In November 2011 Results Consortium Ltd, with the help of SFEDI Awards, started their first Business Planning Course. With the Level 2 Certificate in Preparing to Run Your Own Business, Results have now had 116 candidates successfully complete the programme and have now developed a one day taster session for Job Centre Plus customers to help establish whether starting their own business is a truly viable option for them.
From the very first group in Harlow, Results continue to deliver to a broad range of clients starting their own businesses in anything from book keeping, marine engineering, falconry, a Michael Jackson tribute, domestic services, building services and vehicle maintenance to counselling, hair dressing and complimentary therapy.
Results have a dedicated Facebook page for new start-ups which includes case studies and video footage of past achievers and their business ideas.
Ken Kirk attended the course in Thurrock, Essex and developed his business plan that enabled him to have the confidence to gain access to funding and was up and running within 6 weeks of completing the course. This is just one success story of many.
Graham Cripps recalls his experience of starting the programme. “When Paul Caffery, my business partner, asked if we could run this programme, we contacted SFEDI Awards to ask if they had anything that suited. They came back with Preparing to Run Your Own Business. From the beginning of the product development, SFEDI Awards have been a great source of support and ideas. When Nic Preston (SFEDI Awards CEO) first came to our offices, his advice and guidance was of real value. Nic and the rest of the team at SFEDI have continued to be very supportive, all we have to do is keep them informed of developments. All the team are very responsive Bernie, Jenny and Kelly being our regular contacts over the past 18 months”
Since the first courses, Results have made efforts to ensure they deliver what their customer, Job Centre Plus, requires. This has included the new taster session which has just seen 15 learners complete two Level 1 Awards successfully.
- Level 1 Award in Understanding Business Planning
- Level 1 Award in Understanding Personal Enterprising Qualities
10 of these learners have gone on to enrol for the new four day course – Level 2 Certificate in Creating and Starting Your Business (QCF). Good luck to them in their new ventures.
For more information on how SFEDI Awards and Results, in partnership, have made a difference to new start-up business owners, visit the Results web site at www.resultsresults.co.uk and see some of the case studies and videos of past successful candidates.