SET interns urged to embrace an entrepreneurial attitude

The first set of interns to take part in the Support for Education and Training (SET) Programme have been encouraged by Executive Director of Invest SVG Bernadette Ambrose-Black to embrace an entrepreneurial attitude.

Ambrose-Black addressed {{more}}the SET personnel last Tuesday March 3 at the Peace Memorial Hall during an exit planning seminar which addressed topics including ‘Entrepreneur – From Idea to Enterprise’ and ‘Pursuing Higher Education – Funding for Training, Scholarship Opportunities, Distance Education and University Life’.

The SET program catered to 106 Community College and university graduates. It began on Monday, March 17 2014 and is expected to end on Friday March 6 and saw the graduates doing internships at various government offices and other agencies.

The program was funded by EC$1.5 of Petrocaribe money and designed to give graduates job experience.

Speaking to the SET group, Ambrose-Black said that while the programme may be ending and they may be feeling anxiety and uncertainty, the experience, knowledge and training gained over the past year, “has already for some of you, and will for the rest of you, open doors.”

Invest SVG itself supported the SET program as they catered to two interns, Kaydia Joseph and Shapheika Cain.

Ambrose-Black said that while the internship programme is ending, it can be used as a stepping stone for the participants. She encouraged entrepreneurship.

She said that entrepreneurs play a vital role in the global economy by developing new businesses and creating jobs which in part increases economic activity and drives innovation.

“Entrepreneurship is the process of starting a business or other organization. The entrepreneur develops a business model, acquires the human and other required resources, and is fully responsible for its success or failure”, stressed Ambrose-Black who added that there are different types of entrepreneurs.

“Some began from scratch, others acquired family businesses, some begun working for an organization and then branched off. Even persons with specific professions such as doctors, or lawyers can be entrepreneurs”, she said while encouraging the SET graduates to think about a niche/business idea.

She encouraged the young persons to not be afraid to come up with ideas and take action to convert their idea into a reality. She added that while it may at times seem extremely difficult, “you must own the responsibility regardless of the circumstances. No one will ever understand your idea or the dynamics associated with it like you do. In this regard, you are on your own and the journey will require you to learn about yourself, more than anything else will in your career”.

She added also that today’s fiercely competitive marketplace requires us all to either convert our own ideas, or be a part of converting someone else’s ideas into a reality.

Persons involved in the program are from a wide range of educational backgrounds including computer science, water resources management, linguistics, law, divinity, accounting, information communication technology, life sciences and biology.