspects of your business that are doing well and those which are not and create a plan to move forward on the challenging issues during this interactive session.

Director of Escapetunnel Limited, David James Ross works as a lecturer, trainer, writer and consultant, specialising in career and business development within the creative industries. Until recently the subject leader for Career Management Studies within the Joint Honours degree programme at the University of Derby, he now retains a connection with higher education by teaching professional practice on Foundation and BA (Hons) Commercial Photography and Video and Video Production. David has a unique training style that strongly encourages and facilitates discussion and reflection.

Thirsty Thursday

2008-04-16T14:46:00.003+01:00

Just a quick post to remind you about Thirsty Thursday next week.

Why wait for your ideal job to come to you – create your own future today!

Ever considered starting up your own business but don’t know where to start?

‘thirsty thursday’ is a series of events hosted jointly by Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham. Held three times a year, ‘thirsty thursday’ aims to inspire students and graduates thinking about starting their own business by providing the chance to learn from people who already have.

Thirsty Thursday - 24th April 2008

Powerful Presentation, or Death by PowerPoint?

2008-04-10T09:00:00.007+01:00

thinking about the presentations session we are going to have got me thinking about presentations in general! I found this slide show on a blog I read (what's new?)

| View | Upload your own

RSS reader

2008-04-09T14:54:00.008+01:00

This is a screen grab of my Google reader. I am reading a number of blogs, and it can be hard to remember to visit them all to see if there's been an update. some of them offer a newsletter service, where the blog is emailed to you. Which is great, until you get as many emails as I do (which you do, mostly from me!)

Actually, I'll let Lee LeFever explain it to you...so this is why I need an RSS reader

It's great, all I have to remember is to log in every morning and catch up with all the blogs I want.

Why was I telling you this? Oh yes, my Google reader... I've been reading a blog on online marketing tips, which is called dosh dosh. The latest post is about narrowing your focus to make your marketing more effective. Read the whole article here.

Want some help setting up your own reader? Give me a call!

news and freebies (well, discounts)

2008-04-07T14:07:00.002+01:00

Michael Huxley from the Hive@Mansfield sent me a link for discounted Microsoft Office, it's available for students and university staff (hooray!) to buy Office for less than £40. Check your eligibility on line!

If you are thinking of using ads on your website to earn revenue, or simply want to know more about Google adwords why not try this online seminar or 'webinar'

blogging for charity?

2008-03-31T12:25:00.004+01:00

I read the wishful thinking blog, amongst many others. Today I received a post about this book, being promoted for charity. It actually gives a number of tips on how to spread the word about not just books and charities, but about your product or service too.

Just a thought, sent out into the ether...

15 Start up Commandments

2008-03-26T14:44:00.007Z

I liked this list, and thought you would too (I found it on Facebook of all places!) It's not definitive, it's certainly not my work, but it hopefully raises a few questions...and a smile! I hope they won't mind my reproducing it here!

+15 Start-up Commandments

1. Your idea isn't new. Pick an idea; at least 50 other people have thought of it. Get over your stunning brilliance and realize that execution matters more.

2. Stealth start-ups suck. You're not working on the Manhattan Project, Einstein. Get something out as quickly as possible and promote the hell out of it.

3. If you don't have scaling problems, you're not growing fast enough.

4. If you're successful, people will try to take advantage of you. Hope that you're in that position, and hope that you're smart enough to not fall for it.

5. People will tell you they know more than you do. If that's really the case, you shouldn't be doing your startup.

6. Your competition will inflate their numbers. Take any startup traffic number and slash it in half. At least.

7. Perfection is the enemy of good enough. Leonardo could paint the Mona Lisa only once. You, Bob Ross, can push a bug release every 5 minutes because you were at least smart enough to do a web app.

8. The size of your startup is not a reflection of your manhood. More employees does not make you more of a man (or woman as the case may be).

9. You don't need business development people. If you're successful, companies will come to you. The deals will still be distractions and not worth doing, but at least you're not spending any effort trying to get them.

10. You have to be wrong in the head to start a company. But we have all the fun.

11. Starting a company will teach you what it's like to be a manic depressive. They, at least, can take medication.

12. Your startup isn't succeeding? You have two options: go home with your tail between your legs or do something about it. What's it going to be?

13. If you don't pay attention to your competition, they will turn out to be geniuses and will crush you. If you do pay attention to them, they will turn out to be idiots and you will have wasted your time. Which would you prefer?

14. Startups are not a democracy. Want a democracy? Go run for class president, Bueller.

15. You're doing a web app, right? This isn't the 1980s. Your crummy, half-assed web app will still be more successful than your competitor's most polished software application.

Testing testing

2008-03-17T15:33:00.008Z

I need your help!

Below is a list of subjects we are offering seminars/workshops in. Please let me know which you would be interested in attending...rate them 1 = not interested to 5 = very interested.

a. Market research - The Who, How and Why of finding your customer

b. Sales Forecast - Planning your income

c. Cashflow and expenditure forecast - How to balance your outgoings

d. Balance Sheets and Profit and Loss - Understanding and producing them for a business plan

e. Branding - The art of projecting your image

f. e-Business - How to use the Internet for marketing your business

g. Limited Company vs Sole Trader, what are the issues?

h. Raising finance for a new business

i. Selling Skills - getting those first sales

j.Tax, Vat and NI Issues - make sure the taxman is your friend!

k.Presentation Skills - the art of presenting your business

l. Intellectual Property - The perils and pitfalls of protecting your work

If you have any suggestions for topics, please comment below...

