Aboriginal BEST (Business Entrepreneurship Skills Training) Program Introduction
Written by Flavio Caron and Kristin Kozuback, Aboriginal BEST Team for BC's Lower Mainland
Small business and entrepreneurship is a fundamental building block of any modern economy. Western Canada, and especially the immediate Vancouver region’s economy, may be shifting... but it is carefully growing. Aboriginal communities are creating their own economic development plans and many more First Nations getting access to the Internet. There’s an increase in social enterprise starts and the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic games are less than 180 days away - so opportunity looms for small business development, growth, and joint ventures to flourish.
Many of Canada’s political leaders recognize the benefits of acknowledging a history rooted in oppression and assimilation policies against Aboriginal peoples, with the goal to build new relationships based in reconciliation, recognition, and respect. Many corporations are also shifting from ignorance to inclusion, whether motivated by social responsibility or the awareness that a growing number of land claims and treaty settlements provide a more stable foundation for operating and accessing the vast wealth of natural and human resources held within First Nations’ traditional territories.
Internally, the Aboriginal community’s capacity for self-sufficiency is increasing. The environment for supporting economic, social and business development is improving. Rising numbers of Aboriginal youth and adults are continuing their learning journey to become better educated. Employment rates are rising, personal incomes are increasing, best practices and successful joint ventures are getting genuine media attention, and self-governance capacity is increasing. An expanding number of Aboriginal-owned businesses mean Aboriginal communities are themselves becoming more important markets for goods and services, both on and off reserve, for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal clients.
In this article, learn more about:
-
The Growing Need to Nurture the Spirit of Entrepreneurship - read more
-
Concept of the Aboriginal BEST Program - learn more
-
-
-
Please read through this, send it to friends, family and co-workers who might be interested in registering for one of the sessions in your community. Visit www.aboriginalbest.com to find more info, inquire about a workshop series in your community, or find ideas about ways to start your own journey to entrepreneurship. =)
Yet as a community, Aboriginal peoples still have participation rates in small business and entrepreneurship that are far behind every other large and defined ethnic community in Canada. Even with the changes identified above, it will be many decades before we close the gap in small business participation. This gap will remain significant unless community-driven programs are delivered directly within both rural and urban communities.
As Aboriginal leaders and decision makers, we must do all we can to support the spirit of entrepreneurship. This spirit exists in: visioning, learning, researching, planning, implementing, maintaining and growing strong ventures. The self-reliance that comes with owning and operating a successful small business is a characteristic that we must nurture in our community. We must never neglect this potential in people, regardless of a person’s age, background and location.
The 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games offer a once in a lifetime opportunity for Aboriginal small businesses to enter a new market or to expand into stronger players. Though there are varying levels of political, individual and organizational support for the 2010 Games themselves, this international event will provide an unprecedented platform to bring Aboriginal issues and opportunities into an international spotlight. The desire of non-Aboriginal businesses to sub-contract and partner with Aboriginal businesses on projects related to 2010 and beyond is growing rapidly - we must be prepared for this demand. To do otherwise would be a regrettable mistake, a point reinforced immediately on page 2 of the 2001 Conference Board of Canada report called Creating Value Through Corporate–Aboriginal Economic Relationships that aims to:
“Paint a picture of existing and emerging Aboriginal economic strengths that, if ignored, represent a significant opportunity cost and business risk. The time is now for the Canadian private sector to take action to create value and take hold of advantages while also contributing to Aboriginal economic potential.” http://www.turtleisland.org/news/corpab.pdf
Building on Success
Innovative small business preparedness programs have shown repeatedly that technical training delivered with passion, respect, real-world expertise and realism provide benefits that far outweigh their delivery costs. Building on these principles, programs that consider the needs of Adult Aboriginal learners in a culturally respective way, with specific examples from the Aboriginal business sectors, best nurture that spirit of entrepreneurship in Aboriginal communities – whether on reserve or in urban centres.
Unfortunately, in the Greater Vancouver region, emerging and expanding Aboriginal entrepreneurs have very few options to access those small business preparedness programs. This has been the case for the past 20 years, and although there are always rumblings in the community that this gap will be addressed, for many reasons it has not yet happened. The Aboriginal BEST program is a solid example of a program that can immediately provide between 20 to 30 participants the opportunity to develop both business knowledge and the spirit of entrepreneurship.
