118TAXI is the UK's largest taxi directory, a business linking people who need a taxi but don't know which number to ring. A user dials 118 8294 and one of the call centre staff puts them through to their nearest licensed taxi or private hire firm, anywhere in the UK at any hour. 118Taxi also provides the cheapest directory enquiries service.

‘As part of the (FlyingStart) programme I was assigned a mentor, Tony Warwick, who was there to offer advice on the end of the phone when I needed it. I also sent him a monthly action plan with my goals and how I was going to achieve them.'

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After having the idea to send his parents some fruit trees as gifts, and being unable to find a tree gift company, Gareth left the safe world of employment to start Tree2mydoor Ltd. A gift company that specialises in sending personalised trees as gifts, Tree2mydoor's products are green ethical and have won numerous awards.

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Invate is currently one of the UK's largest Assistive Technology suppliers, delivering hardware, software and specialist training. Invate Ltd works with the region’s universities, schools and colleges to provide technological support for young people with disabilities to achieve their academic goals. Having more than trebled sales in its third year of business, Invate Ltd is rapidly expanding.

'FlyingStart was instrumental in the early development of the company. The team even helped get us a licence to operate!'

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Online Expansions is a popular web marketing, design and development company situated in Bath.

'The three days at the FlyingStart seminar went on to shape the future of Online Expansions. In addition, FlyingStart instilled motivation, delivered a number of tools to help build my business, introduced me to the concept of speed-networking, reviewed and refined my future expansion ideas, provided important commercial and personal evaluation, in addition to organising inspirational guest speakers.'

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Remarkable Innovation is a company that is trusted by international clients to provide technical advice on mergers and acquisitions around the world. Having started from zero, with no revenue and no contacts, Remarkable Innovation now have a client base including US Fortune 100 companies.

‘FlyingStart gave me the confidence to go ahead and set up a company. It gave me exposure to experienced entrepreneurs who had lots of practical tips, but most of all it was just really inspiring to speak to people who had built a company from nothing!’

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'Less than 20 miles from tree to chair'

Wudwork produces sustainable contemporary furniture and bench joinery that make the most of the UK’s natural resources, including innovative wood veneer curtains. They won second place in the Sheffield Hallam University Enterprise Challenge in October 2007.

‘FlyingStart was a real boost to my understanding of business. I took a three day course in Manchester in 2007 and it taught me more about business and networking than three years at University.’

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Nathan took part in a FlyingStart programme in February 2008 and shortly after Pearson’s Engineering Services began trading. The company company specialises in track inspection, maintenance and repair at privately-owned goods yards, test tracks and sidings owned by businesses such as power stations, docks, oil terminals and commercial railways.

Growing from strength to strength, Pearsons has just won contracts with two major players in the rail industry - Derby train-maker Bombardier and East Midlands Trains.

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Human Film is a production company making films set in, among other places, Iraq. Its first film won 18 international awards and was entered into the foreign language film category of the 2007 Academy Awards.

Their latest film 'Sons of Babylon' has won two awards at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2010 - the Amnesty International Film Prize Award and the Peace Prize. 

Human Film have given away the entire prize money of 10,000 Euros to charity. They are currently looking forward to the Istanbul Film Festival among the 14 film festivals their film has been selected for, including Robert Redford's Sundance Film Festival in America.

'I met some super creative women at NCGE's first Programme for Women Entrepreneurs which gained me commercial knowledge and confidence'.

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Goodone is an award-winning, sustainable fashion design company with an edge.  Nin designs and produces innovative, quality, one-off clothing which is made from hand-picked, locally-sourced, recycled fabrics.

A limited edition range of Goodone's upcycled clothing will be launched at Tesco in April 2010. Goodone has revamped Clothing at Tesco's obsolete, faulty stock into vibrant cropped knot T-shirts, quilted pocket skirts, circle dresses and black jersey peg trousers.

To match demand, Goodone currently outsources production to the HEBA project in Brick Lane, a registered charity for disadvantaged women and a social enterprise called Bambanani in Cape Town.

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Whilst studying at University Will and Linley identified an opportunity within the ‘Gap year’ market, to offer surfing courses. They attended a FlyingStart programme and trading began in 2007. Since then they have enjoyed rapid growth and have been able to expand to offer customers even more choice.

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Since attending a FlyingStart programme, Jethro has built up a successful design practise based in London and Cornwall. Jethro produces designs for mass production and sells his pieces in galleries and famous outlets. Jethro found that the FlyingStart programme was well focussed and equipped in helping him make progress within the creative industries.

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Established in 2005, DCS Designs Ltd was incorporated with a mission to develop and deliver innovative health care products that promote Dignity, Comfort and Safety (DCS) for patients and hospital staff.