Website updates

2008-03-06T16:22:00.016Z

I've spent most of the day uploading new things onto the SPEED project website. The web team, led by the hard working Clair Hameed, have been adding a new search facility to the Fellow's directory. Click the picture to go there...

I'd really like to think that this work is worthwhile, we have the resources available to us, but how much do we think of trying a new ways to source new suppliers or make new contacts. Phil has a saying ...never close the door. He usually means that he is open to staying in touch with people even when the working relationship is over. It pays to make and keep good networks.

I'd like to stretch that metaphor a little further...do you even notice when people are holding the door open for you? By that I mean, do we make the most of our networking opportunities? For example, on SPEED at NTU we have a partnership called Rapid Renders (guys, if you had your website up and running I'd link to it!). They make realistic 3D drawings (they call them renders I think) for design businesses.

Are you creating a product and need a design team to draw it up for you? Or are you in need of a logo design, website, advice on branding and market research? I bet there's a SPEED company that could help...

So how do you find out about these useful people? First, always listen when people tell you what they are doing. Sound simple? Picture the scene, you are sat in a seminar room and the group leader asks you to introduce yourselves. Normally you will sit worrying about what you are going to say, so that afterwards you realise you don't know anyone's name let alone their business idea.

Try this - as others are speaking, note down their name and maybe one or two words. I find it easier to note them down on the paper in the positions they are sitting around the table. I can then associate their face with the name. It's also a useful tool for coming back to during the seminar, as you can put a star by anyone you think you should get to know.

I can't say I always practice what I preach though. Yesterday at our 'team away day', I sat at the table and watched twenty people introduce themselves and could only recall the eight I already knew.

So, the fellow's directory. Use it, it's like an introduction to other companies that you don't have to memorise!
>

Oh, and make sure your businesses entry reflects what you can offer others!

check out the slideshow!!

2008-03-04T12:35:00.002Z

look up... top left. How cool is that? If you want your logo or images on the slideshow, send them to me and I'll upload them!

Team away day

2008-03-04T12:07:00.003Z

Just a quick note to say Phil and I are out of the Hive tomorrow, Wednesday 5th March. We are participating in a team meeting with our NTU colleagues at Brackenhurst.

See you on Thursday! (hint hint, you know we do like to see you!)

Lord Stafford comes to the East Midlands!

2008-02-29T09:33:00.009Z

As you may be aware, last November, NTU SPEED was involved in the 1^st Festival of Innovation expo at the NEC. This was organised in conjunction with the Lord Stafford Awards (LSA). Unfortunately as the LSA were based in the West Midlands we were unable to enter and possibly win any of the awards. Undeterred, we gave it our best effort and, I believe, put on the best stand and had the best turn out of the show!

As a result of this effort (I wish, not really!), this year the East Midlands will have it’s own Lord Stafford Awards. The LSA are moving from the West Midlands initially into the East, before being expanded across the country. They will give £5k per company winner + considerable PR (to judge from the West Midlands event)

All of our SPEED businesses are potentially able to apply to these awards as, through their connection with The Hive they are “in association with an East Midland’s university.” There is a strong desire from the University for NTU to figure prominently in the applications, so you can expect plenty of help and support!

There are prizes of £5k each award and the deadline to return to us of Friday 25^th April.

I encourage you to look at this link for the LSA and if appropriate, contact me to get an application form, which we will fill in together. Before applying make sure you have read the judges criteria, under which the awards will be made, and try to see where your business fits in.

PLEASE RETURN YOUR APPLICATION TO ME so that I can co-ordinate those from SPEED

GOOD LUCK!

2008-02-21T15:39:00.006Z

I have been getting the Enterquest newsletter for the past six months or so. I often find it useful and sometimes inspiring. I especially like the Just One Word thread, always on the look out for new words and phrases, that's me! Check it out and sign up for the newsletter if you feel so inclined. I can't see if you can sign up for an RSS feed from it, but if you see it, please let me know!

We are off to Thirsty Thursday tonight, it's my first so I don't really know what to expect. Sim, from Bantum Clothing is speaking so I guess it should be fun. I'll let you know. Harriet from the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) team has been promoting it through her blog. She got inspired by Antonio Gould's seminar on Blogging that we held here in November. I think she's found out that a blog can be a hard slog. But it's the same with any promotion, 'if you throw enough balls at enough coconuts, you'll win a fish!'

That's not mine, it's from Men Behaving Badly Sorry!

pics

2008-02-13T12:56:00.002Z

Financials

2008-02-05T15:56:00.000Z

Here's a knotty problem.

How do you set your price? Do you charge what your competitors are charging, or maybe a little less? What about a simple mark up on your costs? Simple, if you have a product to sell, not so easy if you're a service provider. What about saying 'OK, I want to earn £xxx a month. I can do three jobs per month, so will charge £x per job and earn enough'

All valid ways of working out your price. BUT, what if you can't find out what your competitors are charging, what if you have nothing in the market to compare it with, what if...?

