Start your business with confidence
Free practical workshops for people thinking about starting a business - or in the early stages of trading.
Led by Clare Harford on behalf of Staffordshire County Council, every workshop takes you through the five foundations every new business needs to get right. You'll work through a structured workbook, collaborate in small groups, and leave with a personalised 90-day action plan - all in a single morning.
Before the workshop, it can feel like a lot to untangle
Most people arrive with a mix of ideas, questions, and half-made decisions. That is completely normal - the workshop is designed to help you sort through them in the right order.
You have an idea, but you are not sure which parts need testing first
You are unsure what needs doing officially - registration, insurance, tax, records, and the basics
You have numbers in your head, but no clear view of what the business needs to earn
You know what you want to offer, but explaining it clearly still feels difficult
You are not sure who your first customers are, where to find them, or what to say to them
You do not need to arrive with everything figured out. You just need to arrive ready to work through it.
A clearer business foundation - including what structure, registration, and protection mean for you
A better grip on your numbers - start-up costs, income targets, and pricing decisions
A sharper offer - what you are selling, who it is for, and why someone would choose it
A simple route to your first customers - who to reach, where to show up, and what to do next
A completed 90-day plan - written by you, in the room, before you leave. Not homework. Done.
The aim is not to leave with every answer. It is to leave with the right next actions.
By the end of the morning, things will feel clearer
How the workshop works
Every session follows the same structure. That consistency is the point - you know what to expect, and you leave with something real.
Small-group sessions designed for discussion, reflection, and practical action. Clare draws answers from the group - so the learning comes from the room as much as from the front.
Every participant works through the Getting Started Workbook during the session. It's yours to keep - a practical reference for every decision you make in the weeks and months ahead.
All exercises use a shared business narrative, so the group can work through scenarios together without anyone having to share sensitive personal information before they're ready.
The final section of every workshop is your 90-day action plan - completed in the room, with support. You leave with it finished, not as homework.
Is this right for you?
This is for you if:
This probably isn't for you if:
What's included
Everything included in the workshop programme is free to eligible participants.
Morning Workshop
Three hours of structured, workbook-led learning covering all five programme sections. Facilitated by Clare Harford in small groups at a central Lichfield venue.
FreeGetting Started Workbook
A structured take-away resource you work through during the session. Includes all five sections and your personal 90-day action plan template - yours to keep.
FreeAfternoon Drop-In
Individual 30-minute 1-2-1 slots with Clare available on the same day as the workshop, subject to availability. Details are shared when you book your workshop place.
FreeWhat the workshop covers
Every session works through the same five sections in order - each one building on the last.
The right business structure for your situation, what registration involves, insurance basics, and what you need to be legally protected from day one.
What it costs to start, what you need to earn to make the business viable, and how to price your product or service with confidence.
Defining exactly what you're offering, who it's for, and how to deliver it consistently - so your offer is clear to you before you have to explain it to anyone else.
Who your ideal customers are, how to find them, and a simple, realistic marketing approach for where you are right now.
Pulling everything together into a personalised action plan - completed in the room, with Clare's support. Practical, structured, and yours to take away.
Upcoming workshops
All sessions run on Wednesdays, 9:30am–12:30pm. Afternoon 1-2-1 drop-in slots are available on the same day, subject to availability. Details are shared when you book your workshop place.
NW Event Solutions, 1A Wade Street, Lichfield WS13 6HL
From people Clare has supported
Real feedback from business owners Clare has worked with through coaching, workshops, and business support programmes.
"No fluff, just real accountability. It's transformed how I run my business."
Lajina Leal
Lajina Masala
"It's helped me clear my head, focus, and grow - not just in business but as a leader."
Phil Leigh
Leigh Accountancy
"The supportive push I didn't know I needed."
Cathy Francis
Stratford Family Mediation
"The group gave me the confidence to grow my business and balance it all."
Oleander Mudvidzwa
Opal Cleaning Services
"No fluff, just real accountability. It's transformed how I run my business."
Lajina Leal
Lajina Masala
"It's helped me clear my head, focus, and grow - not just in business but as a leader."
Phil Leigh
Leigh Accountancy
"The supportive push I didn't know I needed."
Cathy Francis
Stratford Family Mediation
"The group gave me the confidence to grow my business and balance it all."
Oleander Mudvidzwa
Opal Cleaning Services
"No fluff, just real accountability. It's transformed how I run my business."
Lajina Leal
Lajina Masala
"It's helped me clear my head, focus, and grow - not just in business but as a leader."
Phil Leigh
Leigh Accountancy
"The supportive push I didn't know I needed."
Cathy Francis
Stratford Family Mediation
"The group gave me the confidence to grow my business and balance it all."
Oleander Mudvidzwa
Opal Cleaning Services
Ready to join us?
Places are limited and sessions fill up. If you're ready to take the first practical step towards starting your business, book your free place now. If you have questions first, get in touch - we're happy to help.
— Clare Harford, Lead Facilitator
Get in touch
Tell us a little about you and we'll come back to you.
