Virtual business support available for creative and digital businesses through The Big House programme

Small and medium enterprises within the creative and digital sectors in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire can access free business support in a virtual workshop series from The Big House at Nottingham Trent University.

The upcoming series of virtual workshops intends to support SMEs to review their business plans and models, as well as helping them to refresh key strategic areas such as marketing, sales and finance. Since March, events are available online, through real-time interactive sessions on Microsoft Teams.

Starting in September, businesses eligible for The Big House can attend the following online events:

Welcome to The Big House @NTU – Thursday 3 September
An introductory event for you to meet the team and find out about our wider commercial offering at Nottingham Trent University. All businesses attending this session will be invited to one-to-ones to discuss their business further.
Business Growth Mapping - Wednesday 16 & Thursday 17 September
Dr Lynn Oxborrow will guide you through everything you need to know to create your Business Model and Value Proposition Canvases in which you can map, grow or refine your plans.
Marketing Strategy - Wednesday 30 September & Thursday 1 October
Revisit and create your marketing strategy using the Watertight Marketing methodology with Chris Turner.
Selling - Strategy, not just serendipity - Wednesday 14 & Thursday 15 October
A hands-on workshop with Meeta Thareja that will help you turn your business growth ambitions into a sales strategy. This workshop is filled with plenty of practical tools and templates for you to come away with.
Managing Finances - Wednesday 28 & Thursday 29 October
Suzie Campbell will guide you through managing finances in your business with ideas and innovative financial tools.

Rebecca Morris-Buck, Communications and Programmes Manager for Creswell Crags, attended the previous virtual Marketing Strategy workshop in this series. Rebecca said:

The Marketing event was incredibly helpful. It introduced me to the concept of Watertight Marketing, which I'd never heard of before, and has given me a lot to think about in terms of how to apply this process to our organisation. Attending virtually, via Teams, was really straightforward and I enjoy the flexibility of attending a workshop in this way since it is not dependent on geography: Creswell Crags is in north Nottinghamshire and I often struggle to attend events in the city. It was managed very well by the NTU team and was very easy to access. I think the Big House programme is a brilliant resource, helping small businesses to understand the tools they need for success, in considerable depth. It is also an excellent avenue for networking between creative and entrepreneurial people. I look forward to further opportunities to be involved.

All sessions will take place over Microsoft Teams and to be split over two consecutive mornings. Events are free for eligible creative and digital SMEs based in Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire. Please check eligibility criteria at www.ntu.ac.uk/thebighouse

Further information

If you have any questions, or want to find out more about NTU's offer in The Big House programme, get in touch with The Big House team at

Email: bighouse@ntu.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 4042

More about The Big House programme

Supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the East Midlands Engine, The Big House programme is made up of a consortium of partners, who are best placed to help lift potential ideas off the ground, support the start-up process, all the way to working with established businesses ambitious for growth. Find out more about the expertise of each of our partners, and how we can support you with the skills, knowledge and connections you need to succeed.

We have secured funding from the European Regional Development Fund which means that most services provided as part of this programme are of no cost to eligible businesses.

The Big House is one of many projects which D2N2 has supported with European funding. Further details of these projects and much more, can be found on the D2N2 Growth Hub site.

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