What do YOU think?

Hive successes

2008-01-31T15:33:00.000Z

We've had a busy week of PR for NTU and the Hive.

SPEED graduate Kawsar Miah has had alot of exposure in the local media, so I'll join the bandwagon and feature him here. Kawsar is currently running his business from an office in the Hive alongside his final year studies.

Plus, we've had SPEEDsters Nathan Thompson, Andrew Dean and Dan Breen shortlisted for the HSBC Unipreneur competition to win £20,000.

Nathan is having to manage his time studying his 2nd year of Product design alongside his Mystery Shopper Brand.

Dan got a phone call early in the morning from his local radio station and honed his 'off the cuff' interview style! Dan's website is www.uni-fied.co.uk

Andrew's business www.thewiserevise.co.uk featured in an article in the Nottingham Evening Post last week. Read it here

Well done guys, come on female entrepreneurs...what are you waiting for?

Talking of female entrepreneurs, check out Harriet Lynas' blog for news on the upcoming Thirsty Thursday event on 21st Feb at Oceana. If you're curious about it, check out the blog and post your commments or questions on the blog!

See you there

What's a Wiki then?

2008-01-22T11:38:00.000Z

So I finally gave in, and got me a wiki...I don't know why I didn't do it before. Well actually, I know exactly why I didn't. FEAR! I know, you're shocked. Me...afraid of some technology, crazy eh?Let me tell you a terrible story of ignorance and education...

A certain lecturer mentioned the word wiki to me months ago. 'What's that?' I think to myself, why don't I find out from the web? And where do I go for my information? well Wikipedia of course! So I visit Wikipedia for their definition of a wiki and I try to read about it. I see the first bit of techie stuff about syntax and html and think 'aggghhh!'

Meltdown.

OK. I think, I can handle this, it can't be that hard. What's a great example of a wiki? Oh right, Wikipedia! (Yes, it took me that long to work out what a wiki was, and yes I now know the clue's in the name)Well, that just looks like a big encyclopedia, what benefit would that be to our SPEEDsters? And how can they interact with that, wouldn't it be really (really really) boring? So I guess I just said nah, it's not for us.

But that lecturer was joined by other people saying, no you've got it wrong, it's not just for facts and figures. It can be for anything...huh? So I look again.

Now, how many pages has Wikipedia got? According to the stats page Wikipedia has 2,186,422 articles in English today. How do they keep tabs on all of that? How do they make sure they stay in control of it all? How do they stop people putting up bad stuff?

Meltdown number two.

OK, so I haven't quite worked out meltdown number two, but I felt my fear and did it anyway . Let's face it, there's not going to be 2 million pages on any wiki I can make. Not this side of Christmas anyway. So I am now prepared to give it a go. YouTube (and Simon C) then got me into Lee LeFever, and he helped me to get my head round it (finally) with this simple clip

OK, next question what can we do with a wiki? The scary answer is pretty much anything we want...the less scary option is to use our wiki like a yearbook, or as a directory for ourselves, and see what grows from there.

So here it is...The NTU SPEED wiki...use it!

Brands

2008-01-08T09:19:00.000Z

What's your favourite brand? What makes that brand attractive to you?

After careful consideration, I think my favourite brand is Apple, mostly because I love my iPod. They have made some interesting moves over the last few years, coming back from the 'wilderness' years with a very strong image and product line. Although I didn't think the PC vs Mac ad with Mitchell and Web fitted that image

and in a way it opened the door to PC users getting their own back...

I hanker after a Mac, although I have noticed that being a Mac user makes you a bore about PCs and how rubbish they are! I can't have one yet anyway, because my lovely sewing machine and it's design software doesn't speak geek yet.

Anyway, back to branding, the Design Council published this article before Christmas, you may find it interesting reading. http://www.etelligent.co.uk/etelligent/mp-getEmail.asp?CID=30999&SEID=1358&CC=designcouncil&CEMAIL=shall46417@aol.com&T=0&FRM=1

Thoughts on the first day back

2008-01-02T12:34:00.001Z

Let's get the cliches out the way shall we? Happy New Year to you, I trust you had a pleasant break and are feeling refreshed and ready for the year ahead!!

I am setting out to learn even more about Web 2.0 (with 3.0 on it's way?) this year. You will know I can see potential for many businesses, which is why I bang on about it so much. But don't for a moment be fooled that the internet makes being in business easier. In fact it can be harder. Your customer can't see you, they have access not only to you, but also to your competitors at the click of a mouse, they are increasingly impatient and difficult to please (no, wait.. that's not just internet customers)

What the internet does is allow you to access many new markets, and if you are canny enough you can do it without a massive marketing budget. You still have to have a great product that you are passionate about, and importantly, one that other people will pay you money for (!)

What do you think? Is the internet really changing the way we do business? Are your online customers really any different to the ones you deal with in the real world?

Think on...

What's your new years resolution?

2007-12-19T12:39:00.000Z

Yes, this is the one and only post for December. I do feel a little embarrassed to be saying that, after all I said in the last few months about keeping in touch with your customers, and perseverance, and good manners, and customer service, and staying on top of it all and ... well, you get the picture.

My aim for 2008 (is that a new year resolution?) is to get consistent comments on my blog, and more feedback from our online and offline networking. I know that's going to take more work on my part, I will try and keep up with it.

