Services
The Tameside Business Family Support Team members have a wide range of experience and can advise new and existing businesses on the following topics:
Starting a New Business or Social Enterprise
Start Up Advice
We are able to assist new businesses with advice on various aspects of starting up the business. This includes advice on market research, marketing, finance, sales forecasting, tax, national insurance, employing for the first time, finding the right premises.
Social Enterprise
Social Enterprises are surplus-making businesses or Community led Projects set up to tackle a social or possibly environmental need. We can provide support and advice in developing the idea, deciding on the appropriate business/organizational structure, developing a business plan, searching for possible funding sources, assisting in registration and providing on going support and advice after the enterprise is operational.
Finance/Grants
We are able to advise you on grants and loans available for new businesses starting up. At the present time, there are not very many but we do keep our eyes and ears open to opportunities.
Assistance for Existing and New Business
Seminars and Workshops
Series of seminars are run covering a wide range of business related topics such as Marketing, Winning New Business, Employing for the First Time, Your Business Premises and other Web/Internet related topics. For more information, please visit the Events section of this website.
Sales and Marketing
Sales & Marketing
The basics of marketing start with identifying potential customer groups within your target market, building your benefits messages and finding the right communication channels. You must understand your market and be able to “live in your customer’s world” in order to sell effectively. Sales techniques will vary dependent on whether you are in a Business to Business environment, or Business to Consumer. We can help you with this including running seminars covering these topics.
Public relations and Advertising.
We have various advisors with backgrounds in a broad range of marketing and public relations that can assist you with formulating your ideas. In addition to this we run a varied course of business development seminars aimed at assisting you in marketing and growth methodologies.
Internet and Web
Information & Communication Technology
The Tameside Business Family advisors offer ICT consultancy services that both inform and instruct. We provide simple to understand advice for individuals and SMEs regarding ICT solutions that include website development, networks, wireless, data Infrastructure, etc.
The Tameside Business Support Team provides independent and qualified advice and professional services accredited against the Technology Means Business Standard (TMB the industry standard for IT advice and Guidance in the Local Government sector www.technologymeansbusiness.org.uk)
Website Design
The TBF team have over 8 years' experience of giving advice and guidance on all aspects of web design from deciding whether to have a professionally designed site or 'do it yourself' using free tools through the type of site, the type of content, legal requirements, buying your domain name and hosting to marketing your site once it has been developed. We can hold your hand through the whole process and can even suggest designers to contact.
e-Commerce
If you are looking to start up and e-commerce business or want to start using your existing website to trade online, we can give you advice of all aspects. There is more to trading online than adding a catalogue and a payments system: you need to think about how you will deal with orders, how to make sure you meet the Data Protection and Distance Selling regulations and how to drive customers to you site. If you just want to use e-Bay or similar sites, we can advise on that too.
e-Marketing
E-marketing or internet marketing includes search engine optimisation, pay per click and email marketing. These can be very cost effective if well targeted. e-marketing spend has grown 750% in 4 years, whilst traditional marketing is declining. e-marketing however needs to be underpinned by the traditional marketing techniques of knowing who to target and the message to present. We can help you identify target markets and offerings before examining the range of opportunities provided by the internet.
Tameside Business
The Tameside Business online directory (www.tamesidebusiness.co.uk) has been set up specifically for organisations which have their trading address in Tameside. In addition to offering the usual searchable directory, registered users can also set up a FREE mini website of up to 8 pages which they develop and update themselves (we show you how!). This is ideal for both new and existing businesses with limited resources or as part of a marketing plan. News, Events and Jobs can also be advertised on the site. Regular networking events are also organised where members have the opportunity to showcase their business and get to meet other businesses within the Borough.
Search Engine Optimisation
Search Engine Optimisation is the branch of e-marketing that maximizes the relevance of a web-site for organic/naturally occurring search results (i.e. not Pay Per Click). A number of basic omissions occur on many sites that can be fixed quite easily. It’s important that potential customers can find your business by looking for the product / service, rather than by already knowing your business name! We can give you advice of making your website more ‘search engine friendly’.