Concept of the Aboriginal BEST Program
The Aboriginal BEST Program is a series of 12 workshops designed to help identify viable business ideas, determine their feasibility and support their creation and development. Aboriginal BEST has been delivered over 40 times in over 30 communities across B.C. over the past four years; this is the fourth series that our team has coordinated and offered within the immediate Vancouver region. The curriculum has been designed for the Aboriginal small businessperson yet allows for customization for certain industries, sectors and local communities (see next 2 pages for detailed outline).
Up to 30 participants can take part in Aboriginal BEST in the Vancouver region, anticipated to start in mid-October in the Vancouver area. Visit
www.aboriginalbest.com for more info about start dates and locations across BC for fall 2009.
Each participant receives course materials and a light lunch for each day of training. They’ll learn from facilitators, speakers and each other about insights into market research, business plan development, personal preparedness, financial preparedness, 2010 strategies, mentorship and access to financing – all within an Aboriginal context.
A minimum of 12 experts provide additional real-world impact to the program as speakers and facilitators helping participants to learn skills, steps and resources necessary to turn business concepts into reality. Graduates will understand how, why, and when their venture will be ready for market and how to best proceed to build a foundation where success is their future.
At the core of Aboriginal BEST is the access to customized business coaching sessions provided for all graduates. Small business coaching support is provided for 3 months following the program to address particular needs of the participant. Some past coaching successes have been provided in the areas of: personal selling, financial plan completion, marketing strategies, credit establishment, market research, mentorship strategies and internet readiness. The Vancouver area Aboriginal BEST team is experienced coaching in and out of the Aboriginal small business arena.
Aboriginal BEST has been selected for delivery in the Vancouver region for the late fall of 2009, the fourth time this program will be offered directly in this large urban centre. Funding for Aboriginal BEST is provided through the BC Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and a new partner for 2009, the New Relationship Trust. It was recently renewed due to the value provided from the transfer of critical start-up and development information to emerging and established entrepreneurs in rural Aboriginal communities.
This funding, although greatly appreciated, is created for rural program delivery for approximately 20 participants each intake; proponents in every community are encouraged to work with stakeholder groups in their region to address any shortfalls. Developing partnerships provides additional supports and resources for participants, often invested directly back into the community.
Socially responsible businesses and organizations who want direct contact with participants will be invited to come in and speak during one of the sessions and to provide marketing materials for participants. We recognize this is a unique opportunity to build new or strengthen existing relationships with Aboriginal organizations, project funders, regional and local coordinators and the diverse group of speakers working together to deliver this program.
Partners will be promoted in the course materials for the Lower Mainland region with information sheets in the participant binders and featured in RedWAY BC News, the on-line magazine with over 9,200 subscribers as of August 2009. We’ll be approaching potential partners in September 2009, inviting them to be featured in media releases and on-line promotions, if they choose. And in the spirit of celebrating success, partners will be encouraged to engage with program participants as guest speakers, to attend networking sessions, and to be recognized at the graduation awards ceremony celebration dinner.
To enable us to attract more than 20 participants in our urban community, past intakes of Aboriginal BEST have benefitted from in-kind contributions and financial support by the following partners:
Venue rental for 12 weekend sessions $2100 (donated by Vancity in 2007 and 2008)
Graduation awards for 16 graduates $ 400 (donated by NVIT in 2007 and Aboriginal Directions in 2008)
Advertising and Marketing support $ 800 (donated by Spiritlink Communications in 2007 and 2008)
We’ll be looking for partners to help us support those costs again this year, plus these additional costs that we anticipate would help meet the needs of 30-35 participants we anticipate in the October 2009 intake of BEST for the Lower Mainland:
-
Light lunch for 12 sessions for 30 participants (10 more than usual)
-
Transportation subsidy for 30 participants
-
Graduation awards celebration dinner for 30 + guests + partners
-
Door Prizes and awards for BEST of the BEST (BEST attendance, BEST business plan, BEST participation, and more!)
