Background

It's useful to set the scene for the business plan by describing what your project/business is now, perhaps, or who you are, what your experience is and why you want to do what you are proposing. Don't go into too much detail here on future plans, however, as the executive summary and main plan will cover them in full.

As an example, you might say:

'Ours is a voluntary project that has been running a successful pre-school in Southampton for the past 15 years. Although our current services are well used and valued, we have recognised the need to develop additional Early education places that offer wraparound services to working families within our local community based upon research undertaken and demand from parents.

Our organisation has a constitution and operates on a not-for-profit basis. As we develop these new services. our management committee will take on more liabilities. We are considering, therefore, limiting this liability by 'incorporating', that is, becoming a company limited by guarantee, through registration with Companies House and adoption of the charity's Model Memorandum and Articles of Association.

The existing voluntary management committee and staff are committed to developing this new project on the East side of the City, and aim to have the new services up and running by April 2006.

Our existing pre-school offers early education for 10 sessions a week.  We will retain this service, but also want to extend our services by providing a second group offering 5 early education and extended childcare sessions each week, for a further 26 children. Based upon our experience and knowledge, we believe this service will be of the highest quality and valued by our local communities.'