Insight Out 2007-08

He saw Insight Out as an ideal way of honing and developing his idea, whilst getting practical advice on a range of business issues. "I was looking to improve my business skills and to learn from successful entrepreneurs," he said. "To be able to get that advice from experienced professionals and personal developers was very important to me."

But for Matt Insight Out proved to be more than just an advice shop. "Just to be with other people in a similar situation to you was inspiring," commented Matt, "and the fact that some people were right at the beginning of launching a business, while others had already started meant we were able to learn from each others experiences."

At the end of the programme Matt did receive funding, but feels the experience would have been worth it even if he hadn't. "It allowed me to realise that to launch a successful business you must be armed with all the necessary skills to develop a business plan before going live.

"Then, hopefully, you can avoid the pitfalls that cause many small businesses to fail in their first three years."

Since finishing Insight Out Matt is busy getting Radio School off the ground, "but I now appreciate setting up a business will take longer than I first envisaged."

He believes what he learnt from Insight Out was invaluable and that the programme is unique. "There's a lot of business development and advice shops out there," he said. "But this is the only one aimed specifically at creative industries and it helps to develop you at a constructive and beneficial pace."

Gaelle is a visual artist and creates photographic artwork in glass with a sensorial experience. "I'd been on quite a few schemes and programmes, but was starting to get frustrated," she said. "No one had the same urgency as me. All the advice seemed to take so long. I needed help to take the final step."

That's what she hoped to get from Insight Out. She said: "The programme provided me with the time and space to think strategically about my business. I could take a step back, rather than being dragged into more fire fighting."

And she believes Insight Out has made a difference. "People I work with have told me that I'm now much more focused, they're really seeing a change," she said, and that change is already benefiting her business. "By handling my communications differently, and relying on my core values, I'm securing more deals with clients and suppliers."

What made Insight Out different to the other schemes she'd been on was the quality of the contributors. "The people we had in to give us presentations and advice was incredible. I feel privileged to have been brought into contact with them," she said. "It is easily the best scheme I've been on."

Once the programme was finished and Gaelle had gained extra funding she wasted no time. "I applied what I learnt straight away and I've been getting results."

She's already secured one commission with others pending final approval, and she's about to fly out to Dubai to promote her work. "Insight Out is an amazing opportunity, it matched what I needed exactly. It was absolutely first class."

http://www.gaelle.co.uk

"I'll offer an innovative approach to the way in which garden design as a product is presented and sold," he said. "I want to make it more accessible to people beginning on the career ladder and on lower income brackets than the current target market for traditional garden design."

Although James is now busy setting up his business - Outward Designs - there were times during Insight Out when he suffered from self-doubt. "I did find it very daunting," he said. "The whole practicalities of running your own business, the financial side, the planning, I wasn't sure that I wanted all of that."

By the end of the programme though, he'd changed his mind. "Ultimately it was the belief that other people showed in me that made me decide to go for it." He said.

He believes the encouragement he got from Insight Out was invaluable. "You do need a second opinion and people to bounce ideas off," he said, "And I got that, along with this great conviction that other people had in my ideas. That's given me great confidence and belief in what I can achieve."