Starter for 6 Open For Applications

The business start-up programme for creative and arts sector businesses in Scotland is open for applications until 31 January.

The Starter for 6 programme is funded through the Creative Scotland Innovation Fund and is administrated by the Cultural Enterprise Office. The programme is specifically aimed at helping the development of seed and start-up arts and creative sector businesses in Scotland, delivering practical support and training to enable the planning and development of a viable business plan to the point where the business is ready to start up.

The programme includes a series of training and mentoring sessions, taking place over March to June 2011, to plan and develop the business concept, culminating in a chance to pitch for a start-up grant of £10,000. The Starter for 6 Main Programme includes:

Four enterprise training sessions to develop the business skills necessary to create a business plan and turn the business idea into reality, covering costing, pricing, marketing, pitching and presentation.

Peer mentoring (meeting once per month for four months) from previous Starter for 6 participants with established businesses.

Telephone coaching support between the training sessions to provide participants with further development tools.

Networking and idea sharing with like minded entrepreneurs in training sessions and events.

The opportunity to pitch for up to £10,000 of grant funding at the end of the training programme in order to take the business forward.

The main programme opened for applications on 15 November 2010 and closes on 31 January 2011. The training sessions will take place across Scotland from March to June 2011, culminating in pitching sessions in July.

Information sessions are running throughout Scotland during December/January, including:

Hawick - 02 December.

Dundee - 07 December.

Aberdeen - 08 December.

Inverness - 09 December.

Dumfries - 11 January.

Fort William - 12 January.