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SquidLondon, a forward thinking design team were inspired by a mix of design, technology and science to create colour changing umbrellas, among other innovative products. The FlyingStart programme helped to focus Emma-Jayne and Viviane on what they hoped to achieve and they have since had much success, both in the UK and internationally.

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Ratemyplacement.co.uk is a successful undergraduate recruitment website specialising in student work placement and internships in the UK. It aims to provide students with unrivalled information on work placement and internship opportunities in the UK as well as allowing employers to reach the best career minded students earlier than has traditionally been possible.

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Abby Filer is a contemporary fashion jewellery designer and maker, working with silver,
enamels, printed aluminium and precious stones to create fresh, feminine and colourful pieces of jewellery.

Abby has recently started Franny & Filer - a unique contemporary jewellery and craft gallery in Manchester (in partnership).

‘The business knowledge and advice I received from FlyingStart really helped me with my business plan and future plans.’

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Joke runs a web design business specializing in designing and developing websites according to current web standards.With degrees in IT and Photography, and  years of experience as a press photographer, Joke also offers photography services.

‘The Flying Start workshop gave me an insight into what is required in setting up your own
business.'

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Blok is a multi-disciplinary design studio built on a passion for creativity that spans the world of furniture, product, interiors and graphics. As well as being a design agency collaborating with external clients, Blok also produces its own pieces. 

‘As well as providing a good grounding into what needs to be considered when setting up a business, the most helpful aspect about the Programme was that it provided us with a forum to meet other people in the same situation.  This has given us the chance to learn from others and gain great advice.’

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The core aim of Ticket to Ride Limited is to remain the number one provider of gap year, mini gap and career break surf adventure courses.  

'The Flying Start programme held at Reading University in March 2006 enabled us to experience the benefit of business mentoring and also introduced us to the Surrey Enterprise Hub. As Portfolio members we have been able to draw on a wide range of business resources which we continue to benefit from.'

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Bean2Bed manufactures and sells space-saving, comfortable beanbags that transform into beds in under 30 seconds.With various sizes from single guest beds to king size beds, all beanbags are manufactured to order each week and can be delivered anywhere in mainland Europe. Bean2Beds also have a bespoke design service.

‘Flying Start is a fantastic network and organisation for entrepreneurs all over the UK to meet other entrepreneurs as well as get help and advice off those that have been there, done that. The residential NCGE course I attended was absolutely First Class. The tutors and information provided was excellent. It was inspiring and extremely motivating to meet other like minded people.’

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Studio This and That is an award winning design agency, working primarily in the not for profit and creative sectors. Their services include brand strategy, graphic design, creative direction, identity development, new media, exhibition design among others. Recently, Studio This and That have been made preferred suppliers under the Designing Demand  initiative set up by the Design Council.

‘Flying Start was the platform that we needed to go from 'we'll start one day' to 'right let's hand our notice in, we're starting!' It gave us enough of a working knowledge of several key business areas to make the leap. And so far we've not looked back.’  

Oo and Joel created OnePage.com in response to their scattered
identities and contact points in various places on the web. To make networking more efficient and effective, OnePage is a digital platform for creating, sharing and storing business or contact cards.

Oo- ‘I took part in a three day (FlyingStart) business programme which helped crystallize our business plan and goals. The mentors at the programme were immensely helpful in answering questions (marketing, finance, etc.) I had and helped me look at the business in a different perspective.’

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Bay Web Designs builds content managed websites, access to domain and hosting name purchase, updating the website and writing of content, all built around the needs of a client.

‘FlyingStart has been a good confidence builder for me as they have encouraged and supported me through the initial doubts about whether I should dive into being a business owner. (At the programmes,) there is lots of excellent advice & support plus friendly people to exchange ideas with.’ 

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Falling Pixel is Europe’s leading 3D content marketplace, providing customers and digital artists with an online outlet to buy and sell computer generated 3D content. sourced from top professional studios and artists from around the world.

‘(Having been selected for the NCGE-Kauffman FlyingStart Global Fellowship,) I was fortunate enough to be sent to America for 6 months to learn from top business minds. It was a life-changing experience in terms of developing business acumen, new partnerships and networks which will drive Falling Pixel forward.’

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Based in Manchester, Nicola Rowlands runs a multi faceted business of graphic design and illustration. Nicola has recently begun leading workshops for the BBC 21CC (the BBC’s digital learning centre), working with young people to teach digital illustration and animation.

‘FlyingStart has given me lots of ideas and a bit of perspective on my business.  I also really benefited from the time we spent visualising the future for our businesses and how they fit within our life plans.  It helped me cement in my mind my reasons for wanting to be self employed.’ 

