Join us at this free business networking event – an exclusive gathering tailored for micro-businesses, sole traders, and start-ups based in South Gloucestershire!

Are you a sole business owner juggling countless tasks and facing business challenges alone? You’re not alone in feeling this way.

Or maybe you have just started or are close to getting things off the ground?

This event is designed especially for YOU – an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals, share experiences, and gather insights in a supportive environment.

You’ll also get to hear from our guest speaker and meet various support providers. You will find out about available business support, grants, and funding.

– Tea/coffee/biscuits and cakes will be available.

– Bring a friend or a colleague, meet a friend, be collaborative

Remember to bring your business cards, flyers, and promotional details to help showcase your business.

PARKING:

4 hours of free parking is available at the Yate Shopping Centre.

Cool Ventures Ltd is accountable for protecting your personal data. Please access our latest company Privacy Notice here.

Join us at Roseberry Road Studios in Bath, where we will be hosting a space perfect for getting work done, connecting with others small business owners and freelancers.

What will I learn?

Take advantage of peer-to-peer conversations and learning opportunities, and discover what fully funded business support is available to you. A business mentor from Cool Ventures will be available throughout the event for drop-in Business Mentoring sessions.

Who should attend?

This event is hosted for small businesses (including freelancers and sole traders) in Bath and North East Somerset.

A bit about your presenters:

Cool Ventures Business Mentor, Kat Dawe Schmeisser, will be available during the event for business support and mentoring.

Essential information:

Spaces are limited—secure your spot today!

Parking spaces are available at Spring Wharf (next to Roseberry Road Studios) but limited. Please email info@coolventures.co.uk to advise if you need a parking space and your car’s registration number.

Fully funded by the UK government for small business owners (including freelancers and sole traders) from Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Cool Ventures Ltd is accountable for protecting your personal data. Please access our latest company Privacy Notice here.

This event is only available and is free for small businesses, small charities, sole traders and residents based in South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset.

Are you struggling to see results from your social media marketing?

Unsure what to post about or what would work for your business and various platforms?

Join Holly Bell, our social media marketing expert, for an in-person workshop designed for busy small business owners, sole traders, and aspiring entrepreneurs.

 

What will I learn?

• Create content that connects: Learn how to make posts your audience will enjoy and respond to. This includes an introduction to Instagram Reels!
• Manage social media with less stress: Get tips to stay on top of things without feeling overwhelmed.
• Save time: Find out how to make content quickly and efficiently.
• Figure out what works: Understand which posts get results and why.
• Feel more confident: Know what to post and how to keep things running smoothly.

 

Who should attend?

This workshop is perfect for small business owners, sole traders, and aspiring entrepreneurs who are new to social media or want to improve their results. Whether you’re just getting started or have been posting for a while without seeing success, this session will help you build confidence and create content that works for your business.

 

A bit about your presenter:

This workshop is presented by Holly Bell, owner of Your Marketing Sidekick. Holly has been working in Marketing, Advertising and Media for over 17 years and have a huge passion for helping small business owners like you. She specialises in managing social media campaigns for small businesses helping them to gain new customers and engage with their current ones by keeping one step ahead of the latest trends and techniques. She helps small businesses to grow their customer bases and brand awareness through specific marketing and social media strategies.

 

Essential information:

Your booking for this workshop is provisional until you have enrolled for the free Business Support Service. Enrolment is via a short online form – if you are not enrolled already, a link will be emailed directly to you.

If you are unable to attend this event, we require at least 2 working days notice for cancellations to enable us to offer your place to someone else. We reserve the right to cancel your place if you are not eligible for this service.

All participants of the service are eligible to receive up to 12 hours of free support.

Cool Ventures Ltd is accountable for protecting your personal data. Please access our latest company Privacy Notice here.

This event is only available and is free for small businesses, small charities, sole traders and residents based in South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset

Struggling to sell with confidence? This interactive workshop will help you master the mindset, strategy, and skills needed to attract clients and grow your business with ease. Learn how to position your offer, handle objections, and sell authentically—so sales feel good and get results.

What will I learn?

