The world needs new ideas and is potentially more accepting of change than ever before: it could be a good time to act upon your best ideas and make an impact. Starting is often the hardest part: you face a host of challenging decisions. This course covers a wide range of topics: selecting the best idea to pursue; planning; overcoming fear of failure; creating a solid customer proposition; and finding money. We help you to navigate the early stages of development and gain the confidence that, while risky, your business has some likelihood of success. Cambridge - one of the most successful centres of innovation in the world - provides the perfect setting to explore the business of turning ideas into reality.
Course Dates
Course details
Academic team
Course information
Who is this course for?
Our weekend courses are open to all adult learners with an interest in the subject and are taught at approximately first-year undergraduate level.
Please complete any required reading before the course starts. This will allow you to fully participate and get the maximum enjoyment out of your course.
Course content
Starting a business is an exciting step, but turning an idea into a viable venture involves more than enthusiasm. This practical weekend course helps you understand what it takes to get started, how the decisions you make connect, and why your plans may need to change as you learn.
You will begin by identifying a problem worth solving and choosing what your business will address. From there, you will explore the environment around your idea: the people you hope to serve, the alternatives they already have, and the wider factors that may shape your opportunity. You will consider how to organise your business, what money, skills and other resources you may need, and how to set up the operations that will bring your idea to life.
The course then turns to developing a first product or service and communicating its value. You will look at practical ways to test and refine an early offer, reach potential customers, and explain clearly why it matters to them. Across these topics, you will see how choices about customers, structure, resources, delivery and marketing influence one another.
Starting a business involves uncertainty and risk. You will leave with a clearer picture of the work involved, a stronger grasp of the questions to address, and a realistic understanding that circumstances can change. The aim is not to hand you a fixed formula, but to help you make better-informed decisions as you take your first steps.
Aims
This course aims to:
- get a sense of what is required to get a business started
- understand how starting a business involves many interrelated activities
- realise that it is a risky process and that everything can change
What to expect on this course
The course will be taught as a group workshop with the workshop leader starting each session with a description of the topic using examples. This will lead into a self-driven session where you work to apply the theory and examples to your own context.
Learning outcomes
As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to:
- understand the basic steps of setting up a new business
- define your customer’s problem or opportunity and how you are going to solve it
- understand the physical, mental and financial needs that are required to get started
- develop and promote the first version of your product or service
Each weekend course features 7 sessions (1.5 hours each) running from Friday evening to Sunday lunchtime, plus regular breaks for meals and refreshments. On Saturday there’s also a longer break after lunch to relax, read or enjoy the gardens of Madingley Hall.
Course schedule and sessions
Please arrive between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. You can meet other course members in the Bar, which opens at 4.30pm. Tea and coffee-making facilities are available in the bedrooms.
Friday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:00pm | Dinner |
| 8:30pm to 10:00pm | Defining and selecting what you are going to fix |
| 10:00pm | Terrace Bar open for informal discussion |
Saturday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30am | Breakfast (for residents only) |
| 9:00am to 10:30am | Understanding your business environment |
| 10:30am | Coffee |
| 11:00am to 12:30pm | Creating a business structure |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:00pm to 4:00pm | Free time |
| 4:00pm | Tea |
| 4:30pm to 6:00pm | Money and resources |
| 6:30pm | Dinner |
| 8:00pm to 9:30pm | Setting up operations |
| 9:30pm | Terrace Bar open for informal discussion |
Sunday
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 7:30am | Breakfast (for residents only) |
| 9:00am to 10:30am | Developing a first product or service |
| 10:30am | Coffee |
| 11:00am to 12:30pm | Marketing and communications |
| 12:45pm | Lunch |
The course ends after lunch.
Madingley Hall: an immersive experience
Teaching and included meals take place at Madingley Hall, just 4 miles from the centre of Cambridge. A beautiful 16th-century Tudor hall, set in 8 acres of landscaped gardens designed by Capability Brown, it's a wonderful place to soak up the atmosphere, or spend free time reading and relaxing.
Stay at Madingley Hall
For the full experience, book to stay at Madingley Hall. Rooms are comfortable, with views over the woods, gardens and courtyard. Each en-suite room has Wi-Fi, TV, phone, and tea- and coffee-making facilities. Breakfast is included in the accommodation rate.
