On the 10th and 11th September we launched our pilot of the JCI Business Academy. 9 delegates from around the UK went from business newbies to budding business leaders. 

The weekend was filled with inspiring talks, practical sessions and a dragons den style pitch putting all of what the delegates learnt into practice. (The only thing missing was the huge stack of money next to our dragons!)

Julie Kenney gave the delegates a look into her inspiring story of her humble beginnings to being a multimilllion business leader amongst other roles. The highs and lows of success and life all came together and inspired our delegates to think about their future and where they want to be.

Natalie Fletcher from Business Sheffield talked about the  support that is available from the city, the communities that are available and the free talk and seminars that are run each month by Business Sheffield. Some members have gone on to arrange meetings with Business Sheffield to see how they can get involved and how they can progress their business idea further with support. 

Marketing plays a huge role in business and our next session with Bob and Sarah Brown from Inspire2Aspire talked us through traditional and new marketing funnels and the top ten traits of a successes entrepreneur. These sessions allowed our delegates to think about what their values are personally and in business. Something that is easily looked over. Sarah then shared tips and ideas for our delegates ideas that could be used for easy, cheap and effective marketing. 

Creating a business plan can seem daunting and it definitely did to some of our delegates but Ben Hawley shared LEAN Canvas with us. A simple and effective way of creating a more visual and interactive business plan that can be changed as your business idea develops. Delegates got to work section by section and built up their business plan  ready for what was to come on day two. Bob Brown then gave a small session on naming a business and what to look out for. Definitely one of the funny sessions from the weekend! 

Day two brought us more great food from Inox with the day starting with Making the Connection training with Auriel Majumdar. Auriel shared her experience of networking and the various ways to perceive it. Our delegates learnt about the new styles of networking that are taking form in business and personal brands not only your business brand. This session was also featured live on our Facebook page ! If you missed it be sure to check it out. 

Paul Bamford gave finance tips about pensions and insurance. Richard Wright from the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce shared what lessons he would have told his younger self. Giving the delegates a look into his success story and gave food for thought for the delegates about where they want to be and how that may potentially change through time.  

2016 JCI Sheffield President Gareth Carson shared his top tips for a great pitch which helped calm the delegates nerves about pitching their business idea to our dragons den style panel made up of Gareth Carson, Julie Kenney and Richard Wright. 

After the dragons den pitches our delegates were ready for graduation! Certificates, and branded mugs were given to the delegates and a winning pitch, decided by the dragons, was awarded to Neal Stirk from JCI Sheffield! 

We can’t wait to see how our budding businesses leaders get on with their ideas! 

Thanks

JCI Sheffield