BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THIRTY-SEVEN participants interested in widening their knowledge of entrepreneurship are the first to be part of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank’s (ECCB) Savings and Investments Course, Part II- Entrepreneurship Module.
The entrepreneurship pilot course began last Thursday (May 6) and is through partnership with the University of the West Indies Open Campus (SKN) and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC). The course provides a relaxed learning environment for established and upcoming entrepreneurs to be guided in identifying a business idea and developing it into a thriving and viable business.
Among the 37 registrants, 10 persons are small business owners, seven are employed and operate a home business outside of working hours, 16 are employed and 4 unemployed. One thing they all have in common is the drive to learn more and advance their business operations.
Participants began their first class with a group discussion and presentation on business startup.
Throughout the 15-week course, to be held every Thursday at the CFBC from 5:30 p.m., students will be actively engaged in discussions and lessons that give an ideal balance of theoretical and practical business approaches. According to the ECCB’s Deputy Director of Corporate Communications Sybil Welsh, the collaborative effort of private sector businesses to educate entrepreneurs falls under the central bank’s mission of economic development.
“The course objectives were to inspire more persons to consider entrepreneurship as a possible goal and promote best business practices among small business owners. The initiative formed part of the ECCU’s Public Education Programme coordinated by the ECCB and emanated from the ECCB’s Agenda to promote economic development in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.
“The course had been specially designed to take into consideration the principles of business management in general and their practical application in the OECS,” Welsh told SKNVibes.
Walking away from this course, participants are expected to be inspired toward succeed in their respective business endeavours.
Coordinator of the Adult Education Programme at the CFBC Joan Phillip challenged the participants to use the course as a platform to broaden the perception of what can be accomplished by Caribbean people in the areas of business and wealth creation.
She also highlighted some of the complementary courses available at the college for consideration as the participants continue to develop their skills and expertise.
The fifteen module course covers four broad areas: Business, Marketing, Finance and Management and has begun on a promising note to assist entrepreneurs to fully develop their businesses.
