Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[kinsk]

I was made redundant just before Christmas and although I've applied for a few jobs I am not all that enthusiastic at the prospect of flogging on again with 2+ hours a day commuting etc.

 

I have an advert going in the local paper aimed at small businesses / sole traders, but not sure what the results of that will be.

 

This is all new to me, any pointers on where to start to find other opportunities?

[Daphne]

Its not easy to find free sources of help and advice anymore as the Govt has shut virtually all of them

 

You could ask around all local businesses to see if they have any jobs? I don't know your situation at all, but if you are thinking of being S/E then maybe working for somebody else on a P/T and/or at a lower salary but more locally, might be a solution as well? It could ease you in as you could be an employee whilst you build up your S/E biz. A friend of mine has taken 2 P/T jobs in unrelated fields to her profession as she builds up a S/E client base, meaning she still has a regular income.

 

Sources of potential help include getting in touch with:

 

Your Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) - these are all over the place and the better ones have signposts to business advisory services. There are still some pots of funding meaning there are some opportunities to get free support, although these are limited.

Consult your local Universities - they sometimes have projects, particularly on specific topics like starting up, or help for export etc

Your local unitary authority/county/town/parish council - again they sometimes disperse grants or have local business support projects

Look up online support via orgs like Federation of Small Business/Chambers of Commerce/CBI/Forum for Private Business etc etc

Find out what your local CofC and FSB etc branches have on offer

Find out if there are any networking opportunities - many of these are a waste of time, but sometimes you can strike lucky and you only know by trying them

Look up any support for women owned businesses

Find out what, if anything, your bank (or others) are offering

 

Useful online search terms include 'enterprise' and 'entrepreneurship' as well as starting up in business etc.

 

If you are offering book-keeping services, is there any merit in offering services to particular sectors? ideally ones you have experience in, but also are there any strong sectors in your locale?

 

Also have a look on HMRC website for guidance about registering as self-employed and what you need to do to run a biz legally and don't forget to start logging your expenses etc - but I don't need to highlight how to keep accounts to you

[Bramble]

I've been looking into this myself (just a general career change) and it seems that most people find they need more than one string to their bow, at least initially. For example you might need to supplement your income with another "job" at least until one or t'other generates enough income by itself.

 

 

Last but not least, just wanted to wish you all the best - being made redundant is just an awful thing to happen, but you never know, it might turn out to be the key to a fresh start for you!!! Good luck!!!!

[kinsk]

Thank you both.

[WitchHazel]

Our village has a facebook group,and we have a pinned post where people cam advertise services they offer. Members are always asking "Does anyone....", so a lot of people pick up work that way.

 

Is there anything similar where you live?

 

As an extension to this, there are a couple of real-world groups that have been set up. One is called "Ladies who Latte", which is where a group of self employed women meet up once a month and network. This has helped with recommendations. Again, maybe there is something like that in your area?

 

Do you have a parish/local magazine you could advertise in?

 

Or maybe print some leaflets and do a leaflet drop locally.

 

Are you a member of any forums or facebook groups which permit advertising?

 

People who have recently stumbled into selling/selling ther services often have no idea of their obligations and no idea what they need. No idea where to start and no idea who to ask, and don't want to approach anyone in case they look stupid. Maybe some advertising spelling out what you do , or how you can help, might work?

 

Something like that, anyway.

[Egluntyne]

Hi folks

 

One or two posts have been tweaked a little to remove specific details and references to a particular job, as advertising is not allowed on the forum.

 

If advice could be kept general, that would be marvellous, as I'm sure the subject is of interest to many.

 

Thank you!