Short, Sharp and Viable: How to write a sustainable Business Plan

Business Planning: It's a minefield!

Have you experienced Business Plans that proved over-optimistic, were left on the shelf, rapidly went out of date or were undermined by ‘unforeseen circumstances'?

Do you want a plan that:

•  Is realistic and achievable

•  Allows space for creativity and development at minimal risk

•  Uses a shared language understood by all

•  Is ‘owned' by all those responsible for its delivery

•  Reduces ‘Unforeseen Circumstances' through scenario planning

•  Reassures your stakeholders and embraces their interests

•  Has a simple framework making it easier to prepare, share and revise

A Plan to address the triple bottom line of Artform Development, Audience / Stakeholder Needs and Financial stability.

These 1 and 2-day practical workshops help management teams understand the essential components of a good plan and how they interact. It is created to allow you to begin the process of preparing your plan while learning an effective framework for its contents.

"Your business planning course had an extremely positive effect on the arts team individually and as a group.  The sessions were carefully designed to meet our precise requirements and were lively and stimulating.  The course handbook continues to prove a useful guide in planning and implementing our respective strategies." Arts Development Officer, South Cambridgeshire District Council

Who Is it For ?

Directors and Managers in cultural organisations involved in the Business Planning and Budgeting process. It is designed for those organisations needing a Plan to address the triple bottom line of Artform Development, Audience / Stakeholder Needs and Financial stability.

Illustrated with anecdotes and ‘real-life' examples, you will learn :

•  The importance of pre-plan research what to do, how to do it and how your findings will strengthen your Business Plan.

•  How to involve your team in the preparation of a Plan

•  A toolkit of effective planning techniques to draw upon. This will include schemes to nurture team ownership

•  The role and impact of your stakeholders

•  A framework for a Plan allowing you to decide whether ideas and opportunities are in-line or off-track

•  The difference between primary and supporting aims

•  How to create realistic, rather than aspirational objectives and tasks

•  Simple formats to assess and reduce the impact of the different types of risk

•  How to use the Plan to manage your business