Crafting Business Open Call – Ireland

The Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest together with the Design & Crafts Council Ireland presents “Crafting Business”, a programme for makers who want to start and grow their business.

The Crafting Business programme aims to enrich promising creative entrepreneurs with a business approach through dynamic, interactive and hands-on workshops with guidance from a variety of experts. The programme has been specially developed for makers who want to learn more about entrepreneurship and who could use some fresh input, develop their entrepreneurial toolkit and grow their network.

At the end of the programme, consisting of 10 workshops between October 2022 and June 2023, you will have developed key entrepreneurial skills, gain valuable knowledge to enable you to develop a concrete plan of action and you will have grown your network.

Crafting Business is part of the larger partnership Crafting Europe; this project brings together nine organizations from eight European countries that are committed to ensuring the survival and further development of the crafts for future generations.

To take part in the Crafting Business programme please, APPLY HERE

KEY DATES & PROGRAMME OUTLINE

APPLICATION CALL, SHORTLISTING & INTERVIEWS

Induction Setting the tone and expectations of the training, build peer cohort: Thu 27/10/22
Module 1 Business visioning and modelling – giving cohort direction and aspirations: Fri 28/10/22
Module 2 Finances (costing and pricing, cashflow, financial management) – key pragmatic advice and tools: Thu 03/11/22
Module 3 Marketing and Presenting yourself (inc pre-recorded videos): Thu 10/11/22
Module 4 Access to funding supports & grant applications, merchandising – helping cohort realise the scope of financial options Thu 17/11/22
Makers Day: Hosted at LSAD, Limerick: Thu 24/11/22
Module 5 Product development: Fri 25/11/22
Module 6 Scaling enterprise (e-commerce) and access to international trade events and galleries. – pragmatic advice for market potential: Fri 02/12/22
Module 7 Business plan presentation and feedback – makers present their plan and put it into action: Thu 19/01/23
Reflection event and follow-up: – allow 6 months for participants to action on their business plan, reflect back, adjust the plan and set new goals. Thu 15/06/23

In addition, each maker received 2 hours one-to-one (startup clinics with TUS) and could attend optional Group sessions and Lunch & Learn sessions

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

All workshops will take place online to allow for a national reach and flexibility for the makers, however, we will meet in person for the maker’s day, business plan presentation day and for the reflection day in Limerick. There is flexibility for the business plan day and reflection day but the makers day involves a walk and talk so that will be in-person.

Thursday 27th Oct 2022 Workshop 1: Induction

The team will kick off with an induction day – you will have an opportunity to meet the other participants, get to know each other and discuss what your needs and expectations of the programme.

Friday 28th Oct 2022 Workshop 2: Business Visioning & Modelling

The team will work with you on developing a vision for your business, the starting point of your company and the basis of the business plan. By means of the Creative Business Model Canvas, you will develop a clear plan throughout the workshop series. With this approach, you quickly see the relationship between your business activities and your earnings model as well as having a clear value proposition that will help you communicate to your customers, understand the competition and therefore better strategize to enable sustainability and growth.    

Thursday 3rd Nov 2022 Workshop 3: Finance  

Learn about the world of finance; creating a healthy cash flow, financial management, costs, prices and obtaining (startup) financing and developing a financial strategy. Involves key pragmatic advice and tools.

Thursday 10th Nov 2022 Workshop 4: Marketing, Access to Market, Market Research and Presenting yourself (beneficial also to support writing a proposal for grant/tender /sales – additional lunch & learn sessions will further support this)

Understanding your customers, your market, and your competition is critical. Learn how to communicate your value to your customers and key stakeholders and leverage the best route to market for your products. Understand the strategic aspects of communication and PR that will enable you to best reach your customers.

Thursday 17th Nov 2022 Workshop 5: Access to Funding, Grants & Supports   

Learn about the opportunities for public and private funding and support and what makes a great application and pitch.

Thursday 24th Nov 2022: Makers day. 

This is an opportunity for the cohort to come together and show their work and meet other makers, and discuss product development challenges and work to solve those challenges. Opportunity to see the latest equipment that is available to makers.

Friday 25th Nov 2022 Workshop 6: Product Development   

Who are you making your products for? How does the user relate to your product? Are you going for utility, to make a social contribution or for beauty? Look at your work from a different perspective.

Thursday 2nd Dec 2022 Workshop 7: Scaling Enterprise & Production Options   

Learn about scaling, production possibilities, access to international events, grow your global network, reach a global audience and more.

Thursday 19th Jan 2023 Workshop 8: Presentation & Feedback on Business Model and Business Proposal 

Everyone will have an opportunity to present their updated business pitch to the group and receive feedback on their ideas. This is a further opportunity to learn from each other and get feedback

Thursday 15th June 2023 Workshop 8: Follow-up, Reflection & Goal Setting

Allows 6 months for participants to work on their goals. The day offers an opportunity to reflect back, adjust plans if needed and set new goals with support from the team.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN.

Interviews will take place on the 24th of Oct 2022 via an online zoom call or phone call.

Note: You must have access to a device that enables you to use Zoom. You will need to have your camera on for the workshops and have a working microphone also.

For more information, you can look at the Crafting Business Ireland Application Guidance

For additional queries contact the team at Gillian.Barry@TUS.ie or Joseph.Kearney@TUS.ie

Apply Now

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