Become a Creative Entrepreneur
BY AJAY PABIAL
OUR STORY
Sometimes I really have to pinch myself to remember that I have my own arts organization! Art Clubbers CIC was born in 2018, it had long been a dream of mine to found my own thing but never thought it would be at the age of 24.
Earlier that year I had just left my job as Company Administrator, a role within a grassroots arts organisation that taught me everything and gave me the knowledge to start up my own business. Startups have long inspired me for the dedication, heart and resilience, there was something more human about them that I adored. I wanted to be that!
Setting up a business was definitely a process in itself, turning a dream into reality can be a creative yet strenuous experience, dissecting and repatching ideas to make sense of its function in the real world. Myself and Oktay would very frequently catch-up in a coffee shop to discuss it all, Oktay having been a recent business graduate at the time taught me a lot, having someone who weren't initially from the creative world as a sound board brought a more realistic view to my ideas. First things first, it was time for a business plan!
I wanted to give back to my community to support young creatives like myself at the time make their first steps into the creative sector. Setting up as a social enterprise was a model I was very familiar with. You must choose a business structure if you want to set up a business that has social, charitable or community-based objectives, you can set up as a:
charity, or from 2013, a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO)
co-operative
Art Clubbers CIC (As you may now guess) is a Community Interest Company, which is a special type of limited company which exists to benefit the community rather than private shareholders. Setting your own CIC is not so much easier and can now do online!
To set up a CIC, you’ll need:
a ‘community interest statement’, explaining what your business plans to do
an ‘asset lock’- a legal promise stating that the company’s assets will only be used for its social objectives, and setting limits to the money it can pay to shareholders
a constitution - you can use the CIC regulator’s model constitutions
to get your company approved by the community interest company regulator - your application will automatically be sent to them
OOPPORTUNITIES & SUPPORT FOR YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS
Wednesday 17th June 2020, 10am
Future Startup Now’s five-week Founders programme helps diverse creative entrepreneurs take their first steps to starting up their own business or social enterprise. As well as training and support, you’ll join a network of professionals and industry leaders who can guide you on your way to success. Then, at the end of five weeks, you’ll get the chance to pitch your idea to a panel of judges with the top ten businesses going on to receive £5,000 of kit to help you get your business off the ground.
Business Support Helpline: provides free advice to pre-start and start-ups.
There are 38 Growth Hubs in England. They’re local places where budding business people can get help and advice from those in the know.
They have helped over 86,000 young people to start their own business – and work with 18 to 30-year-olds living in the UK to turn big ideas into a reality.
Their advice and guidance covers a range of activities, including applying for funding, running a business, developing audiences and learning and education resources.
ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU
Our team at Art Clubbers are always here to support you, we understand first hand the excitement and challenges of starting creative endeavours and here to provide a sound board for the outrageous, ambitions and simply daring!