A lift gives access to two bedrooms adapted for wheelchair users. All ground floor areas can be reached once inside the building. A lift also gives access to first floor teaching rooms for those unable to use stairs. Let us know any additional requirements when booking.
Check-in is from 4.30pm and check-out is by 11.00am. Please remember to check out before your Sunday morning class starts, luggage storage facilities are available at Reception.
For more information on accommodation fees and booking options see ‘Fees and financial support’ below.
Stay nearby
If you choose to stay nearby, no problem. You’ll still be able to enjoy the grounds during the day and enjoy the award-winning cuisine in our elegant dining hall.
Meals
As a student, you'll enjoy award-winning cuisine in our elegant dining hall. Lunch and dinner are included in the course price. Lunches and Friday evening dinner are served buffet-style, while on Saturday evening, you’ll enjoy a served dinner.
Dietary requirements
If you have any specific dietary requirements or allergies, please let us know when booking.
Getting to Madingley Hall
Madingley Hall is in the village of Madingley (CB23 8AQ), 4 miles west of Cambridge. It's 60 minutes from London, with excellent links to London airports. And It's easily accessible from the M11, A14 and A428.
If you're arriving in Cambridge by train you can take a taxi to Madingley Hall. Please contact Reception (by Saturday evening) to book a taxi for your return journey.
Parking
Free on-site car parking is available and we have a small number of spaces close to the Hall entrance for Blue Badge holders.
Fees
| Weekend course | Fee |
|---|---|
| Including tuition, lunches, evening meals, tea and coffee | £475 |
| Accommodation, including bed and breakfast | Fee for Friday and Saturday night |
|---|---|
| Single room (£85 per night) | £170 |
| Double or twin room: shared with another course attendee (£65 per night, per person) | £130 |
| Double or twin room: for single occupancy (£110 per night) | £220 |
Financial support
We offer a range of concessions for our weekend courses including:
- Benefits concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to recipients of a UK state benefit.
- School concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to staff who hold a contract of employment in any school or further education institution.
- Cambridge Alumni (CAMCard) concession: 10% reduction of weekend tuition fee for Cambridge University alumni, applicable to learners with confirmed alumni status of the University of Cambridge and who are CAMCard holders.
- University of Cambridge staff concession: 25% reduction of weekend tuition fee, applicable to employees who hold a contract of employment with the University or one of its Colleges.
To apply for a concession, place your booking and supply the required proof when prompted.
A concession cannot be used in conjunction with any other concessions or bursaries, apart from the PACE Open Access Bursary or the Early Bird Concession.
Please see our concessions page for further details.
Booking a weekend course
We recommend that you book early and well before the booking deadline to avoid disappointment.
To book a weekend course and accommodation click the 'Book now' button in the course details section on this page. You'll go through to our secure bookings portal where you can create an account with us, select your booking options and make payment.
Please let us know about any dietary or support requirements when booking.
Waitlist
If the course is full, the ‘Book now’ button will be replaced with ‘Add to waitlist’. Please add yourself to the waiting list and we'll send you an email if a place becomes available.
Paying for your weekend course
You can pay for your course by credit/debit card using our secure online booking system, unless otherwise arranged.
Payment options
You can pay:
- in full at the time of booking
- in 2 instalments (the first is 15% of the full fee, and the 85% balance is due 14 working days before the course starts, which will be taken automatically if your payment card is stored in our system)
All bookings made after the booking deadline must be paid in full.
Booking deadlines
Bookings close 14 working days before the start of the course.
Late bookings
If places are available, we can accept late bookings, after the booking deadline but before the course start date.
We cannot always accommodate complex dietary/allergen or other additional support requirements for any bookings received or any requirements added after the booking deadline. Please consider this if you're asking to book after the deadline and have special requirements.
Visa requirements
It's important to be aware that entering the UK as a visitor for study purposes comes with certain expectations and restrictions.
To make sure you understand the requirements, we advise you to read the in-depth information on the University’s International Students website.
If you already have immigration permission in the UK, please inform us so we are able to confirm whether this allows you to study on the Weekend Courses.
Booking terms and conditions
Before booking your course, please make sure you've read and understood our booking terms and conditions.
We are committed to helping you make the most of your learning experience. We offer a range of support to help meet individual needs. When booking, please let us know if you have any support requirements, including accessibility or mobility needs (such as building access or adapted accommodation) or teaching and learning support. The PACE Student Support Team will contact you to discuss your needs and advise on the support options available.
