A programme that is free for young Bermudians who want to learn how to start and run their own business will include in-person workshops next month.

In the past 20 years, BizCamp has helped more than 1,000 young people to develop and present business plans, and earning certificates for participating.

The Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative, in conjunction with the Economic Development Department, will offer of its BizCamp from July 12 to 23, in a combination of online video lectures and in-person workshops at Berkeley Institute.

It will feature the award-winning NFTE Curriculum modified for the BizCamp format, along with interactive activities leading to each participant presenting a business plan of their own company at the end of the session.

Participants will log in through the Bermuda Entrepreneurship Schools platform to learn about opportunity recognition, cost of goods, pricing, industry analysis, target customers, marketing, and many other aspects of running a company.

Joe Mahoney, executive director of the YEI, said: “The goal is to inspire young people to become business-savvy and understand economic self-sufficiency through self-employment. Participants are provided with a business plan template. After learning the concepts, they complete the plan with information for their own business”.

All participants completing a BizPlan will be awarded certificates, and some may be eligible to enter in the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation’s Youth Rocket Pitch Competition during TechWeek in November, where they have a chance to win prizes and venture funding up to $2,500 to further their entrepreneurial journey.

Local entrepreneurs will come to the workshops to present real-world practices. One of them, Jamillah Lodge of the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation, said: “This is an awesome opportunity to see what the future of Bermudian entrepreneurship looks like.”

BizCamp sign-up begins today and will close on July 7. Electronic applications are available at www.yei.bm. Or send an e-mail to: BizCamp@yei.bm