Who are we?
Ni Can Help CIC is s Leicester-based, not-for-profit, business support service, available to everyone, and dedicated to helping businesses and professionals to become more entrepreneurial and to make access to business support services easier and more approachable.
With "82% of small businesses saying that cash flow problems was a major cause to their failure", we want to help small businesses overcome that challenge by offering free...
Business Planning & Start-up Support
for early stage businesses.
Whether you need help writing a business plan etc. Ni Can Help!
Creative & Digital marketing services
to develop your brand. Whether you're in need of bespoke social media designs, a website mini-site or more, Ni Can Help.
Workshops & Webinars Training
for professional development of owners.
Whether you need to learn how to do taxes or to do this or that, Ni Can Help!
So, how can Ni help?
Creative & Digital Marketing Support
As part of our social purpose we offer charities, social enterprise and other social purpose organisations 6 hours of marketing consultancy to help you focus and streamline your marketing activities.
MARKETING CONSULTANCY
Friendly, realistic and effective marketing advice based on your organisations aims and resources.
SEO
SEO helps your customers find you. We give you usable tools to make the most of this valuable channel.
Social Media
Key to any marketing strategy is social media, we can help you manage this or give you tools to do this yourselves.
BRAND DESIGN
Creating visually compelling consistency is key for your audience to connect and remember you.
Copywriting
Never underestimate the power of using the right words to convey your message to your audience.
PR
We can support your next fundraising event, promote an awareness raising campaign to simply share some good news!
To provide the new startups with low-cost PR and promotional services, to help them build their brand and ensure a positive two-way communication between the brand and the public.
Website Development
We build websites that give you control and sustainability. We design with your customers in mind for the best experience.
Video Production
Video is a key way to convey your important messages and connect emotionally to your audiences.
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Free Business awareness advice
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Free Help in creating a business plan
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Free Marketing advice and PR ideas
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Free Access to finding assistance
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Free Premises and location searches
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Free Ongoing support and mentoring
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Free Networking groups: share ideas
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Free Local regeneration updates
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Free Employment and recruitment advice
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Free Business seminars and workshops
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Free Mini website on http://www.liveworkinvest.com/
Common areas that we help with are:
– Impactful Messaging
– Brand Communications
– Social Media Strategy / Training
– Marketing Strategy and Tactics
– Website Advice
– SEO advice
– Content Strategies
– Commercial Planning
– Creative Marketing Ideas
We then set a first meeting face to face (currently this will be done via Zoom) to detail out any plans or help based on our conversation.
We aim to give you tools and skills to make you as sustainable as possible.
Workshop & Webinar Training
Keep an eye out for our free workshops we run for community organisations or get in touch to request. Watch videos, read guides and complete tasks to improve your knowledge in our dedicated hub.
Starting Up
As part of our social purpose we offer charities, social enterprise
Business Strategy
Review, refresh and plot the future of your business. By the end of the session you will have: updated your vision and brand values; put together a practical business model; developed tactics to improve strategic focus and efficiency; set goals and a plan of action
We assist you to achieve growth by carefully planning
a dynamic business strategy plan.
Blogging
This practical workshop introduces blogging as a means to build your business or to establish reputation and authority and to enable greater professional impact and engagement. It introduces the benefits of blogging; how to set-up your own blog and contribute to others; techniques for a more engaging writing style; ideas about what to write about, how to promote your blog and measure impact. Click here for further details and feedback on a recent session for researchers.
Finance
Creating visually compelling consistency is key for your audience to connect and remember you.
Effective Networking
Most people hate networking, but know it’s important for professional development. This session will help you to develop a more effective and strategic approach to both face to face and online networking, which benefits your business or career and keeps your values intact!
Digital Marketing
The challenge is on to sustain productivity despite unforeseen restrictions. Together with social media experts Be More Social we have worked to create a series of resources allowing small business owners and the self-employed to take control and discover how to choose the best social channel for their business, get started with digital marketing and manage it like a pro.
Know Yourself
This practical session aims to introduce some of the leading inventories (Learning Styles, Belbin and MBTI) and help you to understand how to use them to improve your personal effectiveness, working relationships and employability.
