We've compiled a list of resources to help you take the first steps towards building your venture with confidence. The resources listed are from trusted sources we know and recommend.
The Cube: training and e-learning for budding entrepreneurs
We've compiled a list of resources to help you on your entrepreneurial journey
Develop your skills with LinkedIn Learning
LinkedIn Learning is a leading online learning platform that helps anyone learn business, software, technology, and creative skills to achieve personal and professional goals. The LinkedIn Learning video library features engaging, top-quality courses taught by recognised industry experts.
LinkedIn Learning is available to all University of Plymouth staff and students, please see our dedicated LinkedIn Learning pages for more information.
The Cube has online resources to support the development of your business idea, business, self-employment, freelancing or just increase your entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. Enterprise modules are available via The Digital Learning Environment (DLE) at Course: The CUBE (plymouth.ac.uk) Click on the Student Self Enrolment button to register.
The course content covers:
- understanding your customer
- elevator pitch
- idea generation
- business sanity check
- business plan.
For each topic there are a short video presentations, You Tube links, PDF information sheets, templates and tools.
A great resource for you to use in your own time to explore key areas of business to grow your skills and knowledge.
Accelerating Women’s Enterprise
Accelerating Women’s Enterprise is a collaborative support project supporting women either side of the English Channel to increase their business knowledge and personal skills to start and grow a successful business. The programme is developed specifically for women and offers workshops on a variety of both business and personal development topics. As part of the programme in addition to the workshops, participants can access to 1:1 appointments and have the option to benefit from our mentoring scheme.
The programme is aimed at both pre-start clients who want to find out more and build confidence around setting up their own business, to those who are early on in their business journey and are looking for some support around specific areas.
To find out about our upcoming sessions and book on please visit our eventbrite page. For more project information visit www.acceleratingwomensenterprise.uk or email info@acceleratingwomensenterprise.uk
Exploring entrepreneurship
- Ten Steps to starting a business using easy step by step guides.
- TED Talks: If you're still searching for a business idea, try these TED talks included in the playlist Where do Ideas Come From?.
Information resources
- Self-Employment: A series of 'bite-sized' videos on self-employment are available on the HMRC's YouTube channel.
- Setting up your company : Gov.uk Working For Yourself talks you through the different options for setting yourself up as a sole trader or limited company, and what you need to know.
- National Insurance and Tax: The Ready Reckoner calculator tool is available on Gov.uk's website to work out how much money you need to set aside for National Insurance /Tax.
- Launch and Grow your Business: The British Library run a series of workshop packages on everything you need to know to help you start, launch and grow your business.
- Articles: Startups is an invaluable resource for up to date articles on entrepreneurship hot topics and news. It also contains 62 detailed guides on how to start a business in popular industries.
Business plan templates
- Download a simple business plan to get you started.
- Download an expanded version of the business plan - this allows you to add more detailed information such as a marketing plan, financials and operational detail.
Marketing and branding
- Branding and entrepreneurship: Small Business Resource Centre provides information and tips about branding and entrepreneurship.
Legal and accountancy
- Company information: Companies House incorporates and dissolves limited companies, registers the information companies are legally required to supply, and makes that information available to the public.
- Accountancy: Getting an accountant to help with the accounting, tax and finance issues should be able to save a start-up business more time and money than the cost of the accountancy fees.
Intellectual property (IP)
- IP and Research: IP and Research help can be found at Cracking Ideas.
- Guide to IP: The Gov.uk Intellectual Property Office offers a guide and e-learning tool on intellectual property and how to create a viable business opportunity from your idea.
- IP Rights: The IP Tools for Universities on the Gov.uk website is an accredited e-learning tool to help students and lecturers understand intellectual property rights.
- Trademarks / Patents: Read through the Gov.uk guides to registering, protecting and applying for patents, trademarks and copyrights.
- The University of Plymouth Intellectual Property Policy: This Policy sets out the University’s position regarding the ownership of intellectual property (IP) developed by staff, students and certain others, together with the procedures in place for commercialisation of University owned IP. It covers all University related activities, including research and innovation and student education. For more information please visit the University IP web page.
Social enterprise
- Gov.uk has a guide on setting up a social enterprise .
- Training in social enterprise: i-Genius is a worldwide network for social entrepreneurs providing training, services and news.
- Support for social enterprise: UnLtd is a charity that supports social entrepreneurs on their journey.
- Plymouth Social Enterprise Network is a hub and support system for social purpose businesses in the city of Plymouth.
- Social Enterprise Mark CIC has created a video 'What is social enterprise'.
Becoming a freelancer/contractor during or after university
- How to become a freelancer: CareerLancer offers advice on how to become a freelancer in a range of areas such as music production, journalism, IT programming, web development, engineering and manufacturing, graphic design and multimedia, and many more.
- How to become a contractor: Contractor UK is an IT contractor community with advice and information about starting out as a contractor.
- Opportunities: for other opportunities to develop your employability and explore careers and placements with established companies, visit the University of Plymouth Careers Service.
Small Business Toolkit
To support these exciting ventures, and those other new and small businesses who have ambitions to grow, Devon & Plymouth Chamber have created this electronic booklet comprising a whole range of advice and guidance.
Digital Business Academy
The Digital Business Academy provide free online courses that help you to build skills to start, grow or join a digital business.
The Cube inspiring student and graduate entrepreneurs
The Cube isn’t just about running a business at university, It’s a collection of activities and support that offer you the chance to challenge yourself by learning new skills, both personally and professionally.Discover The Cube
Contact The Cube
All enquiries
Claire Martin, Student Enterprise Manager
Denise Kellham, Student Engagement Coordinator, enquiries for Formation Zone
University of Plymouth Drake Circus Plymouth PL4 8AA
