Opening Doors | Start Your Own Business
Why this course?
If you dream of starting your own business or are interested in the process of how ideas and visions become businesses, then this course is for you. No previous knowledge or experience is required. We will help you spot a business opportunity and take you through the steps of how to turn it into a successful business. You will learn about the resources needed, how to target the right customers and the range of finance options available.
We cover a range of topics over the course that culminates in creating your own personal business plan.
Our Start your own business course runs for two weeks, Monday to Thursday.
Course units:
- We will explore the business idea
- How to set-up and start a business
- Look at types of businesses
- Sales and marketing in an organisation
- Investigate the financial aspects of business such as sales, turnover, profit and tax
- Challenges for business owners
This course is free to those who meet the eligibility criteria. Please see the Cost & Finance tab for more information.
Please contact openingdoors@gbmc.ac.uk for timetable information for this course.
Start dates
| Code | Start | Campus | Times | Duration | Fees | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL0781-1C | 08 May 2023 | Central Brighton | Various | 2 weeks | £0.00 | Apply |
| CL0365-1C | 05 Jun 2023 | Central Brighton | 4 days in college and 2 days online learning, 9.30am-3.30pm Start date TBC | 6 days | £0.00 | Apply |
| CL1011-1C | 03 Jul 2023 | Central Brighton | Monday - Wednesday (Three days per week over two weeks) | 6 days | £0.00 | Apply |
Entry requirements
If the following criteria apply, you qualify for one our FREE Opening Doors programmes
- 19+
- Unemployed and claiming a means tested benefit*
- Employed and earning less than £20,319 per annum*
- If English is not your first language, your language will be at Entry Level 3 or above
- If you are not UK citizen, you will need to provide a confirmation of EU settlement status or a valid visa
*see Cost & Finance tab for more information
Progression and career opportunities
Since completing the course, students have gone on to plan their own business start-ups. This includes:
- Producing a detailed business plan for an exotic cake business (with plans to open in Hove)
- An estate agent who wanted a career change. They spent three months working in a restaurant to test the water. Now they have successfully completed the course and are planning on opening a place in Storrington in the near future
Student testimonials
“Alan was expert, clear, approachable and friendly. The course had a wealth of diverse content that was easy to understand.”
“Remote learning is different but no reasons why it can’t work. Alan and the other people taking the course made it really relaxing and we all supported each other as well. I was very happy with doing remote learning and I’d happily do it again. This was my first time doing a remote course”
“I enjoyed the experience of remote learning a lot, as it gave more flexibility and allow taking in the material, partially at my own paste. This particular course was packed with information, which was great, but 'digesting' it throughout the day, with breaks at my own time, while doing the classwork I found more beneficial as if I was seated in the class all day.”
Course fees
Our Opening Doors courses are free to those currently unemployed and in receipt of a means tested benefit.
You will need to provide evidence of your benefit in order to receive a fee waiver for this course.
We accept the following Means Tested benefits for this course:
- Universal Credit
- JSA
- ESA
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Council Tax Benefit (not reduction)
- Pension Credit
Please note we cannot accept DLA, Carers Allowance, PIP or Tax Credits.
This course is also free to those who are currently employed and earning less than £20,319 per annum. You will be required to provide evidence of this in order to receive a fee waiver for this course.
We accept the following evidence:
- P60
- Last 3 months payslips
- Tax Credit notice (for self employed)
Please note you will also need to bring photo ID to your enrolment.
The amount a person can earn from their wages has gone up, it is now less than £345 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £552 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner).