The Early Years and Childcare Service can signpost to support and expertise relevant to childcare providers on a range of business support including looking at the financial sustainability of the setting, budgeting, cash flow forecasting, marketing, writing a business plan, setting up a childcare business, choosing a legal structure, fundraising, finance and applying for grants.
NDNA, supported by the Department for Education have created the Early Years Business Zone
Day Nurseries can register at www.earlyyearsbusinesszone.org.uk to access tools including:
Staff Cost Calculator - Determine the most effective methods of deploying staff based on staff numbers and occupancy levels. Achieve optimum capacity, value for money and a stretched offer for working parents.
For voluntary organisations (charities and committee run settings) there is also an opportunity to access professional skills via the York Cares Enterprise Hub Skills Share programme.
The Enterprise Hub enables employers to share their businesses expertise with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations to help them become more sustainable.
The Skills Share is a chance for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to benefit from short-term business support to help shape their organisational planning, test ideas and get a business perspective on their challenges. The types of issues that could be tackled or project work that could be undertaken include developing business plans, marketing strategies, financial planning, preparing an organisation for tendering opportunities or developing products and services.
The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY) has launched a new business toolkit to support the sustainability of new and established childminding settings.
The free online resource, Business Smart, has been developed by childminders for childminders. It has been produced in association with Lloyds Bank, who have shared their toolkits and small business expertise to help PACEY develop this valuable tool. Funding for the toolkit has been provided by a grant from the Department for Education.
Business Smart will help new childminders gain the business skills, knowledge and confidence they need to build up their childcare and early years businesses. It is also full of advice and support for established childminding settings to help them review their business sustainability. As part of this, childminders will be able to consider whether offering the early years entitlement is viable for them - all in one easy-to-use website. It is an invaluable resource to support all childminders - at whatever stage of their career - to consider how to grow their much needed services.
Practical help, guides, resources, tips and ideas for all small businesses based in the UK:
You must choose a business structure that defines your legal responsibilities when you start a business. You can find more information here https://www.gov.uk/business-legal-structures
The Charity Commission website Becoming a charitable company or CIO provides more information about the possible charity legal structures.
You can find more information about the Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) here:Charity Commission - Setting up a CIO
The advice contained on the ACAS website http://www.acas.org.uk is designed to give impartial advice on employment matters to employers, employees and their representatives. You can find templates for letters, forms and checklist, employment law updates and free online tools designed to help organisations check that they have the right people management policies in place.
Every employer in the UK now needs to have a qualifying workplace pension scheme in place and start enrolling eligible workers into that scheme.
Grants, loans and fundraising are important forms of funding that enable many voluntary, community and private organisations to provide services.
For further information on grants, loans and fundraising please contact 01904 554400, business@makeityork.com
For more information please contact tel: 01904 555300 Email:EYCqualityimprovement@york.gov.uk