Who is our audience?

This is a work-in-progress. We know there are thousands of people out there who need help and our primary key to success will be finding them and matching them with TCFP clients who have the experience and willingness to assist. To try and share some idea of the sort of people we think may seek our help, we have created a set of ‘avatars’ that we think might represent the sort of people who could approach us. 

Has an idea:

PETE

Younger Person with an untapped skill

  • No formal post 16 education
  • “A rough diamond”
  • Has a skill but hasn’t realized its value
  • Currently in a job with little prospects

Risk:

  • Failure to develop a business using an existing skill

ANNA

Entrepreneur with an idea

  • Recent graduate
  • Energetic, enthusiastic, confident but naïve
  • Lives with parents who providing some funding
  • Passionate about her idea, driven by success and money (wants to be financially independent)
  • Values driven and tech savy

Risks:

  • Possibly a bit naïve
  • Isn’t sure how to turn the idea into a business

Informal enterprise:

CHANTELLE

Person with a small business but keen to expand

    • Resourceful and resilient
    • Likes the independence her own business provides
    • Operates as a sole-trader
    • Revenue under £20k / annum
    • Income not visible to HMRC (cash in hand)
    • Has a great reputation with a small number of clients
    • Dreams of formalizing and growing the business

    Risks:

    • Uninsured
    • Worries about the future
    • Wants to expand, but concerned about how

    VICTORIA

    Enforced informal enterprise

      • Forced to start an informal business (off the grid) due to personal circumstances
      • Operates as a sole-trader
      • Revenue under £20k / annum
      • Income not visible to HMRC (cash in hand)
      • Has a great reputation

      Risks:

      • Uninsured
      • Worries about health and mobility
      • Needs to expand, but is fearful and worries a lot

      Foundation considerations:

      • Needs to provide positive encouragement
      • “Route to market” is likely to be via personal contacts

      Established Business:

      JANE

      Passionate Artisan

      • Passionate about her craft, 2nd career or 2nd job
      • Financially secure (small mortgage, no kids, partners income sufficient)
      • Operates as a sole-trader, Revenue under £20k / annum, known to HMRC
      • Has a website, ebay account and business email
      • Has a great reputation
      • Content but would like to reach more people

      Risks:

      • Limited, would like to expand

      JAMAL

      Ambitious entrepreneur

        • Creative and passionate but unfocused, and is ready for the “next thing”
        • Straight talking and decent
        • Keen to make the most of any gaps in the market
        • Craves control of his destiny
        • Learns from mini failures (has a history of these)
        • Financially comfortable
        • Has a mortgage

        Risks

        • Burns through many ideas
        • Has a history of mini failures

        If you’d like more information about the Town Close Foundation, please complete the below contact form and one of us will be in touch.

        Phone us on: 020 7993 4898

        We invite all volunteers to take the below survey so we can help match you with the right  help seekers.  Completing the survey, which should take less than ten minutes,  does not commit you to anything but will help us take the application forward.