Small Business Month

C M Y K S M A L L B U S I N E S S M O N T H - S U P P L E M E N T T O T H E F R E E P R E S S - S A T U R D A Y , O C T O B E R 1 , 2 0 2 2 6 Program helping plant SEED for budding entrepreneurs BY WENDY KING It's no surprise statistics show women are significantly less likely to be self-employed or be majority owners of small-to-medium enterprises. The situation is even more pronounced among Indigenous and newcomer women. S EED Winnipeg Inc. (Supporting Employment and Economic Development), a non-profit agency, is helping to mitigate this imbalance with two Women Exploring Business programs. Each stream, one for Indigenous women and another for newcomer women, aims to give individuals the tools needed to start a small business. "Society is not oriented toward thinking of women as business owners, so young women are not on paths in school that lead them to developing those skills," says Lisa Forbes, manager of business and enterprise support training (BEST) at SEED. "I've seen a local high school textbook on small business where they present examples like Coca Cola and McDonalds and talk about Bill Gates and Steve Jobs." One of the things that makes the two SEED business programs unique is the fact the agency develops its own course materials. "Our materials include examples of local entrepreneurs, local businesses that are grassroots-based. You can see yourself in that," Forbes says. SEED's programs are structured to reduce barriers by providing childminders or subsidizing childcare costs, bus tickets, healthy snacks, and training times that begin after school drop-off or in the evenings. Women must come into the program with a business idea as a "vehicle of exploration." Core training includes: personal money management, small business development, writing a feasibility study, and one-to-one business consulting before and after a business launch. Guest speakers are often either Indigenous or newcomers. While each group of women share common experiences amongst themselves, Forbes, who is a member of Peguis First Nation, says some are shared by both immigrants and people from First Nations, Métis or Inuit communities coming into the city. "Systems are different in the city, it's a different place. You don't know any of the resources. You don't know who could support you when you're taking your training program. Who's going to help you find a job when you get here? You don't know where to look for a place to live," she says. Both groups face similar problems of getting established, she says, as life in the city is functionally – and culturally – different. Priscila Calderon, who is originally from Ecuador, participated in SEED's newcomer business program in 2018. She entered the program with the business idea of a photo rental booth (which she has since sold). Today, she runs Umina Flooring Solutions and is a director-at-large with Manitoba Women in Construction. A year ago, she was hired as a business consultant with SEED. "I had just arrived to Canada and this program helped me in three important ways. First, understanding how the market and business works here in Canada," Calderon says. "Second, it gave me a perspective on how to start a business and the entrepreneurial path in Canada – how to get information about regulations and understanding Canadian culture and networking. And the third and most important, a good understanding of how taxes work here so you can make your estimates and see if you can make it work to open your business." An important part of the two SEED program is the fact they are attentive to the needs of those not yet fluent in English. "SEED helped a lot because my English at that moment was not as good as it is now," Calderon says. She says the program ensures all participants understand the material with simple vocabulary, and repetition and demonstration of concepts in different ways. The Canadian Women's Foundation says 97 per cent of women in SEED's and similar programs go on to apply the employment and communications skills they gain or go on to further education or training. More than 20 businesses have started through SEED, from smaller cottage-based or weekend market sellers to an esthetics salon and other self-employment. Forbes says SEED can accommodate 22 women per session. The next one is the Indigenous cohort in spring of 2023, she adds. For more details on the programs and entry requirements, visit seedwinnipeg.ca Photo by Darcy Finley Priscila Calderon (left) and Lisa Forbes of SEED Winnipeg both say more needs to be done to help aspiring female entrepreneurs. On a low income and want to start a business? Or, looking for financial support to have your credentials recognized? Check out our BEST and Recognition Counts programs bestinfo@seedwinnipeg.ca SEED Winnipeg Inc. 80 Salter Street Winnipeg, MB R2W 4J6 Phone: 204-927-9944 www.seedwinnipeg.ca

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