What are the benefits of mentoring?

Small businesses make up nearly 99% of UK business and are at the heart of the UK economy. Our research shows that businesses that use external support are twice as likely to survive and succeed than businesses that don’t. Ensuring small businesses have somewhere and someone to turn to for valued and trusted support is […]

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Unlocking potential, pitching for success

David Morgan founded Entrepreneurs Unlocked in the Autumn of 2019, soon after becoming an IOEE Academy. David saw IOEE Academy status as vital to his vision of enabling social and economic mobility through entrepreneurship. Offering a range of workshops from a half day entrepreneurial skills exploration session, self-employment short courses, smart sub-contracting for people wanting […]

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50% of Brits want to start their own business, but a quarter don’t know where to start

A survey from City Lit in London has revealed that Britain is a nation of wannabe Sir Alan Sugars and Jamal Edwards’, with a staggering 53% of Brits admitting that they wish they could start their own business. The research, however, went on to show how apprehension gets in the way of this entrepreneurialism with […]

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What are the benefits of Mentoring?

There are huge benefits to be gained by both sides of the mentoring relationship from both the mentee and the mentor, we’ve taken a look at just a few below. For the Mentee: Provides impartial advice and encouragement Develops a supportive relationship Assists with problem solving Improves self-confidence Offers professional development Encourages reflection on practice […]

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Strategies for Selling Efficiently to Distributors

So, you’ve created a great product and you’re ready to scale. Whether you’re looking to land distribution with retailers or ambassadors, there’s one common need: to make sure who you’re selling to understands the incredible business opportunity that rests in working with you. To achieve this, they must believe they can easily sell your product […]

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6 tips for creating a cash flow forecast, to help grow your business

1. Cash flow is more important to monitor than profits. Too many business leaders rely on the monthly profit and loss (P&L) statement to gauge cash flow. Your P&L is important, but it’s not an accurate picture of the cash flowing into and out of your business. The cash flow statement is the go-to document […]

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Tips on how to pitch to potential business investors

Funding can be key to the success of a business but securing the deal can be daunting. As a new entrepreneur, drawing up a meticulous business plan is often just the beginning – it’s the investment that brings an idea to life. Achieving investment bridges the gap between having a great idea and building a […]

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15 Common Pitfalls To Avoid As A New Business Owner Or Entrepreneur

It’s often said that you don’t know what you don’t know. As an aspiring entrepreneur, there will be many aspects of your journey that may catch you off guard or downright confuse you. While this is normal, some areas of ignorance can impact your chances of success. 1. Losing Sight Of The Big Picture In […]

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North West named as the biggest start-up region outside of London

The North West has overtaken the South East to become the UK’s most entrepreneurial region outside of London, new figures suggest. Data from Start Up Loans – part of the British Business Bank – shows that the Government-backed programme has delivered 8,366 loans, providing over £65 million in funding to start ups in the North […]

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The 6 Principles for Overcoming Entrepreneurial Adversity

Make that adversity work for you. Every entrepreneur knows what it’s like to face problems and adversity. It comes with the territory, and includes cash flow challenges, fickle customers, belligerent investors, and unpredictable economic downturns. The most effective entrepreneurs tackle these one at a time without losing their stride or their passion, and many secretly […]

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How To Make Yourself Attractive To Small Business Investors

You’ve finally found your passion and launched that dream business only to find it challenging to get funding. You’re scratching your head because you have a solid business plan, yet the pounds aren’t rolling in. The truth is that potential investors look at you, the entrepreneur, as the investment. Not the business idea. In other […]

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Brexit workshops get small businesses ready to trade

The Department for International Trade (DIT) has held 130 Brexit workshops for small businesses trading with the EU, and will soon launch a new market access database for UK traders. DIT invited thousands of small business traders to bespoke workshops, helping them develop personalised plans to continue and increase their trade after we leave the […]

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Over 200 businesses started each week through DWP scheme

