{"id":7705,"date":"2023-09-15T16:17:12","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T15:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.castle-strategy.co.uk\/?page_id=7705"},"modified":"2023-12-01T10:10:20","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T10:10:20","slug":"small-business-support","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.castle-strategy.co.uk\/blog\/small-business-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Business Support"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Top Banner Section” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.castle-strategy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/1_to_1-support.jpg” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” module_class=”intro-panel” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”95%” width_last_edited=”on|phone” min_height=”360px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_css_main_element=”display: flex;||flex-direction: column;||justify-content: flex-end;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Heading & Intro Text” module_class=”intro-panel” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_3_text_color=”#ffffff” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”40px|40px|30px|40px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”30px|20px||20px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Small Business Support<\/span><\/h1>\n

Your Trusted Partner for Small Business Support Services in the UK<\/span><\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Intro Text 1000px” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1000px” custom_padding=”80px|0px|80px|0px|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”40px|0px|30px|0px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_text_color=”#095aa6″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Are you looking for Small Business Support to help you find success in your small service-based business? If you are you are not alone, there are thousands like you every day searching for help in what is a hugely confusing area.<\/p>\n

This page is to support you understand the flaws with many offering support and how to identify what it is you really need to find the success you are looking for.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”Why So Many Fail 5050 Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”textImageRow reorder” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_enable_image=”off” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” border_width_top=”1px” border_color_top=”#edf1f4″ border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#edf1f4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#edf1f4″ background_enable_image=”off” custom_padding=”5%|5%|5%|5%|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Heading Text” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||5.82%||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Why So Many Fail To Deliver Good Small Business Support<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Over the last 15+ years I have worn many hats including business coach<\/strong>, business mentor<\/strong> and business advisor<\/strong>. In these roles I have worked with hundreds of service-based business owners. Whilst I did help all in these roles, on reflection I could have done so much more for many of them in my early years in business.<\/p>\n

The problem was not me, it was the approach I had been asked to take by a franchisor, mentoring organisation or Mentor I had at the time. Let me give you a little bit more on each of these roles to show why, on their own, they are not a good form of small business support.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#edf1f4″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.castle-strategy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/business-man.jpg” custom_padding=”5%|5%|5%|5%|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Empty Text 300px high” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”300px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Business coaches Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_margin=”60px||60px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”30px||30px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1000px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Heading Text” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Business coaches<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

As a young business coach starting out back in 2008 I loved this role. I just pitch up and ask a bunch of clever questions that leads the small business owner to see what they should be doing. I then leave and come back a month later<\/b> to see the work they have done and the success they have achieved.<\/p>\n

Sadly, most months I arrived back to find they had either bashed together something in the last 24 hours or had done nothing at all. The reason most had done nothing at all was because they did not have time<\/b> and\/or did not have the expertise.<\/p>\n

Within a few months, they were busier that ever and demoralised<\/b> as they had achieved very little. To make it worse, many business coaches position their support in a way that all blame is put on the small business owner for this failure. They do this in their opening training on \u201cmindset\u201d \u2013 despicable.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Business mentors Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#edf1f4″ custom_margin=”60px||60px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”30px||30px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row module_class=”grey-background-row” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1000px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Heading Text” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Business mentors <\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

I have worked in as a business mentor in both an official role with a mentoring organisation and as a friend helping out those I have known for years.<\/p>\n

The best and worst thing about business mentoring is that it is free. This is of course great for the mentee, who typically has a small business with little money to spend on small business support.<\/p>\n

However, because they\u00a0 <\/span>have not parted with money, this includes my friends I have helped over the years, they are not motivated to work<\/b>. Many years ago I invested close to \u00a310K in small business support for my business \u2013 I have never worked so hard in my life.<\/p>\n

In addition, many mentors I have encountered over the years have little experience to help<\/b> small business owners they work with. Often, they are pulling on their own experience from the one business they had, which may or may not have been a success. To make it worse, the business is nearly always in a completely different sector to the mentee\u2019s business.<\/p>\n

I also find that the mentors have very few skills around coaching, teaching or mentoring. Meaning that time spent with their mentee can be painful and unproductive<\/b>.<\/p>\n

And there are more\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n

I could go on to talk about business advisors, business trainers, life coaches and more. Again and again there would be a long list of reasons why they fail.<\/p>\n

However, if I was to sum it up in one point, it is this; they are all too one dimensional<\/b>.<\/p>\n

