The Proposal: Financial Support and Training

(Stimulating South-West Growth) Team Intro Team Name: Diversi-Team Project Name: SSWG (Stimulating South-West Growth) Mixed nationalities and languages showing effective and professional communication skills. Members: Reece Parke – Team Leader Tariq Al-Sharhan Islam Dzhabiev Caymin Maharaj Mandakh Nyamsuren Tomas Dos Santos Team Logo: Project Aim

Our Objectives To Professionally Deliver 4500 Sme’s With Effective Training And Guidance With Their Application To Obtain Business Grants During A 24 Month Period. Deliverables: Weekly Conferences And Training Days Alongside Online One-to-one Support Via Email/Skype.

Services That We Offer Support Services: Grant Application Assistance Additional Sources Of Finance Awareness        Measuring Success of Support Given:        Satisfaction Surveys/Questionnaires Successful Grants Obtained SME Satisfaction with Support Service Repeat Visits For Support

Why Businesses Need Us People Simply Do It Wrong Smaller Businesses Need Cheaper/Cost Free Funding E.g. No Loans Lack Of Awareness Of Alternative Funding Give Them The Push And Assistance They Need

Budget £350,000 Over 24 Months Allocation Of £123,000 Towards Wages Per Year Equals £246,000 Wages To Cover Entire Project Leaves Us With: £104,000

Budget Breakdown Marketing – Advertising = 4% Wages = 70% Travel + Accommodation = 10% Venue Hire = 15% Catering = 1%

Target Sectors Roughly 20% of businesses in chosen sector will participate Wholesale, Retail and Repair = 52,910 + Manufacturing = 32,850 85,760 20% of 85,760 = 17,152 potential businesses Targeting 4,500 businesses Achievable, Cost effective, industry advantage

Support Service Coverage Zone A: Upper regions of the South West including: Bournemouth Christchurch Salisbury Swindon Bristol Bath Wells Gloucester Zone B: Lower regions of the South West including: Poole Weymouth Yeovil Taunton Exeter Plymouth Truro

Zone A

Zone B Decision not to visit Isles of Scilly – additional costs, specific focus on other locations

Business Breakdown 4500 South-west Smes Over A 24 Month Period Starting In July 2014 Minus 3 Months For Preparation/Slow Business Period And 1 Month Between Visiting Zone A And B Minus 1 Month At End Of Project To Analyse Data And Effectiveness Of Support Given 19 Months To Deliver Support – Some Locations Have 2 Months 4,500 SMEs Divided By 15 Locations = 300 SMEs Per Location

Proposed Schedule Example schedule to visit each location with number of businesses at each location in terms of type of delivery

How Will We Deliver? One-to-one Sessions - 1 Week Per Business With The Total Of 4 Businesses Per Month, Online Via Email And Skype. Conferences – Every Friday, Before Training Days, Aiming At Higher Quantity Of Businesses Than One-to-one Sessions Training Days - Saturday And Sundays, Target Fewer Businesses Than Conferences For More Specific And Individualised Support

Gantt Chart

Identified Costs Marketing Costs Administrative Costs Operation Costs Flyers To Be Handed Out At The Event Advertising Information Pack Business Cards At The Event Wages Telephone Office Supplies   Transport For Staff Hotel Stay For Staff Catering Costs IT Rent/Purchase Venue Hire Printing

Marketing Leaflets/Posters – Designed by students Local Newspapers – Region specific Local Radio – Convenient for businessmen listening in car etc.

Marketing Directories – Thomson Local = Free Email = Free – personalised, multiple recipients Social Media – Facebook, Twitter – Spreads fast Bournemouth Uni Students – Articles, Poster/Leaflet Designs

Main Competitors SWCF – South West Commercial Finance Focus on Mortgages Fixed to Wiltshire, Bristol No price available – indicates potential high prices Heart of the South West LEP Fixed to Devon and Somerset Devon Delivers Main focus on Devon Loans not grants

Our Competitive Advantage Free service across entire South West, not restricted to one area. One-to-one support to businesses who need/want it as well as conferences and training days Aiming at 300 enterprises per location, allows for business networking between enterprises – lead to further relationships Hired location with facilities and catering, free of charge for participating enterprises Potential for SME’s to network with business grant funders to take their application further (Creating further relationships and potential growth)

SWOT Analysis Strengths Providing a desired support service Professional communication Giving businesses the extra push towards extra finance Weaknesses High venue and accommodation costs Opportunities Relationships with SME Increased reputation Stimulate growth Threats Competitors SME participation Price uncertainty

Top Risks

Insurance Certificate

Project Implementation Tools Work Breakdown Structure – Achievable Tasks To Complete Gantt Chart – Step By Step Schedule Of Project Risk Assessment – With Contingency Plans Monthly Progress Reports – Review Position, Solve Any Issues RACI Matrix – Who Does What Tasks

Why choose our project? Targets Lower Performing Businesses To Help Boost Growth Unique And Desired Service Free Support As Well As Training Days And One-to-one Guidance Experienced Project Managers Use Of Project Management Tools To Ensure Success Carefully Identified Risks But More Importantly Contingency Plans

Thank You for listening Please feel free to ask any questions and we will answer where we can. We hope to succeed and take our project further towards stimulating business growth in the South West.