• How to align your energy for confident, effortless sales
• How to position your offer so it feels easy to sell
• The transformational questions that create connection & trust
• How to handle objections with ease (without feeling awkward)
• A simple framework to close sales with confidence

Expect practical exercises, real-time coaching, and a fresh perspective on sales that feels empowering and natural.

Who should attend?

This workshop is perfect for:
✔ Service-based and product-based business owners who want to grow their revenue
✔ Entrepreneurs who struggle with sales conversations or confidence
✔ Anyone who feels uncomfortable ‘selling’ and wants a more authentic, aligned approach
✔ Business owners who know their offer is valuable but find it hard to communicate

If you want to sell with ease, confidence, and impact—without feeling pushy—this workshop is for you.

A bit about your presenter:

Lisa Yelland is a sales consultant, mentor, and trainer with over 30 years of experience helping businesses grow through aligned, relationship-first sales strategies. She has helped her clients generate over £1.3 million in revenue, combining sales energetics, mindset, and strategy to create a sales approach that feels natural, empowering, and effective.

Lisa’s mission? Redefining sales, one connection at a time.

Essential information:

Your booking for this webinar is provisional until you have enrolled for the free Business Support Service. Enrolment is via a short online form – if you are not enrolled already, a link will be emailed directly to you.

If you are unable to attend this event, we require at least 2 working days notice for cancellations to enable us to offer your place to someone else. We reserve the right to cancel your place if you are not eligible for this service.

All participants of the service are eligible to receive up to 12 hours of free support.

This event is only available and is free for small businesses, small charities, sole traders and residents based in Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire.

Bring your laptop or tablet and join us for a power-packed interactive 3-hour LinkedIn Masterclass.

Whether you’re looking to attract clients, or grow your professional network, this masterclass will equip you with the essential strategies to leverage LinkedIn effectively.

Whether you’re new to LinkedIn or looking to optimize your presence, this masterclass will provide you with the tools, techniques, and strategies to transform your LinkedIn profile and professional network.

What will I learn?

• Building an effective LinkedIn profile: Learn how to create a standout profile that highlights your expertise and appeals to potential employers or business opportunities, including tips on headlines, summaries, and showcasing experience.
• Who to connect with & why: Discover the power of strategic networking—how to connect with the right people, build meaningful relationships, and create valuable opportunities.
• Business engagement: Learn how to attract businesses and organizations by connecting with decision-makers and increasing your visibility in your industry.
• The value of LinkedIn groups: Explore how joining the right LinkedIn groups can expand your network, connect you with industry leaders, and open doors to potential clients.
• Effective communication and posting: Master the art of communicating on LinkedIn, from creating compelling posts to engaging authentically with your network and positioning yourself as a thought leader.

It is recommended to participate in the webinar using your laptop or a tablet in a web browser as the full functionality and capability of LinkedIn is best utilised on a laptop or PC.

 

Who should attend?

This webinar is aimed at businesses, looking to understand the power of online networking using LinkedIn.

 

A bit about your presenter:

This workshop is presented by Holly Bell, owner of Your Marketing Sidekick. Holly has been working in Marketing, Advertising and Media for over 17 years and have a huge passion for helping small business owners like you. She specialises in managing social media campaigns for small businesses, helping them to gain new customers and engage with their current ones by keeping one step ahead of the latest trends and techniques. She helps small businesses to grow their customer bases and brand awareness through specific marketing and social media strategies.

Essential information:

Your booking for this webinar is provisional until you have enrolled for the free Business Support Service. Enrolment is via a short online form – if you are not enrolled already, a link will be emailed directly to you.

If you are unable to attend this event, we require at least 2 working days notice for cancellations to enable us to offer your place to someone else. We reserve the right to cancel your place if you are not eligible for this service.

All participants of the service are eligible to receive up to 12 hours of free support.

Cool Ventures Ltd is accountable for protecting your personal data. Please access our latest company Privacy Notice here.

This event is available free of charge to businesses based in Bath & North East Somerset.

Join us for this free networking event to connect with other local businesses and to find out about fully funded business training and support available in BANES.

Great opportunity to meet with like-minded business people in your area.

Tea/coffee will be provided.

Maybe you are looking to discuss the challenges you are currently facing.

Please bring business cards, flyers, and details of any promotions you have.

