Forge Ahead – Online Professional Development Programme
24 June 2026
Wed 23 Sep 2026 4:00 PM – Wed 2 Dec 2026 5:30 PM BST
Forge Ahead is Cockpit’s signature professional development programme for established makers (makers who have been in business for a minimum of 3-5 years), comprised of online workshops catered to all craft practices. This course will help you build the core skills you need to develop your practice, whether you’re learning new skills or revisiting areas for development.
Short weekly sessions and self-directed homework give you the opportunity to:
- develop your strategic vision with relevant goals and milestones
- steer your business with purpose and clarity
- improve your ability to plan and prioritise
- target your audience and market effectively
- interrogate your finances
- use financial reporting as a tool for goal setting
Programme Outline
Eight key topics will be covered over 10 online workshops. Self-directed homework helps you put what you learn in to practice. You’ll also receive one-to-one support in two meetings with the Cockpit business coaches.
You are expected to attend all workshops and one-to-one meetings and complete the assigned homework.
- Week 1: Introductions and visioning
- Week 2: Goal setting
- Week 3: Practical planning
- Weeks 4 & 5: Values
- Week 6: Customer profile
- Week 7: Market research
- Week 8: Understanding finances
- Week 9: Pricing
- Week 10: Putting it all together