Quite a few SPEEDsters have up and left Nottingham for the Christmas holiday, so we'll be seeing them all again in the New Year, refreshed and full of energy! Phil and I have been planning some sessions for the next term after what we hope was the success of the financials session.

I am looking forward to next year, I can't believe I'll be celebrating one year at the Hive (as well as my birthday) at the beginning of February. Life in the University has been great, I was a little culture shocked when I first came, but the edges have rubbed off me and I am a little more forgiving now. Things still appear to move at a snail's pace, but they do move. I think they might go a little faster in 2008. I am determined to make the 2nd year of the SPEED project a success , to hopefully extend it past the pilot phase. Should be fun!

Anyhow, the University is closed for Christmas week, therefore Hive will close on 21st December until 2nd January. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and look forward to working with you in 2008!

Oh, and join us in Second Life in 2008

RSS for idiots

2007-11-27T14:16:00.000Z

Thanks Simon!

More Hockey with Rats

2007-11-19T19:03:00.000Z

Thank you Glyn and Nedstar for providing the amusement at the FOI.

I couldn't possibly comment about the voiceover...some shrieking banshee took over the camera for an instant. Apologies, she has gone and won't be back.

The Final Post

2007-11-19T13:19:00.000Z

No, not the final post ever...you're not that lucky! It's the last time I shall mention the Festival of Innovation! (...maybe... well probably... erm possibly...)

We had a great day out, there was a definite feel of school trip on the freezing cold coach on the way there. The stand looked great- thanks to everyone for the poster info and to the gals and guys who exhibited. NTU had the best stand, and I'm not just saying that. Better than the rocket car! Oh yes, you missed a rocket car!

Glyn http://www.nedstar-uk.com/ provided the entertainment when things got a bit boring in the afternoon. I am embarrassed at my hockey skills and glad that almost everyone else was rubbish too. I hope the University of Wolverhampton staff have forgiven us for constantly rattling their stand walls! I had fully intended to upload a video of (unsigned) hockey star Dave 'Mudd' Hammond, but like a moron had forgotten I've downloaded the videos at home. So I guess you'll just have to wait for that one.

It was a very quiet expo, but I hope most people got something out of it, even if it was just free champagne (Phil, Paul http://www.wedig.co.uk/ and Matt), a free massage (Paul, again) or networking (everyone else!). Andrea managed to capture most of it on digi film so more photos to follow

Then, it was all back to the Miller's Barn for a meal. Luckily by that time, the coach had warmed up so Jo did not turn into an ice cube and Amy http://www.pipalina.com/ was not completely blue when she got off the coach! After missing the tram back into town and standing in the frosty air for 15 minutes we finally got back to Nottingham.

Suffice to say, thanks to Dave Hammond - MUDD, Paul Ellis - Green Rooms and Paul Scrimshaw - Little Oak Paving for helping me to break down the stand the next day. Cheers guys, it was a real help!

Last chance to enter

2007-11-09T11:16:00.000Z

Latest News... plus, it's not about the festival of innovation!!

£20,000 to be won
With just two weeks until close of entries, HSBC Bank is making a last call to all student entrepreneurs to enter the new Unipreneur Awards – designed to recognise the growing number of students starting up their own business whilst studying at university.
Those wanting to enter the Awards have until Friday 23 November to make their nomination online at http://www.unipreneurs.hsbc.co.uk/ and could be one of the Top 100 who will go through to the final stages of the competition. With the winner receiving £20,000

BBC NEWS | Business | Britain's Brilliant Ideas Boom

2007-11-02T19:26:00.000Z

BBC NEWS Business Britain's Brilliant Ideas Boom

I missed this programme last Saturday, does anyone know if the BBC have an 'on demand' feature so i can watch it?

Plus, just in case you didn't already know, Facebook isn't just fun, it's for business! http://www.freelanceuk.com/news/2531.shtml

See you next week!

2007-11-02T10:38:00.000Z

I am worried.

Do you know what event is happening in the next two weeks?

There is an event looming in the distance – THE FESTIVAL OF INNOVATION at the NEC on 15th November 2007

What is it?

http://www.festivalofinnovation.com/

What’s in it for you?

Hear from entrepreneurs who have started some of the UK’s most innovative companies.
Learn from expert speakers and take away practical tips to help you build your innovative business.
Network with your peers and make valuable new business contacts.
Check your business into the Innovation Clinic - is it as healthy as you think?

How can you get the most of it?

Go with an open mind, talk to people, attend workshops and get ideas!

Should you go?

Yes! OK, it’s a West Midlands based event, but where’s the harm in getting involved?

Are you going?

Cos we are and we'd like some company!

Have you told me?

I have some names, do I have yours? If I have, it’s pinned up on the Hive’s noticeboard. I’d rather you told me twice than not at all and miss out

Have you got a seat on the bus?

The bus has limited seats so unless you tell me you are going, you may miss out.

What do I need to do now?

To confirm your place, contact me at The Hive. Register online to reduce hassle on arrival, on the website above

>Control out

Embedded Video, how exciting!

2007-10-18T12:26:00.000+01:00

Thanks Warren (http://fitbrits.blogspot.com/) for the tutorial on embedding a video in your blog, here's the result!

