Learn the essential skills to start, grow, and manage a successful small business in the creative industries. This practical course covers everything from business planning and marketing to finance and operations, helping you turn your creative passion into a thriving enterprise.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Start Date:11 Jun 2026
End Date:16 Jul 2026
Thu (Daytime):14:00 - 17:00
Choose either online or in-person
Location: Hybrid (choose either online or in-person)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This introduction to financial modelling, business planning and marketing for new businesses in the creative industries will cover: market research, marketing, innovation, incorporation, intellectual property, management structure, financial projections, pitches and presentations. Starting, growing and managing a small business in the creative industries.
What will we cover?
• Market Research • Advertising and Marketing • Incorporation & Reporting Requirements • Forms of Capital & Intellectual Property • Management Structure • Principles of Accounting • Cash-flow and Financial Projections • Funding and Investment • Managing Growth • Pitches and Presentations.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
• Conduct market research relevant to your business ideas • Identify market opportunities and target demographics • Communicate the story of your business to clients and funders • Develop a personalised business mode and marketing strategy • Embed entrepreneurial trials and innovative capacity into a business or organisation • Create a document that will help focus your efforts as a self-employed creative practitioner or entrepreneur.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
Introductory, no specific skills needed. However, students should be confident and competent computer users on a Mac or Windows PC and be proficient with a mouse and keyboard in either a creative software, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or equivalent and should be able to download, upload, save, open and retrieve files. You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The class will be delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, group activities and assigned homework between classes.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
There are no other costs.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
City Lit offers a variety of progression courses in this subject area. Please click hereto view our courses.
Disclaimer: Use of Third-Party Software This course might require you to either use your own personal account or create an account for the purposes of this course. City Lit cannot accept any responsibility for any failings of the third party or provide technical support. Whilst using the software you will be responsible for abiding by the providers terms and conditions and maintaining your own work.
Christine Robertson is a Creative Producer with over 30 years’ experience in the Creative Industries, working in the Music, Film, Publishing and Technology Sectors. An early adopter of all things digital, she is passionate about the transformative power of technology in both commerce and business and in innovating and enabling Creative production and communication. Alongside her own businesses, Christine is an experienced Lecturer/Teacher and enjoys both the vibrancy of City Lit and meeting and working with its diverse and engaged students.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/business-skills-for-creative-businesses137677Business skills for creative businesseshttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/b/u/business-skills-for-creative-businesses-cdcb02-1024.jpg369369GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Business, marketing & technology/Courses/Business, marketing & technology/Business & marketing/Courses/Business, marketing & technology/Business & marketing/Business skills/Courses/vm/Skills for Work - Online Employability Courses/Courses/vm/Courses to boost your CV/Courses/vm/Business courses bundle offer/Courses/Short Courses/Courses/Short Courses/Technology, science & business2285121112291635179119131271113411134201228512111229165313411<p>Learn the essential skills to start, grow, and manage a successful small business in the creative industries. This practical course covers everything from business planning and marketing to finance and operations, helping you turn your creative passion into a thriving enterprise.</p> <div data-content-type="html" data-appearance="default" data-element="main">Starting, growing and managing a small business in the creative industries. <br />
<br />
This is a live online course. You will need:<br />
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.<br />
- A computer with microphone and camera.<br />
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.<br />
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.</div>54.82950571Business skills for creative businesses369369https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/b/u/business-skills-for-creative-businesses-cdcb02-1024_30.jpgInStockDaytimeThuHybrid (choose either online or in-person)Available courses5-10 weeksWeekday2026-06-11T00:00:00+00:00BeginnersJun 2026Business, marketing & technologyCDCB04369369Business skills for creative businesses295240369Christine Robertsonbusiness-skills-for-creative-businesses/cdcb04-2526<p>Learn the essential skills to start, grow, and manage a successful small business in the creative industries. This practical course covers everything from business planning and marketing to finance and operations, helping you turn your creative passion into a thriving enterprise.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-11 00:00:00This introduction to financial modelling, business planning and marketing for new businesses in the creative industries will cover: market research, marketing, innovation, incorporation, intellectual property, management structure, financial projections, pitches and presentations.