You’ve handed in your final project and you’re determined to carry on that project and turn it into a business?
What do you do now?
How do you go about it?
Well yshLondon.com has just the ticket for you!

The Portobello Business Centre is an independent non-profit making, market driven organisation. They aim to deliver affordable support and training for young people to help them run a successful business. They can also provide business loans and grants for London based businesses.

The Portobello Business Centre can provide you with free support and advice, including business plans and skill assessments. Free or subsidised IT support or training towards your business endeavours and Professional services especially when it comes to banking, accounting and funding. It also offers free or heavily subsidised courses all with the one aim of advising and training you to start-up and grow that business. There is a lot more on offer too so keep in contact with them!

The Portobello Business Centre is offering a ‘Start Your Own Fashion Business’ course with Lecturer David Jones. The Course will be split into three intense sessions.

Session 1 covers; Marketing, product range, manufacturing and launching your product
Session 2 covers: Structure, cash flow and monitoring performance, Market research and Sources of finance
Session 3 covers: People Management, Customer Care and identifying future needs.

David Jones is an expert within the industry, he has been a fashion Consultant since 1970 and has worked with the likes of; Aquascutum, Wallis, Karen Millen and Matthew Williamson. He has also been President of the Clothing Designers and Executive Association as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

This course, for anyone interested in starting a business is fashion, will be held on the Tuesday 20th, Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd of July 2010 between 10.30am and 4.30pm and costs £150. For more information regarding the course please contact pbc@pbc.co.uk.

The Portobello Business Centre are also organising a 4 day ‘Business Start-up Course’ between Monday 12th July and Thursday 15th of July. This course will focus on;
Your Skills and The Business Plan
Types of legal Structure
Marketing Research
Marketing Strategy Business
Financial Planning
Business Plan
Guest Speakers
Sources of Funding

Again remember to register early for the course via pbc@pbc.co.uk and don’t miss out on these fantastic opportunities offered to all young designers hoping to start up a business or for existing businesses.