If someone can now help me get the paragraph spacing right, it'll be perfect! (Hint)

2007-10-11T16:38:00.000+01:00

Thanks so much to Neil http://www.husqvarnastudio.co.uk/ for giving up his time for free (and if you knew him you'd know what a gift that is!) and talking to us about customer service. I hope you found it enlightening. Dan, that bottle of Cava disappeared...has your mum bought that sewing machine yet? Anyhow- thanks Arkwright, it was a good one. We'll return to the subject very soon, I am sure!

I had the following email from Chris Davies http://www.bigtreeproject.org/ and will pass it on as requested - "Could you also pass on to Hive students Open Office http://www.openoffice.org/ You can open all Word, PowerPoint and spreadsheet documents, etc... AND its 100% FREE!"

I have been having a number of conversations with people about Intellectual Property (IP). I heard a really interesting Radio 4 programme last week called The Bottom Line, all about Trade Secrets and IP. It's hosted by Evan Davis, the guy in charge of the Dragons Den! http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/bottomline/bottomline.shtml. You can download the podcast or listen online within a week of the episode. It's worth 30 minutes listen anyway, I listen whilst I am washing pots!

(Why is there so much washing up by the way? There are only two humans in our house, but tons of washing up everyday..how does that happen? Is the dog leaving his washing up for me to do when I get back from work, are my neighbours eating their tea at my house, have I got greedy ghosts?)

align="justify">The Hive is a member of East Midlands Incubation Network http://www.emincubation.co.uk/ , as a result I get a newsletter from them each week. This week's newletter had news of the following e-tool which you may find useful. Iwatched the first five minutes, have a look and make up your own mind http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/multimedia/

News- update on the latest

2007-10-02T14:13:00.000+01:00

I'm in holiday come down mode. It's rubbish when you get back from your week in the sun and everyone says 'You don't look that brown!' Let me just say this, I am browner than my holiday buddy Wendy... admittedly she has got red hair and pale skin, more of a Scottish tan really.

As a result, I'm not really feeling like posting this blog. So if it just turns into a random list of links, bear with me and plough through them.

Don't forget next week's Pathway to Enterprise Event on Customer Service, led by Neil Coles. I shall be his stooge for this seminar, so sympathetic faces in the class please. 10th October 2007, at the Hive 12 - 2pm (Lunch included) please book your place before it's too late!

Whilst I was away, I received details of another business plan competition run by HSBC and supported by NCGE. You should consider entering if you are either a student or have graduated in the last year since May 2006. Prizes are good though, up to £20,000, so if you feel it’s worth trying for, please let us know and we'll do our utmost to help. The closing date is Friday 23rd November but click the link for further details

http://www.unipreneurs.hsbc.co.uk/index.php

A big thank you to all of you who provided me with information for the Business profiles to use in the recent NTU celebration of progress across the University over the past 3 years. They were really great and very useful. We used some of them as A4 size posters on the stands outlining and also produced a rolling display of Hive Business Winners, which outlined your names, Company name, logos, photos etc and just one or two key points from the information you provided us with. Many thanks for your help

Last link provided by Warren, try it, it helps you calculate how many calories you burn ding all sorts of activities, check out the church dancing!! http://www.calorie-count.com/calories/search.php?searchpro=dancing&search_type=activities&grp_id

getting closer to video podcasting...

2007-10-02T14:12:00.000+01:00

I was trying to get this video podcast thingy to work on blogger in draft. But since at present I am having difficulty, here the link, instead!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NLlGopyXT_g

I found this on the blog from the nlabwomen Women, Business and Blogging Conference http://groups.google.com/group/nlabwomen

It kind of says it all about web 2.0...

Indian Summer

2007-09-12T12:07:00.000+01:00

The year is conforming to type. The sun waited for the kids to go back to school and then remembered it's supposed to warm us! Mark my words, it shines when it's finals time, to tempt all the students out of revising and then comes back out again when summer holidays are over. If you had the misfortune to go to a university by the coast, like I did, you'll know that revising on the beach seems like a great idea, until you actually sit down in the exam hall...

I digress, as usual. It has been a busy summer really, getting ready for the new intake of SPEED students. I hope they get as much out of their placement as the original crowd have. The real hard work starts here, but I really am looking forward to seeing the businesses start up and then thrive in the Hive environment.

For those starting web based businesses I thought this web based book worth a look, Mike Huxley at the Hive@Mansfield put me onto it, thanks Mike! http://www.entrepreneur.com/downloads/10waystoimproveyourwebsite.pdf

It's actually called 'I hate my website!' - which is actually something I hear quite alot. Gotta confess though, I hear it most often from people who've done it on the cheap. That leads me neatly to Toby's quote of the day... 'You buy cheap, you buy twice!'

Think about it, it's true. Websites designed and made by mates can be tempting, especially when cash is in short supply. But consider this, your friend may start with good intentions, but as time passes other things could get in the way, things that earn them more money. What about the guilt you may feel in constantly asking them to make amendments in their spare time? How would you feel if they totally wreck your branding?

Talking of guilty, I feel bad that I failed to update this blog since I went to V. Not because I had such an amazing time I lost ability to type, just because the mud fouled up the typing fingers!

