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!

What are Flying Start Workshops?

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.

Workshop five:How to use social media for business

If you’re starting a business, social media can be one of your most powerful tools – especially if you use it with purpose.

In this beginner-friendly session, we’ll walk you through the basics of social media marketing, so you can start building an audience, promoting your products or services, and creating content that connects with the people you want to reach.

You’ll learn how to plan, post, and promote in a way that feels doable – and discover how even minor interactions on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok can lead to meaningful results for your business.

What you’ll learn

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

Understand the purpose of social media marketing for small businesses

Create a simple social media strategy that aligns with your business goals

Identify and audit your audience, your competitors, and your own profiles

Learn what kind of content to post, when to post it, and how to stay consistent

Understand how to schedule posts, manage your profiles and create ads

Use AI tools to help generate ideas – while staying in control of your brand voice

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

Who it’s for

This event is perfect for:

People living in the Sunderland Local Authority Area

Those with a business idea or curiosity about self-employment

Anyone who hasn’t registered as self-employed with HMRC

Learners who like to get answers to questions there and then

You’ll be supported throughout by one of our experienced and friendly business advisers, who’ve all run their own businesses and know the reality of self-employment.

Ongoing Support

After learning the business basics from the Flying Start workshops, you’ll have the opportunity to book a free one-to-one session with a business adviser to dive deeper into your business idea and build a plan that suits your goals and circumstances. This is your gateway to everything else the BIC offers to help businesses get off the ground and grow.

You’ll also unlock free access to 44 Smarta online learning modules to explore topics including digital marketing, intellectual property, health and safety, and more. Dip in and out at your own pace to go deeper into topics that interest you most.

Can’t make the date?

It’s a rolling programme – start at the beginning and follow the full series, or pick up missed sessions next month. If you prefer to learn in your own time online, Smarta’s eLearning might be what you’re looking for. Get in touch and we’ll help you find the format that fits.

Description supplied by the event organiser.