We are here to help you put strong foundations in place
It’s not called ‘building’ a business for fun …
Building something that’s going to stand upright for a long period of time needs solid foundations. The same goes for business. You need solid foundations if you want to see success. Without them, whatever you build will come crashing down.
Too often, we see businesses that look great from the outside. Great branding, new website, enthusiastic founders…
But the reality is they’re just one small storm away from complete collapse.
Find out if you qualify for funding support for The Engine’s New Business 101
We’re here to help you put the foundations in place at the beginning so you can build your business for long-term success with clarity and certainty with our E-Learning New Business 101 course.
Hi, I’m Catherine Cooke
A business owner turned business advisor and Founder of The Engine.
I’ve always been fascinated by business and the opportunities to scale to greater heights personally and professionally.
I built my first company from the ground up, to multiple companies with a staff number of 90. And I almost lost everything when another business venture was derailed by circumstances out of my control.
It’s safe to say I know growing pains and adversity well and have seen what happens when a business goes well …and not so well.
I’ve been a business advisor for the last seven years, with an extensive track record in helping hundreds of businesses grow. I was the Business Advisor for the Business Chamber of Commerce covering business problems nationwide in 2015.
I’ve seen so many businesses come unstuck and lose money from making avoidable mistakes. So I’m absolutely passionate about educating business owners about how to run better, more sustainable businesses.
We’ve developed New Business 101 at The Engine to arm you with all the critical tools and information you need to have around HR, legal, accounting, marketing, sales and mindset. This is a holistic approach to building your business. It will give you clarity on your direction and lay the strong foundations you need for growth.
Course details:
E-Learning Platform
10 modules plus bonus module
10 weeks
In depth
10
Week Online Course
E-Learning Platform
This 10-Week online course will help you lay strong foundations for business growth
The course has 10 modules which you will have access to for a period of 10 weeks along with an additional 4 hours with a Business Advisor.
What you’ll gain over 10 weeks:
Cash is KING – learn vital knowledge to make better decisions with debtors and creditors for cashflow timings.
The must-know knowledge and key documents you need to avoid HR and legal issues – saving you stress and money.
An in-depth understanding of marketing and sales and how to apply key strategies in your business so you have clarity on how to attract and convert new customers – along with proven implementation methods to save you $$$.
A deep-dive into how to build a resilient mindset so you can face and overcome the challenges that come with being in business without burning out.
Access to a wide network and community of fellow entrepreneurs who will support you on your business journey – and help you grow.
A business growth blueprint tailored just for your company – this is not a theory-based course – it is practical and actionable so you have the clarity and direction you need to reach your goals.
Face-to-face access to experts in the legal, accounting, HR, marketing and sales fields, so you can get answers to your specific questions.
All the skills you need to confidently build your business in a sustainable way and the contacts to outsource when you need to – so you can scale smoothly.
Find out if you qualify for funding support for New Business 101!
Inside New Business 101
What you’ll learn each week
Plus an additional 4 hours one-on-one with a Business Advisor.
Week 1: Introduction
- Business plan
- Expenses and Tax
- Director Obligations
Run by: Catherine Cooke (The Engine)
Week 2: Accounting
- Company structures
- Incorporating a company
- GST
- Cashflow
Run by: Alannah Stewart (Walker Wayland)
Week 3: Employment Law
- Pre-employment
- Employment Contract Types
- 90 Day Trial Period
- Leave
Run by: Claire Mansell (Martelli McKegg)
Week 4: Commercial Law and Health and Safety
- Business Structures and Leases
- Health & Safety
- Trading and Banking
- Intellectual Property
Run by: Lori Satterthwaite (Lola Media)
Week 5: Governance in Health and Safety
- Importance of Health & Safety
- Director’s role and responsibilities
- Compliance
- Health and Safety duties
Run by: Catherine Cooke (The Engine)
Week 6: Systems and Tools
- Leveraging online tools and apps
- Delegating to a VA
- Hiring a VA
Run by: Jo Jensen (Strictly Savvy)
Week 7: Building your sales strategy and networking
- The different types of sales strategy
- How to build a sales strategy
- Optimising you sales strategy
Run by: Catherine Cooke (The Engine)
Week 8: Branding, Marketing and Sales
- How branding and marketing work together
- Story telling
- Building collateral
Run by: Catherine Cooke (The Engine)
Week 9: Digital Outreach
- Social media platforms
- Profiles set-up
- Analytics
- Newsletters
Run by: Jef Kay (Easy Social Media)
Week 10: Customer Relationship Management Systems
- What is a CRM system
- Sales automation
- Project management
Run by: Bejoy Jose (Mello Technologies)
Bonus: Time Management
- Time blocking
- Day blocking
- Delegating
Run by: Zoe Vickery (The Engine)
What The Engine’s helped other businesses achieve
Lesley Dobson, It’s Organic Darling
We invested in products destined for airports and airlines and we know what happened there. In came Catherine. She just knows everyone, she doesn’t procrastinate and her background in business has been hugely helpful.
Darrell Smith, Landsmiths
We’ve accomplished quite a few things through collaboration with other businesses. Catherine has introduced me to many businesses. The whole business has grown and we’ve cemented in some really good stuff.
Save thousands of dollars by avoiding simple but often-overlooked business mistakes
When you’re starting out in business – you don’t know what you don’t know.
And it’s the not knowing that can catch you out and cost you a lot of money.
Like how you hire and manage your staff
Hiring the wrong person can cost you thousands of dollars if you don’t know how to handle it.
How to sell your offer is what makes it a business
Not knowing how to sell effectively can bring your business to its knees.
How you set yourself up legally
And let’s not forget about getting into an expensive legal wrangle because you haven’t set yourself up with the right day-to-day business documentation.
Don’t let the unknown cost you your hard-earned cash – future proof your business with the proper knowledge you need to run it successfully.
A business Lifeline in your pocket
Not only will you save money in your business but if you enrol in New Business 101 – we’ll also throw in 3 month’s free access
to The Engine’s exclusive membership and community as a bonus.
As part of your free access to The Engine’s Membership, you will:
- Save 10 cents off a litre of fuel every time you fill up
- Get up to 30% off at selected major retailers with The Engine app
- Be able to tap into our member-only network of business owners all there to help you grow
- Have access to insightful business resources and case studies
Funding support for New Business 101 may be available
Apply to seek your eligibility.
Our service is registered with the Management Capability Development Fund under the Regional Business Partner Network programme and you may be eligible for funding.
Funding is not guaranteed and the amount funded is decided case by case.
We’ll help you through the qualification and application process.
DON’T DELAY MAKING THE BEST INVESTMENT OF YOUR TIME & MONEY
How much does the programme cost?
*Funding is not guaranteed and amount given is on a case by case scenario.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pay off the balance of the course that is not funded?
On a case by case basis we are happy to entertain a payment plan but this would be by way of a Direct Debit being received and in operation before the course starts.
How hard is it to get funding support for this programme?
We at The Engine can assist you with registering with the Regional Business Partner Network and then submitting your proposal to the Growth Advisor. The process for approval can take up to two weeks so do start this process as soon as you commit to the programme. We remain committed to helping your achieve your funding for this course.
Is the programme delivered by one trainer?
The benefit of this programme is each week you have a specialist trainer for the topic of that week. We want you to have the best knowledge and this can only be achieved through specialist training.
How much time is required from me each week?
We recommend setting aside 3 hours per week to work on the course and your homework. Remember this is an investment in your business and as such the time you invest will pay you dividends.