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The Energy Advice Bureau is an independent, council funded, government inspired initiative whose mission is to ensure that consumers do not overpay for the energy they use, and, to raise awareness of the many free and easy ways to cut energy costs.

‘FlyingStart has been fantastic in addressing critical questions considered by anyone looking to develop their own enterprise. The friendly and passionate speakers at their events have been a real positive investment for our business and has supported the quick establishment of our business as well as its exciting growth.'

www.energyadvicebureau.com

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Zolo Designs aims to produce innovative products that solve environmental issues by combining good design and new emerging technologies. In the attached picture is a touch sensitive light design carpet, one of their designs.

‘By attending the FlyingStart course for engineers, Leona received incredibly useful insights into how to develop a technology based product into a commercial success.' 

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This Surrey based designer uses an unusual mix of hand and machine embroidered and digital printed textile techniques to produce distinctively embellished handbags and purses, based on myths & fairy tales.

‘Attending the FlyingStart programme helped me to head in the right direction with pricing items, as well as meeting other people in the same industry with small businesses too.’

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Jennie runs a South Yorkshire based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Integrative Counselling Service, including  stress counselling, for individuals and businesses.

‘FlyingStart gave me that little bit of extra impetus to get things moving and start working for myself.  Advice on building a website and networking has been useful, as has access to a mentor.’

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Tuxebo is an independent online marketplace that matches people looking for scaffolding or skips with companies that provide them.

‘FlyingStart helped us to realise we needed to focus on verticals (of equipment) and be the leader in that market rather than just launch offering all things to all men. It also helped to create an intensity and encourage us to set targets/milestones.’

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Ground Zero Ltd was a specialist marketing consultancy that produced cutting-edge events for the youth and action sport sectors and organised a number of highly successful action sports events in Brighton.

‘FlyingStart was a huge help in providing me with contacts, inspiration and essential business skills.
It gives you the opportunity to network with all manner of ambitious and successful people and I would recommend it to anyone who thinks they might have what it takes to become an entrepreneur.’

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All about Law is a law careers resource combined with a social network that takes users on a journey from high school to employment with details of courses, career routes and potential employers, both law and non-law.

Paul Harris - 'The programme was a great experience for me to meet other young entrepreneurs and to build up some initial contacts many of whom I’m still in touch with. Without such initiatives and the chance to meet other people in the same position it can be a lonely road so I would recommend anyone that has the opportunity to attend such an event goes along.'

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Simon had an innovative idea for a new flood barrier system and founded Fluvial Innovations Ltd to develop it. Following a FlyingStart programme where Simon gained many useful contacts and industry knowledge, Simon successfully sold his FLOODSTOP barriers to many local authorities and is continuing to pursue further contacts.

FLOODSTOP has recently been chosen by STEMNet to appear as a case study in all UK secondary schools.

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Aygeas Foods supplies African food which is sourced and manufactured in the UK. With products like oatmeal fufu, oatmeal flour, egusi soups and yaje pastes, Yieze is slowly but successfully expanding her business.

‘FlyingStart actually boosted my confidence by making me realise that I can make it if I give my idea my best shot. The first time I attended the FlyingStart programme at Reading University, I was so impressed at the wealth of knowledge that I acquired.' 

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Loretta Harmer designs and makes jewellery and tabletop sculpture from silver, pewter and found objects.

'The Creative FlyingStart Programme was specifically tailored to my industry and completely relevant to my business.'

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The Talking Walls® is a multimedia template application that is able to be adapted to suit any heritage site, museum or historical building. It has been designed for users to visually explore and navigate where they are visiting either via a handheld device, and /or a kiosk / DVD. It is designed to be a learning experience for children doing history projects, and designed to entertain as well. 

‘The FlyingStart programme helped with mentoring and business advice.’

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AlZi Ltd offers all in one web design packages to suit all clients and budgets.

‘The Flying Start workshop helped me to make sure all the essentials of running a business are covered. Flying Start's guest speakers such as James Caan, Imran Hakim and Caroline Marsh gave me inspiration and determination to make my ideas into highly successful businesses.’

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Jayne has revived the 18th century architectural concept of a folly, fusing it with contemporary design principals and traditional, sustainable materials. Using cedar, oak, copper and glass, Jayne designs and produces these follies, which are durable, self-contained structures that provide an antidote to our seemingly constant state of divided attention.

‘The FlyingStart programme gave me the confidence to be able to see the potential in my ideas. My mentor is enthusiastic, he is always there at the end of an email when I get stuck and I am still in contact with him.’

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Gemmina Mia is a unique leatherwear design company, specialising principally in hand crafted leather bags and infant footwear. All Gemmina Mia products are made from pure natural fibres, reflecting the brand’s quality and down-to-earth fashion spirit.

