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BIPC's Manchester's How to start a business that makes a difference

    Join BIPC Manchester and Expert Impact to discover how you can make a positive social impact with your business.

    Did you know that there are more than 100,000 social enterprises in the UK? Social enterprises are businesses selling products or services that have a positive social or environmental impact.

    Join this session if you’re interested in making a profit with purpose and starting a business that is good for people and planet. Hear from three social entrepreneurs to learn how they did it.

Speakers

BIPC Greater Manchester

Lee Manion

Head of Communications at Expert Impact

Paula Braynion

Founder of Future Directions

Nile Henry

Founder of The Blair Project

More Events

Getting started with your side hustle

Going in to business might feel like a leap into the unknown, but with a side hustle you can minimise the risk.

Earning through a side hustle helps you earn extra an income while keeping paid employment and helps to maintain the cash flow as the new business establishes itself. With digital communities and marketplaces helping to fast track the route to market and allowing entrepreneurs to tap into a wider breadth of customers than ever before, more and more people are choosing to start side hustles, and seeing them grow.

Vicki Broadbent has grown her blog, The Honest Mum, from a hobby and passion to her full-time commercial income. She is also the author of Mum Boss, which examines the opportunities you can unearth by unlocking spare time, often, while at home with a family.

This session will explore the skills and support you will need to put your plans into action after Start-up Day, as well as practical tips on keeping up a side hustle while working the 9 to 5. If you have entrepreneurial ambition and a skill that can be monetised, join us and Vicki to hear about whether a side hustle start-up is the right option for you.

The Beat Goes On: Black Voices in the British Music Industry


In celebration of the British Library’s “Beyond the Bassline” exhibition, we’ve assembled some ground-breaking Black entrepreneurs who’ve transformed the British music industry to share the secrets of their success, including the highs and lows of their entrepreneurial journeys.

At £2.5 billion, the UK is home to Europe's most valuable digital music economy (Statista, 2021, 2023). However, despite the undeniable contribution of Black music artists and entrepreneurs to these figures, 2021’s Black Lives in Music report found that among Black music professionals, 73% experienced direct or indirect racism and noted disparities in respondent’s earnings and ability to gain music funding.

As part of our Inspiring Entrepreneurs series, this event provides a unique chance to hear our panel discuss the challenges and realities of the industry and share their experiences leveraging their creative talent to drive positive change for other artists and innovators. So if you’re thinking about starting a business, or already running one, join us to gain insight into their journey – or simply be inspired!

On the day, you can expect to:

Examine how entrepreneurship has evolved in the music industry, focusing on the journey of Black music in Britain and how this has been impacted by trends and other cultural shiftsLearn how music artists and creatives are transforming wider popular culture and redefining BlacknessAnalyse diverse business models utilized in the industryDiscover new opportunities and potential pitfallsPut your specific questions to our expert panel.

BIPC North East: Developing a sustainable/green brand


This session is perfect for start-ups who need to develop and communicate green credentials and sustainability effectively.

Andy will detail how businesses can develop and use green credentials. He'll present ideas around how to embed green thinking into your organisation's core idea, as well as providing general tips on how to communicate green credentials through marketing and communication material. He'll also share examples from other organisations that are leading with sustainability.

Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to communicate green credentials to create a competitive advantage.

Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Fashion Retail Reimagined


Online retail sales for textiles, clothing and footwear reached an unprecedented peak of 31% in 2020, as reported by UKFT, and in the UK alone the fashion and textile sector boasts a staggering 34,045 businesses. Now in 2023, the industry of fashion retail is witnessing the emergence of several exciting trends that are revolutionizing the shopping experience.

TikTok's live shopping experience, the growth of omni-channel retail, the increasing importance of second-hand fashion, supply chain innovations, and the rise of diversity and inclusivity are reshaping the fashion retail landscape. With these emerging trends, traditional brick-and-mortar shops have been reimagined, giving way to a new era of shopping experiences that seamlessly blend the physical and digital realms.

Our panel of five inspiring fashion experts and entrepreneurs will explore how these changes are influencing the industry and share valuable insights on leveraging these shifts to your advantage – leaving you inspired, informed, and ready to conquer the future of fashion retail.

Quotes: https://www.ukft.org/business-advice/industry-reports-and-stats. and Top Fashion Retail Trends of 2023: Innovations Shaping the Industry — Femestella.

On the day, expect to:

Discover the intersection of high-end fashion and sustainability that is reshaping the market through consumer-to-consumer shared economy modelsExplore the latest business models in fashion retail, from traditional high street to cutting-edge online platformsLearn about the world of pop-up shops, offering not only unique shopping experiences but also sales opportunities for start-upsDive into the thriving market of live shopping, from social media live videos to online shop ecommerce platformsUnderstand how small businesses are establishing successful retail and ecommerce identities to grow their brandLearn how the power of innovative concepts, combined with community support, can revolutionise shopping in key locations.

For those joining us in person, the event will be followed by a networking reception with drinks, canapés, meeting with other attendees, as well as the speakers. For those joining us online, the panel and talk will run from 18.30 – 20.30

This event is tailored to those who are just thinking about starting a business, are already a business owner who wants to learn more, or perhaps simply wish to establish a stronger network. Attendees will leave this event feeling inspired and engaged.

BIPC Hull's Building an effective website

Join BIPC Hull with Creator Coach, Mal Williamson, to understand how to build an effective website.

In our age digital technology and the internet has revolutionized the way we live and work, creating a hotbed of online platforms for start-ups to consider. In this session, we explore the world of websites and ‘the internet of entrepreneurs’. A website can be many things. It can tell a story, share values, be a conversation, a marketplace, a testing facility. Every entrepreneur knows they need a website… don’t they? But what exactly is a website these days?

In this webinar we will cover:
Different websites for different reasonsBuilding an effective website that works for youCustomizing the processTesting the market with landing pagesHow to work with creatives and get the most out of web designers, copywriters, graphic designers and codersDo you really need a website and what are the alternatives?

Michael Cashman

Speaker Position

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