Online Resources
On-demand resources to help you develop and test your ideas for a business start-up or self-employed freelance career.
Are you interested in starting a business, but don't have any ideas yet? This video will help you exercise your creative muscles and learn new ways to come up with more (and better) ideas in a purposeful way.
Do you want to start or grow a successful business? This video will help you explore how to conduct market research to understand what your customers want so that you can build a viable, profitable business.
Start-up Adviser Gretel takes you through the steps to register as a sole trader, partnership or limited company, in simple, practical terms.
Start-up Adviser Steve gives you basic guidance for running a business in the UK, including an overview of relevant legislation and codes of practice on advertising, contracts, data protection and insurance.
Start-up Adviser Steve explains what makes a good business pitch, what to include in one and how to structure it.
Start-up Adviser Gretel explains what investors expect to see at every business stage and gives you some tips on how to present your financial information.
Explore working for yourself
- Test your entrepreneurial potential with Get2test.
- Map your entrepreneurial competencies with Yoop.
- Get valuable advice and insights for freelancers from Creative Boom.
- Plan and develop a viable creative business with Creative Enterprise Toolkit.
- Reflect on what is most important when starting up with 20 questions workbook (PDF: 140KB).
- Watch START UP's videos on various topics to help you on your start-up journey.
- UKCISA – UK Council for International Student Affairs – for information about immigration routes which can be switched to from a Student visa in the UK including the Graduate visa and the Innovator Founder visa routes.
Develop your business
- Use Value Proposition Canvas to define your product-market fit. Watch this video on how to use the canvas.
- Use Business Model Canvas to create a business plan. Watch this video on how to use the canvas.
- Use COBRA for insights on specific business-related topics. To access COBRA, log in to MyCareer and click on the Resources tab in the top right corner
- Use MINTEL, Passport and Statista for access to the latest information, trends and statistics as part of your secondary market research. These platforms are available to current students through the Newcastle University Library. Graduates can access MINTEL through BIPC North East in the City Library, in-person. Check with your local BIPC branch if you are no longer in Newcastle.
- Use the Mom Test to understand what questions to ask in your primary market research. Take a look at our recommended reading list for details on this book and others available in the Library.
Establish your business
- Understand the legal side of being self-employed with resources from HMRC. Visit their YouTube playlist for guidance on submitting a self-assessment tax return.
- Get training and support on Intellectual Property with the Intellectual Property Office.
- Learn to trade overseas with resources from the Department for International Trade.