Discussion Groups

2007-08-15T15:38:00.000+01:00

OK, the next in a long line of virtual tasks has been completed. The SPEED module on NTU's VLP now has a discussion group! I want your opinion, so visit the VLP https://elearn.ntu.ac.uk/ making sure you log in correctly, visit the SPEED0001 module which you should have access to as SPEED students and click discussions at the bottom of the left hand menu. I wonder if as NTU students you would be more comfortable with a discussion board that only people who are actually on SPEED at NTU can see?

I know I have banged on about customer service before, but this time my question is different.

So, my question is- how do you measure customer satisfaction? This question has been troubling me recently. You see, I have been on a massive learning curve since joining NTU, not only people and procedures, but technology too. I have used lots of different tools and resources, and have been using this blog and other means to try and share them with you. As you would expect , I don't like the feeling that all this resource is wasted, or that I'm barking up the wrong tree...

(Aside- my dog Jack spends alot of time barking up the wrong tree. He has a squirrel fetish, so any slight rustle from above his head and well, you can't tear him away. Unfortunately the squirrels just hop quietly onto the next tree and away!)

But it's not all about me. What I really want to know is how do you measure what people want if they don't respond to you at first?

If they don't actually tell you to stop or that's it's rubbish, carry on, eventually somebody will tell you they like it. Very few people bother you when things are good.
Have patience. People can be slow to respond to stuff they see, have I mentioned the marketing wisdom that people have to see an advert SEVEN times before they respond to it? Depressing but more or less true.
Be persistent - if you throw enough balls at enough coconuts, you'll win a fish. I never thought I'd end up quoting Men Behaving Badly, but there you are.

In my past life in sewing machines, we used to say we sold one machine after three demonstrations, I guess that was experience, but it was pretty accurate. The first two demonstrations you do are really hard, but on the third things are clicking and your pitch is going well, and suddenly the customer is handing over the cash. I'm not saying it's always one in three, you'll find your level.

So I'm gonna keep on trying out new stuff and telling you about it, and hopefully you'll find it useful. BTW thanks for the tips on abbreviations, got not worries now.

Great website (in a research capacity you understand) http://www.askoxford.com/ go to the FAQs to learn all sorts of stuff about the English language you didn't know you needed

What does lol mean?

2007-08-07T15:59:00.000+01:00

Help me please...I have been ashamed to admit to anyone that I don't know what 'lol' means! It's now got to the stage where I am afraid to ask the person including it in their text or email. I have been hiding my disgrace on this matter so I am coming clean, as I have puzzled over it for a long time. I have only just worked out what btw means, well I think I have! So can someone please give me a definition?

I have been mulling over the use of web 2.0 in a business context, how can it help my business to allow Joe Public to have control over the content of my website? I know many people are concerned about this, in business and other contexts for example politics or the workplace. I see it like this, if I want to sell to someone, I need to strike up a conversation with them. And if my business has a web presence, how can it be a conversation with them if they cannot reply?

Many people worry about the nature of web 2.0, whether it can be controlled or not. That's the scary part for people, will a disgruntled customer be able to post their complaints, will they be truthful or accurate? Firstly, as I banged on about before, if you have a great relationship with your customers complaints should be rare. If they feel comfortable in their relationship with you, they will take it directly to you, because they trust you to sort it out. Secondly, if you do get something inaccurate or worse, the customers you have a good relationship with will react to this , and your detractor will be in the minority. In fact, maybe this is the best way for issues to be resolved. You will look good and you won't have lifted a finger or paid anyone to do it for you!

BTW (!) who says that anything I post here is accurate or truthful, that's web 2.0! People power...or is that Puppy Power http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scrappy-Doo

If you want a really good example of what web 2.0 is really about follow this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAWR6hzZek

Enjoy! But don't forget, lol- what does it mean?

...and another thing

2007-07-31T09:38:00.000+01:00

Call me a bandwagon jumper if you will, but I expect you've noticed all the media coverage of web 2.0, social networking and new media recently. Blimey O'Reilly, it's like journalists have suddenly got themselves a computer and the Daily Mail readership has finally entered the digital age. Apologies to my mother in law, an unashamed Daily Mail reader who's been online for ages! http://www.coombecrafts.co.uk/index.html

Some (but I guess not all) of you will already be aware of our Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/ NTU SPEED Project. When your dufus project co-ordinator set it up she was a little over excited and didn't read the manual...thus you have to be a member of the Nottingham Trent network to join it. Not a member? Catch yourself on and join us!

Are you using social networking sites to promote your business? If The British Library, Stephen Fry, Hilary Benn MP and countless others have woken up to the power of the social network, maybe you should too. Of course Chris Dykes has informed me that Facebook is over, but could someone please tell me where I should be looking next?

Oh yes, another thing. My last post included a promise of holiday snaps...this is Jack's urban surfing trick

SPEED update

2007-07-31T08:54:00.000+01:00

Apologies, I have been remiss in keeping this blog up to date. Who would have thought that I would get too busy to blog? If I am honest, the other reason is my feeling that I send these words out into the ether and there they stay, trapped and unread! My inspiration came when a friend told me in the pub that she had read my blog! Imagine my surprise, she's not connected to SPEED at all, I had sent the initial posting to my long suffering friends and forgotten about it.

