In January 2010 we set ourselves a little challenge, to help 100 nascent entrepreneurs to develop their Business Ideas.

The opportunity presented itself to work with a diverse client group on two projects, the first a business start-up programme using our now well tested 7 Step Start-up process, the other the creation of a Community Enterprise project.

To date we have worked with around 80 potential start-ups including around a dozen participants on a Community Enterprise project in a custodial setting.

The CaFE Process

The CaFE process is where the idea for The Strategy CaFE began.

Following a very successful MBA research project, it became clear that "Issues Based" approaches to strategy development and review were highly effective, however, silences in the "narratives" suggested that in smaller organisations there was either a lack of representation, appreciation or skill in some issue areas.

The CaFE process has been created to address these issues by providing a structured / prompted "Issues Based" approach to support strategy development and strategy review that works effectively for experienced, inexperienced and would be business people.

Seven Step Startup

Seven Step Startup is a new process building on our CaFE process that supports nacent entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas and more effectively progress towards setting up their new enterprises.

The process uses a mixture of prompts, light touch facilitation, constructive challenge and progressively works towards a full Business Plan, funding proposals and relevant prompts for any needed protection of intellectual property, legal contracts and and tax issues relevant to the new business model.