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| Original Message Added : 15 Oct 2008 We are hopeing to achieve investor in people standard but they have asked that we present a business plan. Please can you advise us where we can get help? Kind Regards Glen Lawson KPC Limited |
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| Reply : 15 Oct 2008 A nice to problem to have it would seem & congratulations on the growth, whilst this is an area that I have a general idea about and of course my own business plan feel that this question is far better answered by some of the other business planning/strategy experts who should be able to point you in the right direction. Jeremy Marchant appears to be very useful in this regard judging by some of the answers he has already given If you have any insurance issues in regard to your expansion would be happy to help. I wish you all the very best for the future. Cheers Sean |
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| Reply : 15 Oct 2008 I would contact your local business link. They will be able to help you directly or put you in touch with a recommended (vetted) local organisation. Alternatively, perhaps one of the Free Index experts is located near you? or your bank may be able to provide you with advice on how to construct a business plan. Incidentally, there are 2 types of business plan, 1. A plan that is used to help raise external finance for your business 2. A plan that helps you run the business and keep it on track Good luck and congratulations on your success to date. Regards, Mark |
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| Reply : 15 Oct 2008 In addition to the comments my colleagues have already made here we also found the following website to be of use to my clients: http://www.LonelyEntrepreneur.com Once you joined up it'll give you some free templates to download. Also, why not ask "Investors in People" what the specifics are that they are looking in the business case for its purpose exactly. They may even have a template they are using for their organisations. Congratulations by the way for running such a very successful organisation and outperforming your strategy! What are your plans, deadlines and detailed steps for achieving the IIP? Hope you are finding the site useful - please let me know if you require further help. Best of luck. Margit |
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| Reply : 16 Oct 2008 (a) so that you and your business partner can determine where you want the business to go and how it is to get there. All the time this isn't fully discussed and written down, there is a risk that you each have different views without realising it. Writing it down is a great way to get the ideas out into the open (literally). (b) to assist in getting finance to expand the business. So many businesses fail through inadequate funding and, while the current economic climate is hardly a good one in which to ask for money, your business and its success will be much more long term than today's troubles. Indeed, the plan could be useful in working out how the business will survive and thrive without funding in the near future. The bad news is that that's three plans. Or rather three different presentations of the same plan. Any one presentation has to be crafted to appeal to its recipient, so one size will not fit all. When it comes to Investors in people, I would ask them straight out what do they want to see in a business plan? Can they show you some sucessful plans submitted by other businesses? You'll give a better impression by asking these questions than by not asking them (particularly if, by not asking them what they need, you produce something which misses the target). I agree with Mark. Business Link is an underrated resource for small businesses (at least here in the SW). I would contact them - they will probably give you some names of people who can help you (rather than help you themselves). Other sources of help depend on what organisations your business belongs to:
So, having answered your question, let me throw in an idea. The guy who trained me as a business coach, Darren Shirlaw, had a wise saying that any business in the start up stage only needs to do one thing: get clients. Is your business out of start up? If not, I would suggest IIP accreditation is only important if it results in you getting more clients. I cannot say without talking to you whether your business is out of start up or not, but I would personally entertain the idea that it isn't. (18 months may seem a long time, but start up stages - in reality - can be up to five years.) If it isn't out of start up (or it may not be), probably IIP is something you can put on the back burner for 6-12 months. Your time would be better spent developing your network, so that you have stronger, more reliable pipelines of referred prospects. Do ask another question if that's not clear! Don't let that stop you doing plan (a) above. But that could one page of A4 - it doesn't have to be detailed - just clear. PS thanks Sean for the kind words! |
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| Reply : 16 Oct 2008 It would be great if you could find a way of thinking which meant you wanted a plan for your reasons not someone else's. Good luck |
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| Reply : 16 Oct 2008 http://www.freeindex.co.uk/business-advice/write-an-effective-business-plan_133.htm Hope it helps Regards Fraser |
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| Reply : 24 Oct 2008 I suggest you consider Business Plan Pro - the fastest and easiest way to write a business plan. Alternatively you can view extensive business planning resources at BPlans.co.uk www.bplans.co.uk www.paloalto.co.uk |
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| Reply : 14 Nov 2008 I notice you live in Sandy in Bedfordshire which means you are in the area covered by Business Link East. This is good news for you as this is one of the best Business Links and I would be on the phone to them immediately on 08457 17 16 15 to get the help you need. They can provide training, some of which is actually provided by my Company, specific 1-to-1 advice and help with Investors in people as well. If you want I can signpost you to the right people as I do a lot of work with this particular Business Link and we are quite close. by to you. The business sounds great and a Business plan is definitely what you need as it will focus your thinking on what is important to you, your business partner and the business and give you something to review progress with, something you don't have at the moment by the sounds of it. Best of luck and I look forward to hearing about progress. Kind regards Mark |
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| Reply : 24 Jan 2011 - (Edited : 24 Jan 2011) The "BusinessLink" template is already built-in. It's free to get started with a Basic service. |
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