Entrepreneurs receive training

Over twenty business owners and operators from the Southern Grenadines will be receiving some much needed training this week when they attend a one week workshop.{{more}}

The workshop, which begins today, comes as part of the rural business development training under the Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED)/Organisation of American States (OAS) “Reducing Rural Poverty through Entrepreneurial Development” (RRPED) Project, which began last year.

The purpose of the CPED workshop is to assist communities to generate wealth by equipping residents with the necessary knowledge and skills to start and operate successful enterprises in their communities.

Business Consultant Dougal James will facilitate the training at the Ashton Learning Resource Centre from 5:00 p.m. He will be covering topics such as The Entrepreneur, Selecting a Business Idea, Financial Management, Selling and Customer Service, Human Resource Management Skills, and Government and Your Business.

According to CED’S Public Relations Officer, Keisha Phillips, the CPED training is timely.

“The OAS-CED partnership seeks to stimulate economic activities and develop human resources in rural communities by helping entrepreneurs to start and manage their own businesses and establish business support centres in several communities throughout St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Miss Phillips says.

“The people of Union Island rely on tourism to generate income, hence most of the businesses are seasonal, and we are hoping that we can help them develop ideas that will see them being able to conduct year-round businesses that will create better livelihoods for them.”

Last year nine entrepreneurs who participated in similar training held under the RRPED Project received grants amounting to over EC$75,000. In addition, the Project saw the establishment of rural Business Development Services Centres in Chateaubelair, Barrouallie, and Mesopotamia. This year CED will be opening centres in Georgetown and Union Island.