Kick Off in Business offers a fully funded, online training programme designed to help adults in England explore self-employment and launch a business. The course is free to access, short in length, and provides practical guidance alongside recognised qualifications. It is aimed at people at the very beginning of their enterprise journey, from those still considering self-employment to those within their first year of trading.

Table of Contents

• Who is eligible to take the Kick Off in Business course?
• What topics and support does the Kick Off in Business course cover?
• How long does the Kick Off in Business course take to complete?
• What qualifications can you gain from the Kick Off in Business course?
• Is there any ongoing support after the Kick Off in Business course finishes?
• How do you apply for the Kick Off in Business course?
• What can you expect from the Kick Off in Business learning experience?
• Key Takeaways
• References

Who is eligible to take the Kick Off in Business course?

The course is open to adults aged 19 and over who are interested in self-employment or starting a business in England. According to GOV.UK, the programme supports people at all stages of starting up, including individuals within their first year of trading.

The course is available in specific regions of England. These include the East Midlands, Eastern, North West, South East, South West, and Yorkshire and the Humber. The Kick Off in Business website confirms that the programme has been providing business start-up support for over 10 years across these areas.

The programme is not available in every part of England. According to GOV.UK, excluded areas include Greater Manchester, Greater London, Liverpool, and West and South Yorkshire. Other excluded locations include the North East, Tees Valley, Cambridge and Peterborough, and Bristol and Bath.

The course is aimed at people setting up a conventional business in an emerging or traditional market. The Kick Off in Business website notes that the programme is not designed for high-growth ventures such as airlines. It focuses instead on realistic, achievable business models.

What topics and support does the Kick Off in Business course cover?

The Business Start-Up course covers personal skills and characteristics, formal registration and set up, legal requirements, insurance, research, and business planning. According to the Kick Off in Business website, these foundational topics help participants understand what starting a business involves before they commit to trading.

Further modules include money management, budgeting, finance, building a proposition, creating an identity, and finding a unique selling point. The Kick Off in Business website lists these as core parts of the curriculum, designed to help learners shape a viable business idea.

Participants also learn about social media, marketing, promotion, launch strategies, and trading practices. According to GOV.UK, the course covers creating an offer and selling products or services, giving learners practical tools for reaching customers.

The course also covers grants and loans, tax and expenses, and business planning. GOV.UK confirms that these financial topics are included, helping participants understand the money side of running a business.

Learners receive advice from real business owners throughout the programme. The Kick Off in Business website describes a no jargon approach, meaning complex business concepts are explained in plain language that is easy to follow.

How long does the Kick Off in Business course take to complete?

The course is delivered online and is described as short in length. According to GOV.UK, the programme previously carried a one-week description, but course length references were officially changed from one-week to short on 5 November 2024.

Courses run online every week, allowing flexible access for participants. The Kick Off in Business website confirms that the short format is designed to fit around other commitments while still covering essential start-up knowledge.

The exact number of hours is not specified in public materials, but the structure is designed for quick completion. According to Growth Hub, the course is short in length and fully funded, meaning there are no costs for the learner.

The online delivery model means participants can access the course from any eligible region in England. The Kick Off in Business website notes that courses run every week, giving learners regular opportunities to begin.

What qualifications can you gain from the Kick Off in Business course?

Participants can gain two enterprise qualifications upon successful completion of the course. According to GOV.UK, these qualifications provide formal recognition of the skills learned during the programme.

The programme is described as award-winning on the Kick Off in Business website and by Growth Hub. This recognition reflects the quality of delivery and the practical value of the course content.

The qualifications are designed to give learners credible evidence of their enterprise knowledge. GOV.UK categorises the programme as offering expertise and advice as well as recognition awards.

Learners who complete the course have the option to progress onto further courses focusing on digital promotion and digital skills. According to GOV.UK, this progression route allows participants to build on their initial qualification.

Is there any ongoing support after the Kick Off in Business course finishes?

Yes, participants receive ongoing support for three months after completing the course. The Kick Off in Business website confirms that this follow-up support helps new business owners as they begin trading and face early challenges.

This support is designed to reinforce the learning from the course and assist with practical implementation. According to Growth Hub, the three-month period gives learners time to apply what they have learned while still having access to guidance.

The programme is listed as relevant for businesses that are not yet trading and for start-ups in their first one to two years. GOV.UK confirms this positioning, meaning the support is tailored to the early stages of enterprise.

The programme is relevant to a wide range of industries, from agriculture and construction to digital and creative sectors. According to GOV.UK, the course also suits hospitality, health, manufacturing, retail, and professional services.

How do you apply for the Kick Off in Business course?

The course is available through the official Kick Off in Business website, which includes details on how to register. The Kick Off in Business website provides a straightforward route for prospective participants to find course dates and begin the application process.

The programme is listed on the GOV.UK business finance and support service, providing a government-backed route to access. According to GOV.UK, the listing confirms the programme’s eligibility criteria and regional availability.

There is a referral option available on the website for those recommending the programme to someone else. The Kick Off in Business website includes this feature, making it easy for business advisers, community workers, and past participants to share the opportunity.

The course is fully funded and free to access, with no application fees mentioned in public guidance. According to Growth Hub, the funding model removes financial barriers for adults exploring self-employment.

The programme has been providing business start-up support for over ten years. GOV.UK first published the programme page in April 2018, and the Kick Off in Business website confirms the decade-long track record.

What can you expect from the Kick Off in Business learning experience?

The course is delivered entirely online, making it accessible to participants across the eligible regions of England. According to the Kick Off in Business website, this online format means learners can engage with the material from home or any location with an internet connection.

The programme uses a no jargon approach, ensuring that complex business concepts are explained in plain language. The Kick Off in Business website highlights this approach as a core feature, making the course suitable for people without prior business experience.

Participants learn from real business owners who share practical insights from their own experiences. According to GOV.UK, this real-world perspective helps learners understand what running a business actually involves.

The course covers both the practical and personal sides of starting a business, including assessing your own skills and characteristics. The Kick Off in Business website lists personal skills and characteristics as the first topic covered, helping learners evaluate their readiness for self-employment.

The programme is designed for adults over 19 and is tailored to those exploring self-employment for the first time. According to GOV.UK, the course welcomes people at all stages of starting up, from initial idea to early trading.

Key Takeaways

• Kick Off in Business is a fully funded, free online course for adults aged 19 and over in England.
• The programme has been running for over ten years and is described as award-winning.
• Participants can earn two enterprise qualifications upon completion of the course.
• The course covers topics from registration and legal requirements to marketing and launching a business.
• Learners receive three months of ongoing support after finishing the programme.
• The course is not available in Greater Manchester, Greater London, Liverpool, or West and South Yorkshire.
• Courses run online every week and are short in length, having previously been described as one-week programmes.

References

1. Kick Off in Business
2. Kick Off in Business – business start-up and self employment online courses — GOV.UK
3. Kick Off your business journey — Growth Hub