The following programmes are amongst the most popular and effective, giving you a great start and plenty of practical ideas from recent and current experience, to be more competitive.

Courses are advertised and booked through local Business Links, so please contact your local office for current details.

If you are a Business Link looking for training service providers please take a look at our range of training programmes and contact us for further information.

Business Start Training
For over ten years SDG has been providing a range of business start training programmes for customers of Business Links.

Many people who have attended these courses have gone on to develop highly successful businesses and many have become good friends maintaining contact about their progress over the years.

Our style of delivery is relaxed and informal providing even the least confident delegates with an environment in which they can ask questions and discuss concerns.

Some courses have run over a six week period allowing us to develop better relationships with delegates and give them greater confidence to make their businesses a success.

New courses will be developed to suit your training programmes and funding streams but here are just a few of the programmes that have run successfully with demand often exceeding available places.

Marketing for Success
A six week (18 hours) programme leading delegates through the initial development of a marketing plan with some useful advice on development of sales channels.

Business is about Planning
A six week programme (18 hours) leading delegates through all aspects of preparing a business plan including trading and cash forecasts. Output related and includes a module on presentation for funding.

Sales and Marketing Awareness -
A two week programme (6 hours) covering the basics of marketing planning and selling techniques. Detailed written handouts provide delegates with a source of reference which many have said they find invaluable.

Financial Awareness
a two week programme (6 hours) providing new and recent starters with an overview of the business planning process. Includes useful information about Income tax, VAT, National insurance, business insurance, financial planning, banking, accountancy and book keeping. Again detailed written notes provide a useful source of reference.

Selling is your Business
Useful for both new and existing businesses to brush up their sales skills. A two week (6 hours) programme the first part of which is tutorial based and the second is a practical workshop allowing delegates to deal with specific issues or practise their skills. Role play is NOT compulsory.

Advertising & Promotion
Specifically designed for delegates who have a need to advertise their products and services through a range of media. Includes a section on getting editorial coverage and promoting specific aspects of their business in both a strategic and tactical way. A two part (six hours) programme divided into tutorial and workshop to allow delegates to practically prepare advertisements and editorials.

Going Direct
A programme to help delegates to develop effective direct mail programmes from targeting to letter writing. Delivered in two parts - tutorial and workshop. Includes the development of CRM databases and the use of e mail as an alternative to conventional post.

Selling more by Telephone
Mainly designed for the benefit of those who will use the telephone for outbound selling, prospect qualification and lead generation but will also be a benefit to those who want to improve their inbound call handling. A programme of two parts (six hours) during which delegates will learn about sourcing target lists, developing scripts and sales propositions, sales administration and effective telephone techniques.