Did you know there is a Hive in Mansfield too? http://businesshive.ntu.ac.uk/event2.asp Based at the i-centre, hive@mansfield has been created to to support entrepreneurs in the north of Nottinghamshire. Mike Huxley, the Outreach Project Manager based in Mansfield has provided this link for finding suppliers of various products from China, India and Turkey for several Hive participants http://www.alibaba.com/ I believe our very own Dave Hammond http://www.muddesigns.co.uk/ has used this site for finding overseas suppliers of planters.

Another area we have been receiving many enquiries about is funding and finance. (oh yes, that old chestnut!) I had the following information from Claire Cox, Hive Operations Manager.

'You may be aware that The Hive’s Seedcorn Fund, a joint programme between EMDA and Nottingham Trent University has now concluded and is not likely to be repeated, at least in the short to medium term. We are therefore, looking for other options that might replace it but cannot suggest that there will be anything soon. Therefore, in the meantime can I remind everyone of EMDA’s East Midland’s Early Growth Fund (EMEGF) which might be an appropriate source of investment funding for some business ventures, at the right time.

The EMEGF is a £5m regional Venture Capital fund, sponsored by the East Midlands Development Agency, with the intention to support young start up and early stage companies in the region. The fund may provide funding in the region of £20,000 to £200,000 per company, in return for any equity stake. In addition, the fund expects their funding to be matched by other sources of finance, which may include the founders, Business Angels or other Venture Capital. http://www.earlygrowthfund-em.co.uk/main/default.aspx

As with any funding, it's a good idea to talk through with us before making any approach, as we may be able to point you in the right direction and even help you in drafting your application!

There is also to be another round of the Anubis Project http://www.anubisproject.co.uk/ aimed at technological (is that a real word?) innovators

That's all I can fit in for now, pics of the (v wet) holiday in Wales to follow...

2007-07-09T14:44:00.000+01:00

We have been having a lively discussion in the Hive about customer service. We all experience customer service every day, so feel qualified to comment on it. Unfortunately, we prefer to moan about poor service, rather than praise the good.

Having been a shop girl myself at Husqvarna Studio http://www.husqvarnastudio.co.uk/ I know the frustrations of poor customer service from both sides of the counter so to speak! My philosophy was always to treat the customer as I would expect to be treated, telling them in good time about any delays, making sure I exceeded their expectations. Husqvarna Studio, Nottingham is a owner run business in a very small market, which survives and thrives on it's customer service ethic. Other businesses may offer similar products and price, but bossman Neil competes on his staff's friendly, customer oriented outlook. Believe me, it makes all the difference in a competitive market!

Maybe the fear of conflict or even the anticipation of conflict plays a role in poor customer relations. Funny really, because if you have bad news, it doesn't get any better the longer you put off that phone call. In fact, in my experience it just gets worse! If the customer has to ring you, you are only reacting, not acting on their behalf. Get it right and your customer will tell their friend, get it wrong and they will tell 7 of their friends! I might have the actual figure wrong, but it's alot!

So let me ask you this, is it good customer service to sell a product, accept the payment for it and then not contact your customer when there are delays? Or to ring a prospect with an offer they can't refuse, then not ring them back to ask for the order? What about having an out of date website (sewing machine dealers are notorious for this but guess what, not Husqvarna Studio!)

Take care of your customers, whoever they are, and they will look after you. Live up to their expectations and they will like you. Exceed their expectations and they will love you and stay with you!

End of Term

2007-06-15T13:52:00.001+01:00

If you have ever wondered what the Hive does, and what we offer visit http://www.businesshive.ntu.ac.uk/activities.asp. I work for Phil on the SPEED project, although his role is much more diverse than that. The Hive is a dedicated business incubation unit, with facilities for start up businesses from with Nottingham Trent University and beyond.

What makes the Hive so dynamic is the range of people and businesses it's involved with. It's a fun place to work in and do business from, but supportive too. Not all the entrepreneurs are NTU graduates, nor are they all Business Studies graduates.

We have links with many of the schools, with students from Art and Design, Infomatics (that was a new one on me when I joined NTU!) and Education to name but a few.

There are a few SPEED entrepreneurs who are reaching the end of their placement. Marc Lee http://www.eyetxt.com/ Dan Breen http://www.uni-fied.co.uk/ and Stuart Hogg http://www.sphmarketing.co.uk/ have been with us for 12 months. Luckily we won't miss them for long, as one way or another they are keeping contact with us at the Hive.

Busy times ahead

2007-06-11T16:07:00.001+01:00

It's quite an exciting time in the Hive at the moment. There are a number of new businesses getting started, with the June HeadStart programme just beginning and a new SPEED cohort joining us. We are losing a couple though, Nik Venios and Stuart Hogg are both moving home. We'll miss them!

Phil and I are planning our SPEED seminars which start on 22nd June. Phil is really keen to get away from the blackboard and get into a dialogue, which really gets you thinking about your business. Our aim is to engage you in the process of learning about starting up a business. We won't be telling you how to do it, more helping you find out how you will approach it. At the end of the day, we want our SPEED students to learn by doing and there's no better teacher than real experience!

We still need suggestions for topics, the list so far is- finding and retaining customers, getting funding, what happens when you set up a limited company and what goes into a business plan. If you want to add to that, either contact me directly or post a comment. If we can cover it on the sessions or in the blog, we will.