Cool Ventures Ltd is accountable for protecting your personal data. Please access our latest company Privacy Notice here.

This event is only available and is free for small businesses, small charities, sole traders and residents based in South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset.

Small businesses face growing pressure to do more with less. This workshop cuts through the AI hype to show you six practical ways AI can save you time, from content generation to data analysis. You’ll also learn how to keep your data safe and stay GDPR-compliant whilst using AI tools.

 

What will I learn?

· Six key uses of AI for small businesses (content generation, research, coding assistance, data analysis, strategy development, and automation)

· Practical tools you can start using immediately, including Microsoft and Google AI features

· How to keep your business data safe when using AI tools

· GDPR and data protection requirements when working with AI

· Action planning: what you’ll do differently after the workshop

 

Who should attend?

This workshop is ideal for small business owners, entrepreneurs, and team members who want to work more efficiently. Whether you’re completely new to AI or already using tools like ChatGPT, you’ll gain practical knowledge and confidence. No technical background needed – just curiosity and a willingness to explore new ways of working.

 

A bit about your presenter:

Simon Allen is founder of Level AI, a company helping organisations use AI responsibly and effectively. Previously Chief Executive at Age UK Bath and North East Somerset, Simon led the organisation’s digital transformation from paper-based to digital operations. He combines firsthand leadership experience with technical expertise, having seen what needs fixing from the inside. Simon specialises in helping purpose-led organisations leverage AI whilst maintaining data security and ethical practice.

Essential information:

Please note, this workshop will be held on Zoom.

Your booking for this webinar is provisional until you have enrolled for the free Business Support Service. Enrolment is via a short online form – if you are not enrolled already, a link will be emailed directly to you.

Once enrolled, you will receive the Zoom webinar link and password to join the call. Do ensure you join the webinar at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time.

If you are unable to attend this event, we require at least 2 working days notice for cancellations to enable us to offer your place to someone else. We reserve the right to cancel your place if you are not eligible for this service.

All participants of the service are eligible to receive up to 12 hours of free support (4 x workshops).

Cool Ventures Ltd is accountable for protecting your personal data. Please access our latest company Privacy Notice here.

About this programme

This Programme is fully funded for residents and start-ups based in South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset.

This workshop is Session 2 of 3 of our new Business Start-up Programme, designed for residents, sole traders, small businesses, and small charities.

The programme is aimed at anyone considering self-employment or starting a small business—whether you’re still exploring ideas or already have a plan in mind. It is designed to take you from concept to start-up, giving you the knowledge, tools, and confidence to begin your business journey.

 

Programme overview:

1. Start-up Essentials: Part One

2. Start-up Essentials: Part Two

3. Effective Marketing Strategy Masterclass

 

What you’ll learn in Start-up Essentials: Part Two

In this interactive workshop, we will focus on how to check your business is likely to work financially, as well as discuss other key financial concepts. Topics include how to:

· Check your products or services are profitable

· Work out what price to charge

· Find funding for your startup

· Calculate how much business you need to obtain to live off your business

· Check the business works financially; includes how to create financial forecasts

· Take payments and ensure you get paid

· Find out what you need to do for tax purposes

 

Your Presenter

Dr Emma Smith (SFEDI, CPsychol) – an experienced business start-up expert with nearly two decades of experience helping aspiring entrepreneurs launch and grow their ventures. Emma also runs several businesses herself and brings a wealth of practical insights.

 

Next steps

This workshop is part of the 3-part Business Start-up Programme. To complete the programme, please also register for:

· [Start-up Essentials: Part One]

· [Effective Marketing Strategy Masterclass]

 

Attendance certificates (CPD) are available upon completion of all three workshops.

Essential information:

Your booking for this workshop is provisional until you have enrolled for the free Business Support Service. Enrolment is via a short online form – if you are not enrolled already, a link will be emailed directly to you.

If you are unable to attend this event, we require at least 2 working days notice for cancellations to enable us to offer your place to someone else. We reserve the right to cancel your place if you are not eligible for this service.

All participants of the service are eligible to receive up to 12 hours of free support.

Cool Ventures Ltd is accountable for protecting your personal data. Please access our latest company Privacy Notice here.