<br/>Starting, growing and managing a small business in the creative industries.<p>Learn the essential skills to start, grow, and manage a successful small business in the creative industries. This practical course covers everything from business planning and marketing to finance and operations, helping you turn your creative passion into a thriving enterprise.</p>• Market Research <br/>• Advertising and Marketing <br/>• Incorporation & Reporting Requirements<br/>• Forms of Capital & Intellectual Property <br/>• Management Structure<br/>• Principles of Accounting<br/>• Cash-flow and Financial Projections<br/>• Funding and Investment <br/>• Managing Growth<br/>• Pitches and Presentations.• Conduct market research relevant to your business ideas <br/>• Identify market opportunities and target demographics<br/>• Communicate the story of your business to clients and funders <br/>• Develop a personalised business mode and marketing strategy <br/>• Embed entrepreneurial trials and innovative capacity into a business or organisation<br/>• Create a document that will help focus your efforts as a self-employed creative practitioner or entrepreneur.Introductory, no specific skills needed. However, students should be confident and competent computer users on a Mac or Windows PC and be proficient with a mouse and keyboard in either a creative software, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or equivalent and should be able to download, upload, save, open and retrieve files.<br/>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.The class will be delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, group activities and assigned homework between classes.There are no other costs.<p>City Lit offers a variety of progression courses in this subject area. Please click <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/wysiwyg/pdf/New_Business_Management_Courses.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>here</u> </a>to view our courses.</p><p>Disclaimer: Use of Third-Party Software<br/>This course might require you to either use your own personal account or create an account for the purposes of this course. City Lit cannot accept any responsibility for any failings of the third party or provide technical support. Whilst using the software you will be responsible for abiding by the providers terms and conditions and maintaining your own work.</p>Business & marketingBusiness skillsvirtual295369240CDCB04NONEThu11/06/26 - 16/07/2614:00 - 17:0014:0017:006 sessions (over 6 weeks)65-10 weeksDaytimeWeekdayHybridHybrid (choose either online or in-person)Christine RobertsonBeginnersAvailable courses2026-06-11T00:00:00+00:00Jun 2026Business, marketing & technology369369Business skills for creative businessesbusiness-skills-for-creative-businesses/cdcb04-2526<p>Learn the essential skills to start, grow, and manage a successful small business in the creative industries. This practical course covers everything from business planning and marketing to finance and operations, helping you turn your creative passion into a thriving enterprise.</p>0000-Available|2026-06-11 00:00:00This introduction to financial modelling, business planning and marketing for new businesses in the creative industries will cover: market research, marketing, innovation, incorporation, intellectual property, management structure, financial projections, pitches and presentations.<br/>Starting, growing and managing a small business in the creative industries.<p>Learn the essential skills to start, grow, and manage a successful small business in the creative industries. This practical course covers everything from business planning and marketing to finance and operations, helping you turn your creative passion into a thriving enterprise.</p>• Market Research <br/>• Advertising and Marketing <br/>• Incorporation &amp; Reporting Requirements<br/>• Forms of Capital &amp; Intellectual Property <br/>• Management Structure<br/>• Principles of Accounting<br/>• Cash-flow and Financial Projections<br/>• Funding and Investment <br/>• Managing Growth<br/>• Pitches and Presentations.• Conduct market research relevant to your business ideas <br/>• Identify market opportunities and target demographics<br/>• Communicate the story of your business to clients and funders <br/>• Develop a personalised business mode and marketing strategy <br/>• Embed entrepreneurial trials and innovative capacity into a business or organisation<br/>• Create a document that will help focus your efforts as a self-employed creative practitioner or entrepreneur.Introductory, no specific skills needed. However, students should be confident and competent computer users on a Mac or Windows PC and be proficient with a mouse and keyboard in either a creative software, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint or equivalent and should be able to download, upload, save, open and retrieve files.<br/>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.The class will be delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops, group activities and assigned homework between classes.There are no other costs.<p>City Lit offers a variety of progression courses in this subject area. Please click <a href="https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/wysiwyg/pdf/New_Business_Management_Courses.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>here</u> </a>to view our courses.</p><p>Disclaimer: Use of Third-Party Software<br/>This course might require you to either use your own personal account or create an account for the purposes of this course. City Lit cannot accept any responsibility for any failings of the third party or provide technical support. Whilst using the software you will be responsible for abiding by the providers terms and conditions and maintaining your own work.</p>Business & marketingBusiness skillsconfigurable
