Build your business journey
Start with a free account or upgrade to HubStart for practical business learning, workshops, community support, and mentoring.
Bringing amazing futures to everyday people
Support for business ideas
The Hub is designed to support people at different stages of business, from exploring an idea to building something more established.
Start with strong foundations
Building a business starts with understanding the basics properly.
Learn how business ownership works, what responsibilities come with it, and how to build clearer direction from the start.
Business Ownership
Learn the foundations of becoming a business owner, including self-employment, planning, motivation, and creating clearer direction for your future business.
Learning outcomes:
- Using The Hub effectively
- Understanding self-employment
- Clarifying your business goals
- Building stronger direction
Defining your Business
Take stock of where your business stands today. Learn how to evaluate performance and decide whether it’s time for a fresh direction.
Learning outcomes:
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Generate and evaluate new business ideas
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Identify unique selling points (USPs)
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Choose a business name that aligns with your vision and audience
Business Review / Reset
Understand the basics of business planning and why it’s so important. Use startup checklists, learn how to write a mission statement, and see how a solid plan sets the tone for growth.
Learning outcomes:
Assess the current state of your business
Identify areas that need improvement or change
Explore when and how to reset or pivot your business direction
Business Planning Part 1-3
Build a strong business plan step by step. Learn the importance of planning, work through startup checklists, and create a mission statement. Add detail with your business description, market analysis, organisational structure, and sales strategy.Â
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Finally, pull everything together with financial projections, funding options, and an executive summary, supported by the right documents and appendices.
Learning outcomes:
Understand the purpose and value of a business plan
Create a mission statement that reflects your goals
Develop a business description, market analysis, and sales strategy
Produce financial projections and funding summaries for your plan
Goal Setting
Discover why goal setting is essential for business success. Learn how to set SMART goals and put them into practice.
Discover why goal setting is essential for business success. Learn how to set SMART goals and put them into practice.
Learning outcomes:
Recognise the importance of goal setting in business
Apply the SMART framework to set clear, achievable goals
Translate goals into actionable steps
Market Research
Understand what market research is, why it matters, and how to carry it out. From focus groups to evaluation, you’ll learn how to find the insights that guide better decisions.
Learning outcomes:
Define what market research is and why it matters
Apply practical methods to gather and analyse market data
Use focus groups and evaluation techniques to test ideas.
Interpret research findings to guide business decisions
Defining your Products & Services
Use tools like SWOT analysis to define your products or services clearly. This will help you understand your strengths and spot opportunities to improve.
Learning outcomes:
Apply SWOT analysis to evaluate your products or services
Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats
Refine your offering based on analysis outcomes
Business Structure
Explore the differences between setting up as a sole trader or a limited company. You’ll also learn about partnerships and the agreements that keep them clear and fair.
Learning outcomes:
Compare the benefits and drawbacks of sole trader vs. limited company
Understand how partnerships work in practice
Recognise the role of partnership agreements in protecting your business
Marketing
Get a clear introduction to marketing and what it really means. Use checklists, templates, and step-by-step guidance to build a basic marketing plan and connect with the right audience.
Learning outcomes:
Understand what marketing is and isn’t
Build a basic marketing plan using checklists and templates
Identify your target audience and tailor your message effectively
Recognise the importance of consistent marketing activity
Social Media
Understand the role of social media in marketing your business. Explore platform options and learn how to pick the right channels for your goals.
Learning outcomes:
Explain the value of social media marketing
Evaluate which platforms best suit your business
Create a basic strategy for building a presence online
Finance & Accounts Part 1-2
Get to grips with the financial side of business. Start with forecasting and basic accounts, using templates and checklists to price your products and create profit and loss forecasts. Explore how to finance your business, then move into VAT, funding options, and applications so you’re ready for growth.
Learning outcomes:
Create simple financial forecasts and profit and loss statements
Use checklists and templates to manage business finances
Explore funding options and understand application processes
Gain an introduction to VAT and its impact on your business
Preparing for Launch
Work through practical steps to get your business ready to launch. From registering with HMRC to pre-launch marketing, you’ll build confidence with a clear checklist.
Learning outcomes:
Complete the key steps to legally register your business
Apply pre-launch marketing techniques to build awareness
Use a launch checklist to prepare effectively
Branding
Define the look and feel of your business. Learn about branding basics, create a social media kit, and write a bio that represents you well.
Learning outcomes:
Understand the basics of branding and visual identity
Create a simple brand kit for social media
Write a professional business bio
Recognise the role of branding in customer trust
Post Launch
Explore how to balance work and life once your business is running. Review progress regularly and make changes that help you grow sustainably.
Learning outcomes:
Maintain a healthy work–life balance as a business owner
Apply regular reviews to track business performance
Adjust strategies to support long-term sustainability
From idea to growth
Find the stage that fits where you are right now.
Support while building your business journey
Inside The Hub, you’ll find practical business learning, workshops, mentor Q&As, community spaces, and mentoring support designed to help you keep moving forward.