The World Crafts Council Europe in collaboration with the Design & Crafts Council Ireland is offering a 6 week intensive online course on how to grow your craft & design enterprise.

The course is comprised of 6 modules with one-on-one mentoring sessions and a final pitch day, all designed to help you to advance your small business or craft enterprise and grow in the areas where you need it most! Download the programme overview here.
 
All modules will take place from 16th of May – 5th of July 2023, via Zoom, with two sessions per week for 2-3 hours each on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. The course is free of charge and will be in English to try and accommodate participants from many different European countries.
 
You will learn about business strategies and planning; funding; finances; logistics; marketing and managing your business with useful tools and case studies along the way.
 
Applications close on the 3rd of May and we will accept a maximum of 30 participants.
Each participant must have an already established small business in craft or design and have been operating for less than 5 years. The course is designed to grow an existing small business (even if it’s a micro business) and you can be a craft entrepreneur, freelancer, independent seller, maker or business owner (however you define yourself, provided you have business activities).
 
In order to apply, please complete the online form > HERE <
 
We will confirm your participation by the 8th of May and the programme kicks off on the 16th of May.
The programme times and dates are as follows:
 

 

Date

Content

Time

16  May 

Module 1 – Creating the foundation of growth in your business

Introductions and Expectations: Course dimensions.
The Development Phases of a Company (characteristics and stages of growth)
The journey to growth (steps and systemisation) – resilience and confidence

Building a vision of your business
Wearing many hats and how to accommodate
Ideation and Ideas – Team Fit
Funding mechanisms part 1 – the European dimension.

2.5 Hours

09:00 – 11:30 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 12:30 (CET)

17 May

Module 1 Tutorial

Tutorial on Module 1 content
Peer learning and working – collaboration teams

2 Hours

09:00 – 11:00 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 12:00 (CET)

23 May

Module 2 – Understanding toolsets to generate value, pricing & structure in your business

The international craft and design market – trends and analysis – Mintel
Market Research – understand how to use it and how not to use it
Understanding Customers and their behaviour

The toolsets – what they are and why you use them
 Culture – understanding and misunderstanding – a quick toolset to use

2.5 Hours

09:00 – 11:30 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 12:30 (CET)

24 May

Module 2 Tutorial

Tutorial on Module 2 content
Peer learning and working
Working through the toolsets for each individual company

2 Hours

09:00 – 11:00 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 12:00 (CET)

30 May 

Module 3 – Using toolsets to create the conditions of growth

Applications of toolsets – picking the one for you and how to use it
The Customer Value Proposition – understanding real value and not activity
Understanding costs and how it relates to profit and the value proposition
The significance of finance: Learning to cope.

2.5 Hours

09:00 – 11:30 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 12:30 (CET)

31 May

Module 3 Tutorial

Tutorial on Module 3 content
Peer learning
Pricing and costs – learning profit

2 Hours

09:00 – 11:00 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 12:00 (CET)

7 June 

Module 4 – The machinery of running a growing business

The machinery of running a company
Channels to market and Logistics
Customs and Excise
eCommerce Audit results

Social Media – how to use and how to measure
How to use Key Performance Measurements

2.5 Hours

09:00 – 11:30 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 12:30 (CET)

8 June

Module 4 Tutorial

Tutorial on Module 4 content
Peer Learning
eCommerce exercises – making choices

2 Hours

09:00 – 11:00 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 12:00 (CET)

Mentoring

 

 

21 June

Module 5 – Selling and Financial Management – the sharp end of business

Building a Go to Market Strategy
Making Sales – the process of selling and how it connects to market and value
Financial Management

 

2.5 Hours

09:00 – 11:30 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 12:30 (CET)

22 June

Module 5 Tutorial

Tutorial on Module 5 content
Peer Learning
Financial Management – making choices and understanding choices

2 Hours

09:00 – 11:00 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 12:00 (CET)

28 June

Module 6 – Building your growth plan

Bringing it all together – creating the Xpansion Canvas from all other work
Presentations to finalise

Tutorial on Module 6 content
Total business Xpansion Plan
Pitching session (the 10 steps)

3 Hours

09:00 – 12:00 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 13:00 (CET)

5th July

Final Pitch Day

3 Hours

09:00 – 12:00 (GMT +1)

10:00 – 13:00 (CET)

 
 
 
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