Launching your own business or social enterprise is a big leap of faith.

The Mind Your Own Business workbook has is origins in a programme developed by Mike Clargo and members of Transformational Business Network for Uganda and beyond, which was massively successful in helping people create real jobs for themselves. It was then redeveloped by Jerry Marshall and Susie Romney as Germinate Enterprise, to be a UK rural resource. A series in the NFU Countryside Magazine became a follow up “Beer Mat Mentoring” programme. Germinate Enterprise became a Cinnamon Recognised Project but now has a wider remit and has moved on from both Germinate and Cinnamon Network with their continued encouragement.

The programme has now been improved, updated and extended as Mind Your Own Business, for use in any context. The new materials were launched in January 2020.

The hope is that anyone can simply pick up the material and work through it, ideally with a few friends. Or facilitate a small group in their community. Download the workbook here.

Jerry Marshall continues to lead the programme. He is an experienced marketing professional and entrepreneur who has set up several successful businesses, social enterprises and “Impact Investments” in the UK and Middle East. He has also and supported many businesses and trained entrepreneurs Worldwide.

Jerry is available to advise and adapt the programme for use in schools, job clubs, YOIs and overseas.

Comments from Germinate Enterprise participants:

I love the fact this course is for regular people to help them better themselves.

I learned a lot and now I feel more confident in starting a business.

This course really helped me think logically through the step-by-step of setting up a business for the first time.

The structure of the course is excellent – succinct and easy to understand and implement.