To Beijing and beyond, thanks to a BA Free Flight
In January 2010 it was announced that British Airways would make available 10 free flights to Guernsey owned companies that were looking to grow their businesses internationally. The offer arrangements were organised by the Guernsey Enterprise Agency in conjunction with British Airways and with the support of the Commerce and Employment Department. Marine Electronics, a [...]
What makes a successful Entrepreneur?
People have written books on this topic, so how is it possible to sum up what makes a successful entrepreneur in this small column, I hear you ask? Well first of all let’s get one thing straight, there is no magic recipe for business success! Luck, a great idea and sheer hard work are all [...]
Starting a Part-Time Business
In March 2010 there were 31,605 of us working as employed or self-employed in Guernsey, which is roughly half of the population. For many of the 28,592 of us who are classed as employed, the dream is to join the 3,013 who were self-employed and enjoy the independence that comes with being your own boss. [...]
Getting Found on the World Wide Web
Now you have a website, can you just sit back and wait for thousands of visitors and hundreds of orders to roll in? No! All too often the publishing of a website will go unnoticed and the expected enquiries will not appear. What can you do about it?
Getting on the World Wide Web
Do I need a website? This is a question I am sure every business owner has asked themselves over recent years. The facts are that the younger you are, the more likely you are to use the web to search for information, services or products. The age barrier to the web gets higher all the [...]
Giving your Business Wheels!
Many people get stuck with the idea that the customer should come to them, believing that bricks and mortar and a good location should be the answer to creating a good business. However this isn’t the case for everyone and there are many businesses out there that would benefit from some “out of the box” [...]
Premises – the big expense!
The Guernsey Enterprise Agency can help new or existing business in a number of ways and finding the right premises is one of them. That doesn’t mean that we are some kind of estate agent; what it does mean is that we will look at the choices you have, the terms of the lease, if leasing, and help you make the right decisions as regards the future home for your business.
Paying for Professional Advice can save you money!
The Guernsey Enterprise Agency is a free and confidential service. When you come to see us we can brainstorm your ideas, think outside the box, give you advice on actions you will need to take and give you useful information to help you start your business. As a free service many people might think that they can also save themselves the cost of an accountant or an advocate by coming to see us. However the Agency does operate under a simple mantra which states: “We are not a substitute for Paid Professional advice”.
Mentors can guide you to Business Success
The Guernsey Enterprise Agency is able to help you with your new or existing business in a number of ways. Not only can we discuss your ideas and help you come up with ways to develop them but we can also offer you additional information and support to help you move forward.
One of the most effective means of helping is to match you with a business mentor. We have several mentors, with a range of different skills and experiences who have offered to help people with their businesses.
The system works by the client first agreeing that they would like the help of a mentor to take their business forward. We then arrange a meeting between the client and the mentor in the presence of an advisor so that they can both assess if they can work together in some way.
Research – the Key to Success!
Research is a key element of starting a business, but all too often it is either forgotten or ignored. Research is without doubt the key to making a success of a business but it has to be done properly and needs to be relevant to what you are setting up. It also has to be realistic.
For many people who believe there is a need or a niche for their new business idea, that belief is sufficient for them to make the decision to go ahead and start their business. In reality their belief should be just the first step to then proving there is a need for that business.
In Guernsey in particular you also need to be aware of the potential for new businesses, particularly in leisure or creative areas to have a short life. Once we have all tried the latest new thing, we don’t necessarily want to do it again. This can skew first year takings in the business and then lead to downward spirals in income and increased expenditure in marketing as you try to maintain income levels.
