New Venture Development

What does the course involve?


New ventures require innovation, a strategic plan and a potential for high growth. This course explores both the challenges of identifying sustainable competitive advantage and exploring the market potential for new venture propositions.

What topics will I study?


This course covers the following subject areas:

Processes and challenges of starting a business

  • Strategy – where to start and keeping on track
  • Market research
  • Identifying your Sustainable Competitive Advantage (SCA)
  • Recruitment

Developing persuasive business plans

  • Structure – design and layout
  • Financial analysis
  • The marketing plan

How to approach investors

  • Sources of funding
  • Venture capitalists and business angels
  • Exit strategies

Assessing entrepreneurial opportunities

  • Getting the idea
  • Intellectual property
  • Personality and opportunity

Raising venture capital

  • Ownership, dilution, negotiation and valuation
  • Personal rewards and costs
  • Source of capital – leasing, bankers, Bootstrapping

Forming the company

  • A thirteen stage process – from ‘getting the idea’ to ‘raising working capital’
  • Legal requirements – public liability, limited liability, accounting
  • Organisational and operational requirements

The problems of management – the early years

  • Controlling strategy
  • Hygiene factors – tracking the environment

Contemporary factors

  • Harvesting – timing and tenacity

Fact File

Typical Entry Requirements:

A first degree or professional qualification of graduate status, or An HNC or HND and three years’ management experience, or aged at least 26 with five years’ management experience. Most individuals with line management responsibilities would benefit greatly from the course.

Location:

Ipswich Campus (campus code I)

Duration:

One evening per week for sixteen weeks (Monday).

Special Features:

Provides students with 20 credits towards a Masters qualification.

Application Information:

How to Apply for CPD Study|