Young entrepreneurs should plan now for Summer Company Program

Image courtesy of Northumberland County.

By Cecilia Nasmith

Northumberland County

Students aged 15 to 29 with a dream of running their own business can get a great start through the Summer Company Program offered by the Business and Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland.

The invitation is out for these future entrepreneurs to apply to their Summer Company Program, which provides these young people with free professional business coaching, skill-building resources, and opportunities for training, networking and selling – not to mention a grant of up to $3,000 to help launch that business during summer break.

Participants in the program will gain valuable hands-on experience in building a small business from initial concept to successful operation - experience that may prove invaluable on resumes and scholarship applications.

They will bring their skills, interests and creative passions to be transformed (with support and on-going guidance) into money-making ventures. They will also gain life-long entrepreneurial skills that can help them independently manage future goals, projects and business ventures.

Just one example is Mathew, owner of Astraview Aerial Photography, whose passion for drone videography was turned into a business with the help of the Summer Company Program.

“Their guidance gave me the skills to develop a website, create a portfolio and make professional sales,” Mathew said in the announcement.

“Thanks to their support, I've been able to secure clients and grow my business, and I'm excited to continue it.

Since 2001, this program has assisted more than 150 students with some $474,000 n microgrants.

To apply, applicants must work with BECN staff to develop and submit a business plan that includes details on their concept, marketing strategy, operational need, start-up costs and a risk analysis.

The Summer Company Program is a program of the Province of Ontario, and is one of many free business supports BECN offers. In addition to programs, workshops and services for local small-business owners, for example, there is a similar youth-entrepreneurship program for kids aged eight to 14 which will launch applications in the spring.

Students interested in the Summer Company Program are encouraged to contact the BECN as soon as possible to begin work on their business plan (which is due by May 23) in order to complete their application.

For more information, visit Northumberland.ca/SummerCompany.