Free Level One Business Course 07.10.25

LEARNER FEEDBACK:

“I enjoyed all of this course. It covered a good range of topics that set the foundation for setting up a business. I found the space created by Julianne and the rest of the FIRST team to be really positive and encouraging, and I feel like I’ve met a lovely group of people on this course. The guest speakers were also really encouraging. There’s a genuineness to everyone involved.”

- Josh

Level One Business Course

For Curious Minds Seeking Opportunities

Are you thinking about self-employment but don’t know how to take the FIRST step?

You might:

Not have a business idea yet
Be uncertain about how to begin
Feel worried about the financial side

Our Level One Business Course can help you by offering:

Space and time in a supportive environment where you can share your ambitions, ideas, and any worries about the future
Support from a friendly, experienced team who will listen, encourage you, challenge your thinking, and celebrate your progress
Opportunities to meet and connect with others who are at a similar stage in exploring their next steps
Learning and inspiration from people who have been where you are and have successfully moved forward
Practical tools and local information to help you take the next step towards starting a business or exploring other career opportunities

Course Themes:

Theme 1 – Skills to pay the bills
In the first theme, you will assess whether starting and running a business aligns with your personal goals and aspirations. You’ll also discover the key skills and knowledge areas that are critical for successful business management, helping you build a strong foundation for your entrepreneurial journey.

Theme 2 – Opportunity knocks
This theme focuses on nurturing innovative ideas for products and services. You will learn how to evaluate business opportunities and identify potential risks as well as starting to gain an understanding of how you may begin to plan in the future.

Theme 3 – Networking to get working
Starting a business can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. In the final theme, you will explore the range of support and resources available to new businesses. Emphasis is placed on the importance of business networks and how they can provide ongoing assistance and growth opportunities.

This course is fully accredited through SFEDI, the leading Awarding body for enterprise, and is fully funded for *eligible participants from the Northeast combined authority area through the Adult Education Budget.

*Eligibility is based on income, age and postcode area, when you enquire, we'll ask a couple of questions to establish eligibility.

WHERE AND WHEN:

Location: PROTO, Abbott's Hill, Baltic Business Quarter, Gateshead NE8 3DF

Time: All sessions run 10:00am - 2:00pm

Dates:

Session 1 - 7th October

Session 2 - 14th October

Session 3 - 21st October

Session 4 - 28th October