students « Build A New Life in Prince Edward County

Was Summer Company a Success?

Contributed by Lisa Price, Manager, Small Business Centre

One of the concerns voiced to us when we are talking to local businesses owners, economic development and organizations is the concern for youth retention.

As always, the success would be the creation of viable businesses by youth in our local communities. “Did we accomplish this?” Yes, some of our youth will carry on running their businesses while continuing their education, some will operate seasonally and others have opted to take what they have learned to use later when they are ready to operate a business full time. We learned that Summer Company is a great program to try entrepreneurship and to kick start a business. However much more is required. Pre and post summer experience in terms of coaching, mentoring, education, and support is needed to create viable businesses and retain our youth.

There is a very small window of time to work with these young businesses as it seems that they just get started and it is time to end the program. In the small window of time that is given we see amazing things happen to the youth involved and their businesses.

” Imagine what might happen if they were offered additional help and support pre and post summer experience!”

For more information on the Summer Company program and learn about other Youth programs visit Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.

You can also reach us at email: info@smallbusinessctr.com, ph: (613) 476-7901 x213. We are here to help.
Small Business Centre
The Edward Building
Suite 103
280 Main Street, Picton,ON K0K 2T0
Ph: (613) 476-7901 x213

Tags: coaching, Creative Rural Economy, Creative Workers, education, mentoring, retention, students, Summer Company, support
Comments (0) | Posted over two years ago by admin

Summer Company 2010 Wrap Up

Contributed by Elsie Whitelock, Small Business Centre

Summer Company is an exciting opportunity for enterprising students, 15 to 29 years old, to start and run their own summer businesses during their summer break and is run each year in Ontario.

Summer Company entrepreneurs receive hands-on business coaching and mentoring from local community business leaders and may qualify for an award of up to $3000.00 to start and run their businesses.
As our Summer Company 2010 program wraps up, we are thinking about next year and how to do things more effectively, both for us and for the applicants. There were several lessons learned from the 2010 program and although none of these are actually new, they are still very much alive:

• Communication – directing the message in the right way to the right audience
• Follow up – if you say you are going to do something, then do it
• Learning from others – the value of being open to different ways of doing things
• Time Management – wearing too many hats and knowing when to get help
• Financial Management – always a hard one but fast and accurate record keeping is key
• Marketing – what are the best tools, what works and what doesn’t

We are interested in hearing from you with suggestions and/or tips on any of the above topics or others that you think may be helpful.

You can also reach us at email: info@smallbusinessctr.com, ph: (613) 476-7901 x213 or drop in Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am-11am. We are here to help.
Small Business Centre
The Edward Building
Suite 103
280 Main Street, Picton,ON K0K 2T0
Ph: (613) 476-7901 x213

Tags: Creative Rural Economy, Prince Edward County, students, Summer Company
Comments (2) | Posted over two years ago by Elsie Whitelock

Opening Up in Prince Edward County

Contributed by Elsie Whitelock, Small Business Centre

Were you there? Did you meet these Summer Company students?
Several innovative student entrepreneurs and other local small businesses attended the Open House held on July 14 in The Edward Building in Picton, Ontario. There was plenty of buzz as the students spoke about their goals and achievements to date. The press attended, completed interviews and posted two from Prince Edward County, Amber Hennessy and Nick Pothier. Check out what they had to say at Student entrepreneurs put ideas into motion at countylive.ca.

These student entrepreneurs attended and would appreciate your help with getting more business:
Pothier’s Games- Nick Pothier (Picton) 613 393 3882
Silver Meadows Horse Training- Amber Hennessy (Bloomfield) 613 503 3318
Driveway Doctor- Jessy Mathers (Belleville) 613 969 2299
First Mate Nautical Detailing– Sandy Macpherson (Picton) 613 476-1467
Templar Studios Web Design- Cody Collicott (Brighton) 613 885 7649

In case you don’t know about us, we are the Small Business Centre with an office right here in Picton and we help entrepreneurs and small to medium sized businesses with starting and growing their businesses.
You can reach us at email: info@smallbusinessctr.com, ph: (613) 476-7901 x213 or drop in Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am-11am. We are here to help.

Small Business Centre
The Edward Building
Suite 103
280 Main Street, Picton,ON K0K 2T0
Ph: (613) 476-7901 x213

Tags: Creative Rural Economy, Creative Workers, Picton, Prince Edward County, students, Summer Company
Comments (0) | Posted over two years ago by Elsie Whitelock