New workshop for Spring 2020

Propeller have been collaborating with the iLab for some time, with Madeleine Melling and Luke Nelson both running Bite-sized Briefings. Members of the Digitalplus team, Madeleine delivers a workshop on Social Media for Business, and Luke delivers Web Design Basics.

These workshops have proven popular and, as of last term, we’ve had increased interest from external business owners to deliver sessions on their expertise. As such, we approached several of the external mentors and staff that we work with regularly, as well as some clients based in the Propeller Hub.

The opportunity was well received, so we’ve been able to offer you more additional workshops than ever before! This term we are running 7 additional workshop topics apart from our regular offering. If they receive stellar feedback they may run again; however, this cannot be guaranteed since the mentors have their own businesses to run. That means if something catches your eye, it’s best to get signed up!

Here’s what we’ve got on this term:

Lego Serious Play

Thursday 30^th January, 1:00 – 3:00pm

Wednesday 18^th March, 4:00 – 6:00pm

Interested in how we can learn though play? It’s not only children who can benefit from it. Lego Serious Play is used by large companies such as Virgin Media and the NHS to encourage thinking from different perspectives. The activities in this session are great for reflection and will focus on the skills and values that influence your business ideas. Delivered by Gaynor Wood from the CELT (Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching) team.

An Introduction to Facebook Ads

Wednesday 19^th February, 1:00 – 2:30pm

Facebook make it quite easy to dabble with ads and boost posts, but the automatic options won’t bring you a great return on investment. If you really want to engage your audience and see more profits, you need to take full advantage of the targeting options including Pixel code and selecting the right options for reach. Once you’ve got the mechanics sorted, follow Nikki’s copy-writing tips to get your posts past the censors. Delivered by U Start external mentor, Nikki Hesford.

Basics of App Development

Thursday 20^th February, 1:00 – 2:30pm

There seems to be an app for everything, nowadays. When you have the full force of a corporation behind you, making an app can be child’s play, but what about start-ups and SMEs? There are more options than you may know, depending on what type of app you want to make. If you’re curious about whether making an app is right for you, come along to this workshop. Delivered by Propeller Hub tenant, Chris Ross, owner of Miles Electric.

Instagram to Promote Your Business

Tuesday 18^th February, 3:00 – 4:30pm

Everyone loves a good scroll down their Instagram feed, but where does your business fit between the holiday selfies and food photos? Coming up with content that resonates with your audience, creating stories and making a template that you can apply each time can help you get to grips with this visually appealing platform. Delivered by U Start external mentor, Jackie Harris.

Building a Portfolio Career

Thursday 27^th February, 1:00 – 2:30pm

Not everyone is destined to land their dream job and climb the corporate ladder. If the idea of a 9-5 doing a monotonous job fills you with dread, perhaps a portfolio career is right for you. The ways to do it vary, but it essentially comes down to choosing which bits of work you enjoy and finding a couple of different jobs or contracts that fit together. Delivered by Poppy Waters, UCLan lecturer in enterprise.

An Introduction to Twitter

Wednesday 18^th March, 1:00 – 2:30pm

If you want to keep up to date and in the thick of it, Twitter is the right platform to use. The art of conversation is key and knowing how to monitor the current social consciousness can help you get ahead in business. Come find out how Twitter can help your business; grow your following; learn some engagement building technique and what the impact can be from going viral. Delivered by U Start external mentor, Nikki Hesford.

Doing Business with China

Thursday 19^th March, 1:00 – 2:30pm

Working with companies overseas can be challenging. The language barrier and time difference alone can put a cog in the works, but once you get past that the real work starts. Understanding different legal, social and cultural norms can be a huge advantage. This workshop looks at China in particular, touching on topics such as IP, social media and import/export. Delivered by Propeller Hub tenant, Jerry Yang, owner of London Shanghai Venture Partners.

Propeller workshops are open to UCLan students, staff and alumni. Members of the Centre for SME Development are also welcome.