Whether you’ve a side hustle idea, want to turn a hobby into income or you’re ready to go into full-time self-employment, this is for you!

Whether you’ve a side hustle idea, want to turn a hobby into an income or you’re ready to go into full-time self-employment, Flying Start is here to help you take that first step – with confidence.

Brought to you by the North East BIC, Flying Start is a monthly series of FREE live, workshops, designed for people in Sunderland who are curious about becoming their own boss.

We cover all the business basics in a supportive environment where you’ll meet others on the same journey and start building your business know-how and self-belief you need to make your ideas happen.

This first workshop in the Flying Start series is designed to give you a clear, realistic introduction to what being your own boss actually involves. It’s a relaxed session where you’ll explore the motivations, the fears, and the practical considerations of starting a business.

You’ll also learn how to identify if your idea is viable, what kind of support is available, and how to take the fear out of planning and turn your idea into a practical plan that works.

What you’ll learn

By the end of the workshop, you’ll know:

Whether self-employment is the right fit for you and what’s involved

How to explore your idea and bring it to life

Basics of budgeting, start-up costs and legal structures

How to use AI tools as a smart assistant for your early business tasks

Learn how to structure and write your plan with confidence

See how to plan for the future and prepare for common challenges

Discover the building blocks for a successful plan

How to use AI as a helpful assistant to shape parts of your plan – and understand its limitations

No jargon. No pressure. Just honest advice, friendly support, and everything you need to get things off to a successful start.

Description supplied by the event organiser.