The New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) scheme has helped launch 203 businesses by unemployed benefit claimants on average each week in the UK, since 2017. Older claimants and people in the North West in particular have shown entrepreneurial skills. Helping unemployed people become their own boss as a route from claiming benefits, the NEA scheme offers claimants a […]

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The Pawfect Mentoring Relationship

We are diving into the mentoring relationship between Anastasia Georgiou of Lloyds Bank and mentee Louise Nelson. Mentee Louise runs Yorkshire Paws a professional dog sitting, walking and transportation service based in Leeds, UK. Anastasia has over 24 years experience in the wealth management & financial services domain working at renowned banks as well as […]

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The Customer Is Always Right is looking for Entrepreneurs & Inventors!

The Customer Is Always Right is an exciting series that follows budding entrepreneurs from across the UK as they try to make a success of their inventions. They are making everything from pet accessories to health and beauty products, home and garden tools, to children’s gadgets. Each episode of The Customer Is Always Right will […]

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What is Considered Good Mental Health?

Mental health is often misunderstood and used to describe poor mental health. Instead, mental health should be referred to as you would when talking about physical health. Mental health is just as important as physical health and we should always try to avoid things that make our mental health decline and try to keep our […]

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Celebrating Enterprise Awards 2019 Shortlist Announced

We are delighted to announce our shortlist for the SFEDI & IOEE Celebrating Enterprise Awards 2019. Enterprising Learning Provider of the Year The Royal Agricultural University Kick Off In Business Eat That Frog CIC Enterprise Made Simple Enterprise Educator of the Year Giuditta Meneghetti Alan Murray Andrew Baird Enterprising Learner of the Year Shankar Jalota […]

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Making the most of Mentoring

Mentoring in the UK can sometimes be seen as a British predicament. It’s thought that the UK aren’t very good at utilising our resources when it comes to mentoring and there are few who know why. Maybe it’s because we Brits are inclined to feel like we would be imposing on someone when asking them […]

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Awards Galore

IOEE Academy Natwest is prepping up for this year’s Great British Entrepreneur Awards and they’re looking for specifically entrepreneurs from the North East. Categories range from the Entrepreneur for Good Award, Scale-Up Awards, Health & Beauty Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Entrepreneurs’ Team of the Year Award and so on. Founded in 2013, the NatWest […]

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Stephen & Caren: The Mentoring Journey

We’ve taken a look at the mentoring relationship between Stephen who is team leader of the risk coaching & team training team at Barclays and Caren who was was looking for mentor support for her business through our Mentoring Programme. In April 2018 Stephen Wright from Barclays Bank was put in touch with Paul Harper […]

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It’s about time!

The month of March saw International Women’s Day 2019 celebrated and IOEE Centre of Excellence the University of South Wales held a partnership event called “It’s About Time!”. The event involved well over 100 women who own businesses in South Wales and was based on ongoing research with women who are entrepreneurs and mothers with a […]

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Spotlight on: Leigh Sear

As a first part of an upcoming series this month we’ve sat down over coffee with Leigh Sear to find out what’s going on at SFEDI Solutions. So lets get to know about more about Leigh and what his role is within SFEDI is. “I am Chief Executive of SFEDI Solutions which is part of […]

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Changing Lives with Enterprise

Sam Everard is the CEO of SAMEE, a Disability Confident Leader charity based in Dorset, which achieved its IOEE Academy status last year. SAMEE believes in a world where people of all abilities can proudly and independently provide an income for themselves and their families. Sam has always had an entrepreneurial streak and her first […]

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Why are graduate entrepreneurs not always innovative?

Article written by Dr Jun Li from the University of Essex. Dr Jun Li is the Senior Lecturer in Management Science and Entrepreneurship. Highly educated graduate entrepreneurs can be ‘high quality entrepreneurs’ with substantial growth potential. Education contributes to the development of human capital, and provides students a set of opportunities and resources unavailable to […]

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