Design-Nation Creative Business seminar-Have you got what it takes? with Patricia van den Akker

• Start:Wednesday 24th February, 2010 10:00am
• End:Wednesday 24th February, 2010 1:00pm
• Price: Free

Price: FREE including refreshments and a complimentary copy of Design-Nation’s ‘Business Start-Up Guide for Designers and Makers’

Have you got what it takes? with Patricia van den Akker

Achieving success as a designer requires the ability to create, develop and inspire whilst juggling a number of responsibilities. It also requires the ability to be entrepreneurial, to spot opportunities and to sell work whilst keeping the books, planning your business journey and ensuring that you are meeting your legal obligations. Through individual and group exercises this seminar will help you to identify your level of skill in these areas, and will suggest strategies to deal with any gaps you may have.

About the Creative Business Seminar series

To set up a successful creative business is similar to being an entrepreneur. You need vision, creativity, the ability to see where the opportunities are, business acumen, and the drive and passion to see your idea from concept through to commercial success – this seminar series is intended to help you do just that.

Funded by the European Regional Development Fund, and inspired by Design-Nation’s ever popular ‘Business Start-Up Guide for Designers and Makers’, over 11 monthly sessions, the series covers the basics that any fledging business needs to consider.

From the personal qualities of a budding entrepreneur, the business plan, looking at market research, sources of funding, how to protect, exploit and cost products and services, to e-marketing and online selling this series supports new or emerging creative businesses.

Sessions are intended to be interactive, with worksheets and group and/or individual activities so that you can take away a personal action plan – you will also receive a complimentary copy of the ‘Business Start-Up Guide for Designers and Makers’. And as a participant you are also encouraged to network with other people in the group and to keep in touch after the session as you take the steps towards achieving your goal.

About Patricia van den Akker
Patricia is Director of Akker & Co a business advice and coaching consultancy for creative businesses and social enterprises. After studying Graphic Design in Belgium and Arts Consultancy in the Netherlands, she spent the last 10 years specialising in providing support to craft and design businesses. In particular offering business development, training, advice and marketing in her roles at the Crafts Council, Design-Nation, Studio Levien, Cultural Industries Development Agency (CIDA) and Pembridge Partners. She set up her own business in 2008.

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