-
Media partnerships to create podcasts, website and DVD for speakers, participants, and all partners $2500
All costs for core marketing activities, basic promotional materials, course materials, instruction, facilitation, coaching follow-up sessions, documentation, reporting and related duties for approximately 20 participants are currently covered in the initial program budget.
Learn more about the provincial Aboriginal BEST program, visit:
For more information about the upcoming Fall 2009 program delivery in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver region, to explore partnership opportunities, or to register or recommend participants, please contact your Aboriginal BEST Vancouver regional coordinator:
Program includes basiccosts for 12 sessions to provide a safe and encouraging environment to explore small business development and entrepreneurship – this includes facilitators, guest speakers, course materials, and some food costs. Participants who complete the course also benefit from personalized coaching follow-up sessions. Basic marketing activities, promotional materials, documentation, reporting and related duties are included in the BEST Program delivery, although additional partnerships are encouraged to supplement program costs or enhance the experience for participants.
Courses can be easily customized for niche markets – like Aboriginal artist, tourism and technology sectors...hopefully we'll have a youth-specific one this Fall, too!
Session 1: Entrepreneurship
- What is an entrepreneur? What are the characteristics of an entrepreneur?
- Advantages and disadvantages of being self-employed.
- Mental preparation. What are the goals for your business?
- Ways to start a business.
- Idea vs. Opportunity. Business ideas. What types of businesses are needed in your area?
- Business planning. What goes into a business plan and how you learn through completing your plan.
- Time management – travel, introductions, prepare portfolio, follow up with clients, putting ideas into action
Session 2: Market Research
- What is market research? Why is market research important?
- How do we do market research? Primary and secondary market research?
- Market research in Aboriginal communities.
- Interpreting your market research and including it in your business plan.
Session 3: Competition and competitive advantage
- What is competition and who is a competitor?
- How to get customers: Competitive advantage. Competitor profiles.
- Intro to marketing. What is marketing? Marketing as an Aboriginal entrepreneur.
Session 4: Marketing
- Three major mistakes most new businesses make when marketing.
- Creating a marketing plan.
- Create a benefit statement for your business.
- Decide how sales will be made, how revenue will come in. Decide how to reach your customers.
- Sales forecasting
- Marketing objectives and marketing budgets.
- Employ a creative variety of marketing methods.
- Marketing tips for the new business.
Session 5: Operations: Laws and Insurance
- Legal structure of your business. Location
- Laws and legalities. Municipal, Provincial, Federal
- Insurance and risk management. Types of insurance.
- Tax and Aboriginal business.
Session 6: Operations: Tax, Suppliers, HR, Production, Processes, Financial and business advisors
- GST and PST.
- Suppliers. Hired help. Staff and contractors.
- Production process and capability.
- Professional advisors – Accountant, Lawyer, Banks, Credit Unions.
- Canada Revenue Agency.
- Legitimate business expenses.
Session 7: Funding: Where will you get the money
- 5 major ways of funding a business.
- What lenders look for: the 5 C`s.
- How to check and improve your credit record.
- Government related lending programs .
Session 8: Personal items
- Personal budgeting. Personal net worth.
- Networking and public speaking. The art of storytelling.
- Negotiating.
Session 9: Costs and Pricing
- Costs of doing business. Fixed and Variable expenses.
- Pricing strategies.
Session 10: Financials – Start up and cash flow
- Sources and uses of financing. Start up expenses.
- Cash flow – Income statement – Balance sheet.
- Break-even analysis.
Session 11: Technology
- E-business – The 21st century trading post.
- Planning an internet strategy. Internet marketing techniques. Social networking opportunities.
- How to choose a web designer.
Session 12: Business plan – Executive summary and presentation
- Business plan executive summary.
- Business plan evaluation team provides feedback.
- General presentation tips. Presentation templates.
Follow-up session 1: Business plan coaching – revising executive summary and presentation skills
- Polish business plans, and practice presenting (optional!), peer coaching
Follow-up session 2: Business plan – Executive summary presentations and party
- Celebrate graduates. Thank partners. Honour guests.
- Choose a “BEST of the BEST” to enter into provincial contest. Party
-
The Aboriginal BEST Program is offered in the following locations:
Visit www.aboriginalbest.com to register now =)