About this programme

This Programme is fully funded for residents and start-ups based in South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset.

This workshop is Session 1 of 3 of our new Business Start-up Programme, designed for residents, sole traders, small businesses, and small charities.

The programme is aimed at anyone considering self-employment or starting a small business—whether you’re still exploring ideas or already have a plan in mind. It is designed to take you from concept to start-up, giving you the knowledge, tools, and confidence to begin your business journey.

 

Programme overview:

1. Start-up Essentials: Part One

2. Start-up Essentials: Part Two

3. Effective Marketing Strategy Masterclass

 

What you’ll learn in Start-up Essentials: Part One

In this interactive workshop, we’ll introduce key things you need to consider when starting out and provide practical tools to help you get going. Topics include how to:

· Gain focus on what you want to do, why, and how

· Check whether your business idea is likely to be viable

· Prevent costly mistakes before investing heavily in time and money

· Create a simple roadmap to plan your business and spot gaps early

· Decide which business structure is right for you

· Protect your reputation and finances by understanding common risks

 

Your Presenter

Dr Emma Smith (SFEDI, CPsychol) – an experienced business start-up expert with nearly two decades of experience helping aspiring entrepreneurs launch and grow their ventures. Emma also runs several businesses herself and brings a wealth of practical insights.

 

Next steps

This workshop is part of the 3-part Business Start-up Programme. To complete the programme, please also register for:

· [Start-up Essentials: Part Two]

· [Effective Marketing Strategy Masterclass]

 

Attendance certificates (CPD) are available upon completion of all three workshops.

Essential information:

Your booking for this workshop is provisional until you have enrolled for the free Business Support Service. Enrolment is via a short online form – if you are not enrolled already, a link will be emailed directly to you.

If you are unable to attend this event, we require at least 2 working days notice for cancellations to enable us to offer your place to someone else. We reserve the right to cancel your place if you are not eligible for this service.

All participants of the service are eligible to receive up to 12 hours of free support.

Cool Ventures Ltd is accountable for protecting your personal data. Please access our latest company Privacy Notice here.

This event is only available and is free for small businesses, sole traders and residents based in South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset.

Are you unsure how to calculate your annual business profit?

Wondering what you can claim as expenses?

Does the thought of doing your tax return, make you overwhelmed or anxious?

This workshop aims to help you feel more confident about how to declare your business earnings on a tax return.

What will I learn?

• What needs doing, by when
• How to calculate your annual business profit for tax purposes
• What expenses can validly be offset against sales
• What other information you may need to find for your tax return
• The different methods you can use to submit a tax return

Please note: this is a group business education class about how to manage your business reporting for tax purposes, to either assist you to be able to do your own tax return or else help you get your business figures ready to give to a third party / accountant so that they can do it for you. You will not receive individual accountancy advice; this is also not a tax return completion service. Whilst we will do our best to help you in the time available, after the course, you will remain responsible for completing your own tax return by the deadline and for the accuracy of your own figures submitted to HMRC.

Who should attend:

This course is primarily aimed at those currently registered as self employed with HMRC, and who need to complete their 25-26 tax return.

The workshop will be particularly suitable for people on lower incomes who may be unable to afford to hire an accountant and so need to manage their own tax reporting. Even if you believe no income tax will be due as you are on a very low income, for people on means tested benefits, the level of profit declared can affect the amount of benefits you receive, so it is still important to know how to work out your figures accurately.

A bit about your presenter:

This webinar will be run by our business start-up expert Emma Smith who runs a number of businesses and has been advising individuals on how to start and run a successful business and obtain funding for over a decade.

Essential information:

Please note, this workshop will be held on Zoom.

Your booking for this webinar is provisional until you have enrolled for the free Business Support Service. Enrolment is via a short online form – if you are not enrolled already, a link will be emailed directly to you.

Once enrolled, you will receive the Zoom webinar link and password to join the call. Do ensure you join the webinar at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time.

If you are unable to attend this event, we require at least 2 working days notice for cancellations to enable us to offer your place to someone else. We reserve the right to cancel your place if you are not eligible for this service.

All participants of the service are eligible to receive up to 12 hours of free support. This equates to a maximum of 4 events per participant.