CAMPBELL RIVER – Local professional development is about to be even more affordable and convenient for Campbell River business owners and would-be entrepreneurs.
Building on the success of the Modern Entrepreneur Series, the City’s economic development department is collaborating with the College to offer a suite of beginner business courses this fall – all at no charge.
“Entrepreneurs are changing the world, and supporting them is key to economic development,” says Rose Klukas, the City of Campbell River’s economic development officer. “We’ve had great response to our Modern Entrepreneur Series, and with demand high for these types of workshops, the City’s partnership with North Island College will help business owners and would-be entrepreneurs further develop their entrepreneurial skills.”
The Modern Entrepreneur Series was launched in 2017 to encourage local business by providing entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs with affordable opportunities for professional development and networking. The series was one of the initiatives that won Campbell River a provincial Open for Business Award earlier this year. The City won in the large communities category.
Reflecting on the motivation for creating the Modern Entrepreneur Series, Klukas adds, “Fostering a supportive ecosystem of established businesses, start-ups, and entrepreneurs encourages innovation and builds a platform for future business expansion and talent attraction in Campbell River. The Modern Entrepreneur Series was initiated to encourage collaboration and learning among local entrepreneurs to further develop our ecosystem.”
To date, the Modern Entrepreneur Series has drawn high caliber talent to facilitate workshops on topics such as accelerating your business, crafting your pitch, dealing with negative feedback, attracting and retaining talent, and crowdfunding for entrepreneurs. Partnering with North Island College is a natural fit for this program.
“We are delighted to partner with economic development at the City of Campbell River to promote and assist in entrepreneurial development in our community. Small businesses are the backbone of our community and the creativity and energy of entrepreneurs are key to making Campbell River a vibrant and exciting place to live,” says Bob Haugen, manager of contract and training services at North Island College.
A number of fall workshops will help locals enhance their business skills. Among these, the Entrepreneurship Boot Camp is a multi-day course spanning four Saturdays from Oct. 13 to Nov. 3. This course is offered at no-charge, and to ensure participants get the most out of it, seating is limited to just 20 people. Registration is available here on a first-come, first-served basis. A free information session will be held Sept. 12 from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Enterprise Centre Boardroom (900 Alder Street).
Other courses will include Social Media & Graphic Design 101 and Presentation & Public Speaking Skills.
For a full list of upcoming workshops, visit the event page at https://www.facebook.com/pg/CampbellRiverEconomicDevelopment/events/?ref=page_internal.