Jayne

SPEED Project Stuff

2007-05-31T09:06:00.000+01:00

Typical, get all preachy about making regular contact with people and then get too busy to practise it! Sorry.

It's been a busy few days, the end of last week saw the SPEED project at NTU being audited, which was fairly painless. Thanks to Kawsar www.digicomsolutions.com and Marc www.eyetxt.com for answering questions and standing up to a bit of stick from our visitor!

Then the bank holiday came and went with wind, rain and chilly nights. I know this because a thin piece of nylon was all that stood between me and the elements. Yes, that's right we went camping, like the fools we were. Oh , we knew the forecast, but hoped against hope that it was wrong.

Today I am putting together a project file for our local SPEED Project, not the most scintillating task, but it has to be done.

I must say I am proud of NTU's presence on the SPEED project website www.speedproject.ac.uk, our fellows directory entries look very impressive. If you feel your listing could be improved, just email me any text, images or hyperlinks that you want putting on, as I have to upload the info.

A Staffs SPEED student has posted what may be a useful link onto the message board there. you will need to log in to view the message board. I'm not going to tell you what the link is, find it yourself!

June will hopefully be a busy month, with new SPEEDsters joining us and a workshop timetable starting. We have a module on the VLP now, which I am trying to populate. Any recommended texts, websites and questions gratefully recieved. The website, VLP module, blog and facebook group http://notttr.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2535691211 will only be as useful as you make them.

Cheers

Jayne

walk to work

2007-05-24T11:00:00.000+01:00

The next 3 weeks are Greenweeks http://www.livingfortomorrow.org.uk/greenweeks.htm/, so in honour of that, yesterday I walked in to work.

I admit, I didn't walk all of my journey as I live a fair way out, so I got my usual bus halfway and walked the rest up Mansfield Road. It was good, the sun shone and I enjoyed most of it. I have decided that I can definitely get off the bus earlier and walk through the Arboretum to the Hive.

How did I find out about this event and why did I respond? I stumbled across it first in a newspaper article and details were emailed to NTU staff about a week ago. Importantly, they both had a call to action, get off the bus and walk etc. Then on the email you could sign up and pledge your action. It got me thinking about how we reach our target market, and more importantly how we get them to act upon what they see or hear.

Reaching your target audience is hard enough. When you have reached them, how do you make sure you don't waste the opportunity if they don't buy into your product or service first time? I think the simplest way is to capture details so you can make contact with them another time, so get them to sign up to a mailing list, enter a competition, anything to keep in touch with them.

One more thing, if you say you are going to send regular updates, do! That's the other difficult bit..

What to write?

2007-05-22T14:59:00.000+01:00

Afternoon! This blogging thing seems quite popular so I'll keep going. For the time being anyway...

Today I have been talking to Clair Hameed at Wolverhampton Uni about an FAQ list for the SPEED project website www.speedproject.ac.uk Let's keep NTU in the thick of things and get it going with some questions from the floor please.

In the meantime, let me tell you how we got here. A member of staff from the School of Education said they used a blog to keep in touch with students who are off campus on placement. Talking to folks here at the Hive and then some of you got me thinking some more.

Because I have recently had my eyes opened to blog potential, I have been exploring other people's blogs. I've been reading the TMS blog for a while, but if you are not interested in cricket, DON'T click the link http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tms/ (Maybe we can return to cricket another day, because we could be here some time and that is not what this is about.)

Those of you who came to our SPEED event on 20th April may have done a little digging about Evan Davies from Dragon's Den (at Russell's prompting) When I was doing so I found his blog on the BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/evandavis/ it makes interesting reading.

This is a link that Russell sent me http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/ which might be of interest to other young entrepreneurs. I will make no age-related comment(however much you beg Stuart) Suffice to say being a young entrepreneur is mostly in the attitude. Mostly!

Okay, back to you. Please post a comment, question or whatever and let's get the ball rolling. I will work at staying on top of this, but if I fall behind, give me a nudge.
Cheers
Jayne

New to this blogging business?

2007-05-21T16:00:00.000+01:00

Good, so am I!

I have been accused of spamming the NTU SPEED students, so have entered the murky world of blogging to keep you up to date. I get passed so much information might be useful to you, I shall be using my blog to pass it on.

Sadly, this post will be about accounting software, mostly because yours truly hosted a fabulous session on the same last week. The lovely Amanda from Flying Cows http://www.flying-cows.com/ has passed a couple of links to me that you may find useful.I haven't used them myself but Amanda uses and recommends the first two. Thanks Mandy

for invoicing and more
http://www.sidejobtrack.com/

for project planning http://www.dotproject.net/ although it seems to be offline today

this link was in an email from webpronews about client relation management http://www.vendorguru.com/The_5_Must_Have_Features_CRM_Solution.jsp?&CCID=20071742203283756&QTR=ZZf200705141302260Za20071742Zg171Zw0Zm0Zc203283756Zs5436ZZ&CLK=682070521085209511&&exp=y

For SPEED students at NTU, check out the SPEED module on the VLP SPEED0001, there's a couple of recent presentations on there.

For those of you who have forgotten what we look like, that's Phil on the left...

More soon

Jayne