As a small business owner the small business support you need has to cover many things to meet your complex needs.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Your Small Business Support Needs Section” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”60px||60px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”30px||30px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row module_class=”grey-background-row” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1000px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Heading Text” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Your Small Business Support Needs<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Anyone who is supporting small business owners with small business support has to first understand what your needs are<\/b>, before jumping in to help you.<\/p>\n

Over the years I have identified what the small business support is that small business owners actually need. Have I got them all here, probably not, but I am constantly reviewing this list to better understand your needs.<\/p>\n

Expertise in your area<\/h3>\n

Small business owners first need someone who is an expert in their area. They have got to have experience in your sector or industry, and they must understand first-hand the pressures of running a small business.<\/p>\n

With this, they will know the pressures your industry is facing with changes to technology, legislation or the impact of macro-economics for example. They will know what it is like to lie awake at night worrying about staff problems or the pressure of closing a large contract.<\/p>\n

Someone to get stuck in<\/h3>\n

Although this list is in no particular order, for me this is the one need I hear from small business owners tell me is the most important. Like most small business owners I am sure you are busy, very busy. For this reason you will probably welcome an expert to roll up their sleeves and support you<\/b> with some, non-technical work in your business.<\/p>\n

Having someone, not on the sidelines, but on the pitch doing the things you either don\u2019t have time to do, don\u2019t have expertise to do, or don\u2019t enjoy doing. Imagine that.<\/p>\n

They come at a fraction of the cost of a full time employee, <\/b>better qualified <\/b>and each piece of work is carefully monitored to ensure outcomes are delivered as agreed at the outset.<\/p>\n

Support when you need it<\/h3>\n

When you run a small business you might need a little extra support in addition to your once a month meeting! What about the employee who is causing you sleepless nights, or that 5 figure sales meeting coming up this week or a major change to legislation in your sector.<\/p>\n

When you are looking for small business support you want it when you need it.<\/b> Waiting\u00a0 <\/span>weeks until your coach or mentor returns is not good enough.<\/p>\n

In the past I have lost clients not knowing that it was because I was not supporting them enough. As a small business owner you have mini crisis<\/b> or a real opportunity every month, if not every week. When these crop up you need someone to speak with there and then.<\/p>\n

This does not need to be a 2 hour Zoom call, often a text or a short email does it. But equally, occasionally, if a face to face meeting is needed<\/b> that week by the small business owner, it is needed that week.<\/p>\n

Blended learning<\/h3>\n

Many decades ago, in a galaxy far, far away\u2026 I was a school teacher. Something I learned all those years ago is that everyone learns in different ways<\/b>. Some love reading, some like analysing statistics and some love \u201cdoing\u201d for example.<\/p>\n

We are now in a remarkable time with the advancement in technology<\/b> allowing small business support to be delivered in a whole host of ways. This could be face to face, online meetings, videos, interactive documents, SaaS systems and more.<\/p>\n

To ensure your small business support is delivered in a way that meets your learning needs there must be a blended approach. You should be able to choose the ways you like to learn<\/b> to ensure that find success fast and pain free. And, for many being able to learn at a time that suits you is important.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”To conclude Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”textImageRow reorder” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_enable_image=”off” width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” border_width_top=”1px” border_color_top=”#edf1f4″ border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#edf1f4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#edf1f4″ background_enable_image=”off” custom_padding=”5%|5%|5%|5%|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Heading Text” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||5.82%||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

To Conclude<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The small business support that you need has to take a holistic approach. It has encompass all your needs, fit your preferred learning approach and dovetail in with your small business<\/b>, not the other way around.<\/p>\n

For this to happen the individual delivering your small business support has to wear many hats. They have to be able to coach, teach, advise and get their sleeves rolled up and do work when needed.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#edf1f4″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.castle-strategy.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/business-man.jpg” custom_padding=”5%|5%|5%|5%|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Empty Text 300px high” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” min_height=”300px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Contact Form Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”40px||60px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”0px||30px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”40px|40px|0px|40px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”20px|5px|0px|10px|false|false” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#d9dfe4″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Heading Text” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Book Your Free Consultation Today<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Get In Touch Text” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” header_3_text_color=”#333333″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Would you like a free consultation, first to make sure we understand your needs and second, make sure you are comfortable working with your chosen business coach?<\/h3>\n

Book your free consultation today so one of our team can help you find the right 1 to 1 business support for you.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Form Code” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]

\n
\n
\n
\nFarm Cooperatives<\/legend>\r\n\r\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n
\r\n