Role Play meeting

Entrepreneurs

Decide on an idea (product or service) for a new business that you would like to start up. Draw up an outline business proposal, inventing any information you wish, and decide how you will present it to your bank. Your bank's small business advisers have agreed to meet you and provide some preliminary feedback on your ideas, an opinion ― in principle ― on the feasibility of raising finance to get your business off the ground, and some advice on how to proceed. Try to present your case persuasively and expect to face some probing questions. You should be prepared to provide some basic information on the following: your planned product/service (description, name, key features, sales/profit potential), the market you are targeting (nature, size, competition), your marketing approach, financing, business structure/ location, your expertise etc., but do not worry too much about specific detail at this stage.

Small business advisers

You have an appointment ― an informal exploratory meeting ― with two bank customers to discuss an idea they have for a new business. Your role is to provide some preliminary feedback, an opinion — in principle ― on the feasibility of raising finance, and some advice on how to proceed. Ask pertinent questions about their planned product/service (description, name, key features, sales/profit potential), the market they are targeting (nature, size, competition), their marketing approach, their business structure/location etc. Try to probe their determination/capacity to succeed, but don't worry too much about specific detail at this stage. If you think the idea has merit and they have the experience/ability to make a go of it, suggest they draw up a more detailed proposal, providing more information on e.g. projected start-up costs and overheads, turnover and profit forecasts, loan requirements/anticipated repayment terms/period and anything else you feel you might need to provide the bank with adequate security for any money you might advance.