CRM
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a term that is bandied around a great deal. In a nutshell CRM is a way of improving business efficiency, it’s about building and strengthening customer relationships to keep them coming back, while helping businesses gain new customers.
The Tameside Business Support advisors will assist you in establishing how CRM technology and software can assist with customer information and contact history.
Customer Service
Customer Service
Customer Service is about how you deal with customers (and potential customers) before, during and after a purchase. This covers telephone, email and letters, as well as dealing face-to-face. Poor customer service can lose you business – 50% of customers say it is the main reason they switch. A range of training is available from telephone techniques to full Customer Service NVQs. We can offer a review of your existing offering and help you plan and implement improvements.
Complaints Management
A complaint is...
"An expression of dissatisfaction about the businesses action or lack of action or about the standard of a service/product, whether the action taken or the service/product was provided by the business itself or a body/sub-contractor acting on behalf of the business".
The Tameside Business Support advisors can assist businesses in developing a complaints system that meets your business requirements and improves customer satisfaction.
Finance
Book Keeping
We assist new businesses starting up by providing advice on Book Keeping and the book keeping systems available that will enable new businesses to manage their finances and keep records of their financial transactions.
Business Planning
A business plan is important for any new business starting up as this is the document that will look at the strategies, objectives and financial forecasts of a business to ensure its success. It is a working plan that is adaptable to the changing market. We help new business with advice on planning their business as this can be used for both raising finance to start the business and measure the success of the business.Human Resources
Training Support and Guidance
Some basic general training can be provided by ourselves in the subjects outlined but where specialist training is required service users will be signposted to the appropriate sources of training.
Human Resources
General advice is available based on experience gained from industry and commerce.
Employee Relations
General advice is available based on experience gained from industry and commerce.
Selection and Interviewing
Our advisors come backgrounds where interviewing is an ongoing process. They are happy to discuss techniques for selection and staffing of various projects, project roles and the competencies required. We also have free seminars running which include Employing People for the First Time
Other Business Topics
Innovation
One definition of Innovation is "The act of introducing something new". Do you have an idea for a product or a service but don't know how to proceed, whether you need to patent this and if so how to go about it or do you want to work in a new way but would welcome a friendly ear. Our advisors can listen, advise and guide you so that you can make your ideas come to life.
New Product Development
We are able to signpost clients to partnership organisations who can provide advice and services to address innovation, lean manufacturing, marketing and so on to help manage product change and development effectively
Commercial Property and Land
We are able to take clients property requests and requirements in individual town locations, or across the borough as a whole, and match them to the comprehensive MIDAS database of currently available premises and development sites.
Procurement
Are you one of the many businesses wanting to know how to trade successfully with the public sector or very large companies. The Tameside Business Family members and team have experience of both sides of the question and give you sound advice to help you.
Succession Planning
Succession Planning needs a dispassionate view of the business, the owner’s objectives, the business strategy and the skills and motivations of those in the business. An organisational development adviser can act as an independent and confidential sounding board to help explore the issues. It can be one of the most difficult and sensitive issues an organisation needs to address as you ensure that there are the right skills and competences to keep driving your business forward.
Process Development
Process Development is about designing or developing processes. This may range from office administrative systems, through computer processing to industrial process design. Simple mapping techniques can be used to form the basis of work instructions and quality manuals. Advanced techniques include Six Sigma, Kaizen and Statistical Process Control. We can help you scope the processes that you are looking to develop and signpost to appropriate specialist support.
DDA
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) applies both to buildings and websites.
With accessibility in mind the Government has issued guidelines through the E-envoys office.
Research by the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) and web accessibility organisations points to a number of key reasons why organisations and web designers struggle to implement accessibility.
The Tameside Business Support Team can offer advice and guidance in interpreting the existing accessibility guidelines.
Quality
Quality is about doing things right first time, every time. Quality is FREE. What costs money are the non quality things – all the actions that involve not doing jobs right first time.
Let the Tameside Business Support Team advise you on how your business can provide a quality product or service and help maximise your profits.