Business Planning & Start Up Support
Keep an eye out for our free workshops we run for community organisations or get in touch to request. Watch videos, read guides and complete tasks to improve your knowledge in our dedicated hub.
Grant Writing
We can help with research, writing and checking over a grant before you submit. Ask about our no win, no fee model.
Sales & Marketing
SEO helps your customers find you. We give you usable tools to make the most of this valuable channel.
Business Plan & Forecasting
Creating visually compelling consistency is key for your audience to connect and remember you.
The foundation of every startup
Who is the customer? How much is the added value? How are profits generated? We support in the development and analysis of any business model to make it practical and market-oriented.
Personal Development
Never underestimate the power of using the right words to convey your message to your audience.
Web & IT
We build websites that give you control and sustainability. We design with your customers in mind for the best experience.
Business Management
Video is a key way to convey your important messages and connect emotionally to your audiences.
We also provide...
We are providing the right navigation to the new startups & small businesses owners along with essential Business Support Services to create better brand visibility, sales optimisation, revenue generation by bringing them forward in the competitive market.
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Planning for Success (business planning course)
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Basic Bookkeeping course
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Understanding Tax and National Insurance Course (for sole traders or business partnerships)
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Building a Social Media Strategy (an introduction to social media for business)
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How to Get Your Business Found by Google - understanding basic SEO Techniques
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Develop Creative Content - Enhancing blog and social media posts
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Marketing Strategy Essentials
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How to Get Media Coverage for Your Business
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Be a Confident BAME Business Owner
"I am a BAME business owner struggling to set up/continue a business due to Covid"
Whether it's your Wedding Day, or your child's 1st Birthday Party, We Are Royal can provide you with entertainment services to capture and enhance your special moments.
"I would love to join a networking group to find likeminded business owners
Digital Biz Kit delivers a wide range of low cost marketing services, such as website development, graphic design and social media management, to help boost your business.
"I am a BAME business owner struggling to set up/continue a business due to Covid"
Wanting to develop your online personal brand as a thought leader? Or are you trying to become Insta Famous and get more followers? Regardless, Ni can help!
Acceleration and community support
Learn from failures and success of other entrepreneurs, get advice and support from InnMind community.
Learn how to bootstrap and grow your business. Create useful connections, find the tools and resources for your startup development.
We are here to help with business skills.
We understand that business training is essential for knowledge and confidence building for BAMEs in business.
Our business training spans across many aspects of business, from social media marketing, to bookkeeping, tax and national insurance rules.
Here at Ni Can Help we understand that the range of skills that a new business owner needs to utilise can be a worry, which is why we have put together a programme of skills-based business training courses that will help BAME business owners to develop new business skills in an interactive way.
These courses are open to BAME business owners looking to start a business or developing an existing business.
How InnMind helps startups?
Contacts
An access to network of mentors and prospective investors
Promotion
Your content could be published through our media channels
Professional services
In case you need to hire some service providers, there is a pool of good ones
Knowledge base
Reviews, studies, document templates are available for free
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Get support for your business
Rebuild, adapt your business & upskill with 1:1 digital consultancy, training webinars, online support and a free health check. Support is available on digital marketing strategy, social media, e-commerce and more.
Businesses can access free digital consultants, online training and a wide range of support to help their business adapt and change.
1:1 Digital Consultancy
Let an expert help you rebuild your business beyond the Coronavirus with free 1:1 support to help you build platforms, communicate, set strategies and find more customers
Business and Professional Development
Knowing me, knowing you
Strategy Day
This session can focus on either business or career strategy. It will help you to take a step back, prioritise strategic choices and competing pressures, reflect on and review your direction and develop a coherent and authentic strategy to get there.
Other topics include:
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Marketing & Sales
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Social Enterprise
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Social Media Marketing – an overview workshop or focused sessions on: Blogging, LinkedIn and Twitter.
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Winning the Bid or Tender
Online Support
We have online guides, articles and video tutorials focussed on key issues that businesses are facing during the coronavirus crisis. Including e-commerce, search, communications and more.
