I’m feeling the need to tell the ‘start-up’ world about a dynamic and inspirational group of individuals that I have the honour and privilege to walk alongside as they all venture off into the world of enterprise.

Last year I facilitated a series of business start-up workshops at various venues across West Yorkshire; one series in particular attracted the same people back week after week to complete the course together. In those six weeks, something in the dynamic created collaboration, a focus on real support and encouragement for each other.
Like all other programmes I’d planted the seed of how beneficial it would be if the group continued to meet up and keep each other motivated and focused on success. This group we call ‘Team-Up’ took the opportunity and have been meeting once per month since autumn 2010.

There’s an aspect to the continued success of the group that’s worth mentioning, and that everyone is post-redundancy or have made a life change decision to leave their secure employment. This aspect see’s a great empathy towards each other and regard for the personal side of development.

The meet-ups are evolving; we’re beginning to put more structure around the time we spend together, last session we tested out action learning for the first time, so whilst we have a friendly, open, honest and supportive environment we are serious about what we do. Pete Stevens a web-marketing advisor has built our very own web based platform so that we can have a central information and communication point, find out more at http://teamup.creativeitmarketing.co.uk/

We take over the foyer at the Holiday Inn Ossett on the second Tuesday of the month, or there-abouts. There’s no fee, no commitment, just the price of a cuppa and two hours of development time to work on the business and ourselves.

Whilst I continue to facilitate the team-up meet-ups, it is a co-created and co-lead group. I have great pleasure in seeing these lovely people grow in confidence and capability. I’m here out of passion and (academic) action research too, I’m gathering insight into developmental shifts; transition, inspiration, risk, motivation, attitude, resilience, self-efficacy, capability etc

Team-up is open to individuals that are just starting out after redundancy, please note this is not a network group for business development, the main objective is learning & development and support.
Express your interest here: gail@torchlightcoaching.co.uk for the forthcoming meet-up:
Tuesday 14th June, 10am at Holiday Inn, Ossett.