A new program was launched last week in Estevan to help those who are looking to start a business or grow an existing program.
The Lunch and Learn Program was held Sept. 2 at the Southeast Business Startup business resource centre in the 900 block of Fourth Street. A project of the resource centre and Community Futures Sunrise, the session focused on How to Start a Business.
Nine people attended the session, one short of the 10 they could accommodate due to social distancing restrictions.
“We had such a great cross-section of people,” said Jeff Taylor, the manager of Southeast Business Startup. “We had people of all ages and all stages of their businesses. We had men and women. We had people in their early 20s and some people in their 60s.”
For some in attendance, it was a first step in getting their business going.
Two speakers from Community Futures Sunrise –regional economic development co-ordinator Andria Brady and general manager Verna O’Neill – addressed the crowd on how to start a business.
“It was the initial step in the series on providing people with basic information on starting a business, on where to look to different resources, how to work on licensing permits and how to put together a business plan,” said Taylor.
Future events will be Creating an Online Store (One Entrepreneur's Accidental Start in Online Sales) with Jackie Wall on Sept. 16. She will discuss her experiences with her digital art studio.
Additional lunch and learn gatherings will happen in October.
Taylor expects this will be the format for the next few events, at least until the social distancing rules are more relaxed.
“Everyone seemed to quite like the format that we had, so I think we’ll continue using it for the time being,” said Taylor.
Taylor said they are looking forward to when they can attract more people to the lunch and learn sessions, so that more people can have the opportunity to hear from the speakers.
People have been coming into the Southeast Business Startup, with questions about starting a business, or buying or selling a business.
Now that their first event has been held there, he hopes it will drive even more traffic to the location.
“I think it has a lot of services and a lot of things that it can offer to people who either have a business, or are looking to get involved in starting a business in Estevan and the surrounding areas.”