Need help getting an investor?
We help startups to become "investor-ready“, find a suitable investor, or invest themselves.
If you're looking for investor - you can request for InnMind support in this challenge. We make independent startup expertise, support startups in fundraising and help to prepare the package of investment documents, such as business plan, financial plan, presentation for investor, etc. If you're interested to learn more - click here.
Often, a startup project does not fulfil its plans to reach potential customers.
Where do I start? Who can help me? How do I organise a team, and how do I find an investor?
Startups have much to consider right at the beginning. We assist founders in keeping track of their progress during this phase.
Starting a charity or social enterprise?
Are you not sure where to start or who to trust? Get in touch for a friendly and impartial chat for good advice. Let us help you help the cause that matters to you.
Want to increase your donations and income?
Do you want to improve your marketing while making your hard earned income and donations go further? Keep on reading
Do you want to improve your image?
If you need some outside help to improve your overall image our amazing team works with you to make this a reality with your budgets
Business Plan
The guide for every startup
We help to create a business plan suitable for submission to banks and investors but which also offers real, direct information and sets goals for the founders themselves.
Wherever you are going for financial help writing a Business Plan is essential but it is not as difficult as it may sound - it is simply a way of putting your ideas on paper.
Pitch decks & sales pitches"
The business cards of the founders and their startups
We collaborate in the preparation of individual sales pitches and coach those who present them to investors and customers or to groups at conventions and meetings.
Business models:
Starting the business
First the business model, then the formal foundation
We help the startup find the right time for taking the steps to begin doing business, and we provide competent persons from our network.
Investors‘ network
Every investor is different and has to be convinced individually
We make the startup „investor ready“ and recommend it to suitable investors from our network.
Get ready to launch
Find our which social media platform suits your business best and how to set one up with our full guide.
Take it further
Learn how to turn a negative into a positive with our seven strategies to help you manage negative comments like a pro.
Be proactive
Learn how to get the groundwork done with our best practices guide to avoid late payments
Take control
Learn how to set boundaries around payment terms and keep on top of your invoices to avoid late payments
Take it further
Learn about the legal action you can take and the FSB resources available to help you recover debts if all else fails
Brand Communication
To provide the new startups with low-cost PR and promotional services, to help them build their brand and ensure a positive two-way communication between the brand and the public.
Web & IT Support
Creating their website, Mobile apps and providing them will all the Morden digital support to achieve their goals and develop their business over the Internet.
Digital Marketing Support
Providing low-cost Digital Marketing and Promotional services for the new startups to ensure their efficient functioning and development to bring them forward in the competitive market.
MAKE MORE IMPACT WITH YOUR MARKETING, ETHICALLY AND FOR LESS
Apply for free marketing help
6 hours of free marketing help to be used to help you help more people.
No catches, just good, honest and impartial advice.
To date we have helped around 120 Third Sector organisations giving over 500 hours completely free.
Business Growth Strategy
Financial Management
The burden of managing finances can stop a small
business in its tracks – that’s where OFS comes in.
Funding opportunities and contacts
Discuss this with us
To determine which individual sources of support are sensible for you can be determined through a personal discussion with us. It is free and without obligation.
We have been accredited in many ways and can provide you with access to both federal and state funding, which can provide you with a maximum of 90% of your costs through grants.
If you are thinking of starting a Business or Social Enterprise, Live, Work, Invest is here to help you succeed. We provide free business support for new and existing businesses and Social Enterprises in Tameside.
If you are considering starting a social enterprise, community business or Co-operative, advice is available from the Council's Social Enterprise Project Team.
Franchises
There are around 600 businesses in the UK that are franchised but what is franchising and would it be suitable for you?
It's a way of setting up in business for yourself but not on your own. With a franchise you run the business, but using methods that have been already tried and tested by another company, called the franchisor.
It is a way of being your own boss without many of the risk factors. However, you are ultimately answerable to the franchisor and this approach may not be for some people.
There are a large number of websites that deal with selling franchises a small number are listed below:
FAQ
What taxes will I have to pay?
