This course is suitable for BA students or any other creatives wanting to start a business. It aims to give you all the essential steps to start your own craft or design business, or turn your hobby into a business.

Purpose: To have the knowledge and confidence to start your own craft or design business as a soletrader. To consider what to focus on and what steps to take to launch professionally. With this expert advice and support, you will be more focused, organised and ready much quicker.

Workshop 1: (Monday evening) We will start with your business dream, followed by ‘Who am I?’ as a creative. What are your strengths and values? It will be an inspiring discussion, getting to know yourself and your fellow participants.

Workshop 2: In the morning, we will focus on WHAT you can create to sell (including different income streams), and WHO your ideal clients are. You will learn how to identify and get to know them deeper. You will create a niche statement, and understand why having a niche is so important to stand out.

In the afternoon, you will start to create a plan and learn how to juggle the different parts of your business. You will create your own action plan, with specific goals and actions for yourself, your finances, marketing, work and development for the first 6 – 12 months of your business. You will explore if your business is financially viable, and what to do if your numbers do not stock up. Patricia will share which actions to focus on to get your business off the ground asap.

We will finish that day looking at the difference between an ‘amateur’ mindset and a professional mindset, why creating collections is so important and the legal requirments to start your business (including your business name, registering with HMRC and your first tax return).

Workshop 3: On the final (half) day, we will look at costing and pricing, and marketing and selling your creative products and services.

Patricia will give you a quick introduction to costing and pricing your products or services. Then we will look at marketing and selling: how and where to start selling, including events and your own website to get your first clients. Patricia will share step-by-step how to get your business online and get visitors. She will share with you a handy list of the key marketing actions for creatives.

We will finish this practical course with: What’s next? What are the first key steps, and how will you make them happen?

Included

On this course the tutor will supply all the materials, including the presentation, worksheets and additional resources. You will also receive a copy of the 2025 Dream Plan Do planner handbook, created by The Design Trust.

What students need to bring

• Pen and notebook (or laptop) to make notes
• Some Post It notes for planning and different coloured pens

Available to buy

Available from shop: Pens/notebooks

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included)
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential

Daily timetable
Course teaching 9.15am - 5pm (lunch included)
Dinner: from 6.30pm (included for residential students)
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm (lunch included)
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am

Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required

Terms & Conditions