TOSH

Build strong foundations for your creative business, with the support of peers and experienced mentors from our local arts and culture scene.

Join us for this Spring course and boost your creative business - whether you're starting out, wanting a refresh, or ready to grow.

Together at our coworking space in Boscombe, we’ll guide you through planning, branding, pricing, marketing and more - with interactive classes, free optional extra workshops and 1-1 mentoring. Form a sustainable and manageable plan for growth, all while connecting with our creative community.

This course wave will run from April to July, with classes led by wonderful, experienced local creatives, and a dedicated, free tutor 1-1 funded by our neighbours at Digital Skills Hub.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW

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Course content:

Planning

Solidify what you do and why, with a purpose statement
How to build your business plan
How to market research
Pricing - products, services and wholesale
Identifying and reaching your ideal customer

Branding

Review and define your brand values
Branding guidelines, your visual identity
Your website
Tone of voice, consistency and professionalism
Collaborations and opportunities to reinforce your brand

Marketing

Creating content for your audience
Where to focus (social media, newsletters, blogs and more)
Sales targets and how to set them
Making your marketing calendar
Using data to grow
Time management and planning ahead, protecting your wellbeing

We’ll also support you with a fundamentals toolkit - contracts, licensing, invoices and insurance, as well as signposting funding opportunities, and guidance for HMRC Self Assessment and financial management.

Planning and Marketing with Joanne

Joanne Griffin of The Creative Flow Collective is an experienced mentor with over 16 years of creative commerce knowledge. A graduate of Surface Pattern Design, Joanne started her career as a Visual Merchandiser before moving from physical to digital retail, working with Not On the High Street for 7 years.

Since 2017, Joanne has been working as a freelance creative, and now helps to raise up all kinds of independent businesses through 1-1 and group mentoring – assisting with growing sales, developing products, planning ahead and mastering mindset.

Branding with Sammy

Graphic designer Sammy Murphy is the Director behind design studio, Studio Glass, and Founder of independent BCP creative culture magazine, Pier Journal. With more than a decade of experience in the design industry, Sammy has had the opportunity to work with a diverse range of brands, including The Times, BBC Music, Native Land, Hammerson, Yo! Sushi and Barclays.

In her teaching, Sammy combines her understanding of clear, purposeful, contemporary and memorable branding with her affinity for and connection to the South Coast’s creative network.

Course Dates, Spring 2025:

Always 6.45pm-9pm, Wednesdays
2nd April - Introduction

23rd April - Planning with Joanne

7th May - Planning with Joanne

21st May - Branding with Sammy

4th June - Branding with Sammy

18th June - Marketing with Joanne

2nd July - Marketing & Showcase Night

tbc Graduation Social

Application Deadline: Mon 17th March, Midnight

Course Fee:

£120 (payable in April-July £40 per month)

Including a free 1 hour 1-1 with a tutor of your choice worth over £50

(Funded by Digital Skills Hub, Boscombe)

We want our courses to be available to all - so please contact us if our fees might prevent you from being able to join us, so that we can seek to support you.

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Course Attendees:

15 attendees selected from applications, based on creative business needs and current level, while creating a diverse business mix in the cohort.

Attendees are encouraged to attend our free Cowork Club (Thursdays, 9am-12pm) and OSC artist development workshops to take their learning further, and we will organise socials and follow ups to keep everyone in touch and accountable to each other in their creative journeys.

Location: TOSH, Gladstone Road, Boscombe BH7 6BG

CLICK HERE TO APPLY NOW

If you have any questions about the programme or the application process, please email Cora and Holly at contact@toshspace.co.uk and we will be very happy to help!

BONUS: Every application enters a raffle with the chance to win a FREE START UP WORKSPACE at TOSH for 2 months, worth £200!

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‍"It was one of the best investments I made for myself - the programme and the space has been the catalyst that has allowed me to grow." Tanita Cox

"The course was brilliant for meeting other small business owners, not only for the networking and social side, but learning from each other too." Laura Basevi

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The fabulous graphics for our Start Up Programme have been created by local designer Nat Cook in collaboration with TOSH

Apply: NEW Creative Start Up Programme 2025

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