HM Revenue and Customs have put information on their website especially for people starting up their own business. Visit the website at www.gov.uk/topic/business-tax/self-employed
Where can I get property advice?
For details of privately owned business properties (including industrial, office retail, land and development opportunities) currently available in the Tameside area, please contact the Economic Development Unit on 0161 342 2865/2167 or Send Us a Message or search the details directly at:
Working from home
You do not usually need planning permission just to work from home but sometimes you do. However there may be other implications concerning your mortgage or tenancy requirements, and concerning National Insurance or taxation. The best option is to seek advice initially from the Tameside Business Family Support Team
Generally, the key test is whether the residence has changed because of the business. If the answer to any of the following questions is "yes", then you will probably need planning permission:
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Is your house no longer chiefly a private residence?
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Will your business result in a marked rise in traffic, people calling or working around the house or in out buildings?
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Will your business involve obvious activities not usual in a residential street?
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Will your business disturb your neighbours because of noise or smells?
Basically you need to ask yourself if the house is still mainly a home or has it become business premises? This is whatever the business, including using a room as an office, hairdressing, repairing cars, storing goods, using part of the house as a bedsit, running a "bed and breakfast", providing childminding or music teaching.
Do I Need a Licence?
Many businesses require a licence eg. hairdressers, pet shops and places of public entertainment. More information can be obtained from the Licensing Section.
What standards do I need to abide by?
Trading Standards and Consumer Services Section is a strategic Local Authority service contributing to the well-being of the local and business community through its enforcement activities and advisory services. More information about the work of trading standards, including access to fact sheets that may be relevant to your business, and advice on weights and measures.
The Trading Standards division will give talks to any business, consumer group, school or any other organisation on the work carried out by the Trading Standards service in the following areas:
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Weights and measures
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Food labelling
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Product and toy safety
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Home safety
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Your rights when shopping
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Credit, borrowing and lending
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General work of the Trading Standards division
Other subject areas that are not listed can be arranged on request. To request a talk from trading standards fill in the online trading standards request form
Will I need to pay business rates?
The value of all property in respect of which rates are payable to the Council are shown in the local ratings list. This list is available from the Valuation Office Agency .
More information on business rates.
Where can I get rid of trade waste?
The Trade Waste Service is available to all commercial and industrial premises in the Borough.
The Council also carries out commercial pest control work for local businesses.
How do I recruit staff?
The Council is committed to attracting new jobs to the area and works in partnership with other agencies to ensure residents benefit from employment opportunities created within the Borough.
More information about training and employment.
Your local job centre will advise you on recruiting staff and will advertise positions in the local centres free of charge. For more information, advice and to find your local job centre look at the GOV.UK recruitment and hiring page .
You can also contact the local employment agencies to help recruit permanent or temporary staff although there will be a charge for this.
You can also advertise in the local press.
Apply here
APPLICATION INFORMATION
– Must be an organisation with clear social values and aims. You do not neccesarily need to be registered as a charity, social enterprise, CIO etc but this would help.
– We want to help smaller organisations. We do not have a specific condition on this but please bear in mind when applying.
– We give 6 hours of consultancy and all of this does not need to be used in one go but we ask that you commit to the process (see below)
– You give us permission to use your logo and provide feedback on the sessions.
– Please be mindful that there may be a wait for the first session due to high demand.
That’s it!
Please apply via the form below.
HOW WE WORK
Once you have applied we will let you know within one week if we can support you.
Once confirmed we will set a date for an initial phone call to gain more background and identify the best areas we can help you in the time. We are very mindful that this matches the amount of time you have to implement any suggestions.
Membership
Membership
FSB membership means inclusive support, market-leading benefits and a voice heard in governments at all levels. If you are self-employed or own a small business, membership is built from the ground up to help you achieve your ambitions. Together, we are stronger.
As experts in business, we offer our members a wide range of vital business services including advice, financial expertise, support and a powerful voice in government. Our mission is to help smaller businesses achieve their ambitions. We are a not-for-profit organisation, led by a team of our members, which exists to serve the small business community across the UK.