‘The FlyingStart workshop provided great advice for start up businesses and good contacts.’

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Marcia is a Leeds based visual artist, specialising in issue based and fun based workshops linked either to the school curriculum, gallery, museum collections, festivals and community events and family learning.
She is a qualified Arts Tutor (P.G.C.E) and a member of the Institute for Learning, with previous experience in adult and community education.

‘FlyingStart has helped me with support and advice, gained from my mentor. I was able to recognise my talents, strengths and weaknesses and build relevant relationships by networking. This has enabled me to confidently plan, research and manifest my specialist skills within education and the arts.’

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Graham Mossop’s web design business has transformed since he attended a FlyingStart programme. Design and Conquer now has an estimated turnover of £24,000.

‘Before I took the FlyingStart three day course, I didn't really have any kind of plan or structure, I just knew I wanted to make websites for people and get paid. Now my business is a lot more structured, it has a purpose and I have new contacts and clients.’

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Fiona Davies runs a growing and successful interior design business. She attended a FlyingStart programme in 2008, during the final year of her foundation degree in interior design. The programme gave her confidence to overcome the difficulties she faced in setting up her business.

“It was great to be on this particular programme as many of the delegates were creative types too. This meant that as well as great, informative, realistic and challenging teaching, I received great mentoring and also the chance to bounce ideas around with like-minded people.”

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Fluffy Auto Boutique (FAB) is a retail business that provides car accessories mainly for women and hold car style and car knowledge workshops in Yorkshire. They began trading on eBay July 2008, set up an e-commerce website in May 2009 and opened a small unit in West Yorkshire in August 2009.

"The initial FlyingStart three day programme in Reading that I attended provided me with knowledge that I have utilised to help me to set up my business."

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James Baker and Tim Miller had little knowledge about setting up a business, before attending a FlyingStart programme. They now own ‘Freedom Adventures’ an independent adventure travel specialist providing climbing and diving experiences to groups or individuals.

‘Before we went on the FlyingStart course we had very little knowledge on how to set a business up. After attending we managed to get lots of knowledge on how to progress our business forward and learnt how to pitch and went on to doing so at the bank for investment.’

MR Shox has developed revolutionary technology for mountain bike suspensions, which detects changes in terrain conditions to optimise suspension performance automatically.
FlyingStart assisted David with several grant applications, which were successful, including: £70,000 in proof of concept funds from the University of Sheffield's own fund and Yorkshire Concept Fund and £40,000 from the 2009 Royal Academy of Engineering ERA Award.

‘My business planning skills were enhanced through attending the FlyingStart course for engineers. The mentoring that was made available also provided a useful source for advice. FlyingStart also generated free publicity through its contacts with the national media’.

Nicola attended a FlyingStart Programme in 2007, which helped turn her creative hobby into a business. She produces large scale oil paintings which deal with gender representations in the media. She has had a number of solo and group exhibitions, taking images from adverts and slightly modifying them to create ambiguity and question gender stereotypes.

‘I participated in the Flying Start Programme at Hull University in 2007. I learnt many things about the business side of being an artist, which was something I didn’t know much about. The course was very compact and dense with information and has proven to be very valuable for the growth of my business.’

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Olice Productions provide video production and website design to a diverse range of clients. including restaurant chain Las Iguanas, The Learning and Skills Council, Marstons Brewery, and Capita Insurance.

‘FlyingStart taught me a lot about how to run a small business and I have been able to ask my mentor to give me advice on marketing materials. I made some good contacts on the course, some of whom I have continued to work with. The course also gave me the confidence to grow my business and showed me that anything is possible.’

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StudentIndex is a free classifieds website that allows students to sell items that they have collected while being at university or college. They actively promote new listings through popular social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Delicious and more, creating more viewings for each ad.

‘FlyingStart has helped by providing a mentor who I can ask questions and seek advice. Without this professional help, it would be hard for me to progress and make my business grow the way I want it to’.

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‘Enfuse Youth'  is an award winning social enterprise which provides youth education
services to 13-25 year olds. The organisation aims to equip young people with essential life skills to tackle social, financial and employability issues as well as raise participants' motivation, self-confidence and networking capabilities.

‘The Flying Start three day Programme helped me to build my confidence, get feedback and test the business idea, encouraged me to be pro-active, enter various competitions and expand my networks.’

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Clare Gage's elegant collection of tableware is a fusion of
hand-crafted textiles and delicate ceramics. Every piece is formed from hand woven fabrics, transformed into individual moulds and created in porcelain from her studio in Derbyshire.

‘The training course gave me the confidence to make plans and begin my business. The most useful lesson learnt during the course was the importance of
networking. This is something I have continued to do since
starting the business and find that it not only brings opportunities but also provides personal support for your business.’

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