Ten young people enrolled in BEDC’s pilot Summer Student Entrepreneur Programme (SSEP) were celebrated for successfully completing the eight-week education and training scheme, spearheaded by Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC).

A ceremony was held for the budding entrepreneurs at XL Catlin, located at 1 Bermudiana Road, Hamilton, with family members, sponsors and representatives from a variety of Government Ministries in attendance. Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, Jamahl Simmons, JP MP, along with BEDC Executive Director Erica Smith presented participants with certificates of achievement.

In addition, the students competed against each other on business sales with the top three business earners who brought in the most revenue during the summer months being awarded prize money for their hard work and determination. First place winner Kayuntae Ming, 19, was awarded $1,500 for continuing to grow and develop her all-natural hair and skin care body line, His & Hers Hair and Beauty. Seventeen-year-old Jaden Taylor, who offered snacks to beachgoers at Horseshoe Bay, was awarded $1,000 and the second-place prize; while 14-year-old Andreaz Glasgow’s business ‘Guess What?’, which offered fun taste testing experiences for the Island’s thrill seekers, took home third place and a $500 prize.

Naeem Alom, the SSEP Programme Coordinator, said: “It’s been an honour watching all ten of these students grow over the past eight weeks. I’m extremely proud of them. Some of the students have decided to take their businesses to the next level, including one who is already selling their products at a local store. Others have managed to attain corporate clients, build impressive client lists and take active steps to become their own bosses by investing in their growth and continued learning.”

“On the other hand, some of the SSEP participants decided entrepreneurism wasn’t the right fit for them in the long term,” Mr. Alom said. “Still they’ve said they are grateful for the opportunity to learn about small business management, gain confidence and to get a better understanding of skills like customer service and marketing, which will help them in whatever their future endeavours will be.”

SSEP was launched on Monday, July 9,, 2018, after receiving full support and grant sponsorship from the Ministry of Economic Development and Tourism. The programme aimed to develop local young people into the Island’s next wave of entrepreneurs by providing them a safe environment and support to test out if their business idea was a viable career option.

The scheme provided training, resources and mentoring to high school or college age students, between the ages of 14 and 20. Students were selected through a competitive process and asked to submit a basic business plan based on their proposed product or service, a cash flow forecast and a brief SWOT analysis. To be eligible, participants also had to be Bermudian and have a GPA of 2.0 or higher.

Erica Smith, BEDC’s Executive Director, congratulated the young people who participated in the pilot SSEP initiative at last night’s award presentation. She said: “BEDC has enjoyed getting to know each and every one of you over the course of the Summer Student Entrepreneur Programme. Many of you have utilized our office space or been hard at work selling products and services at Harbour Nights on Wednesday evenings or in the intense summer heat in Dockyard and at the Olde Towne in St. George’s. You have all impressed us with your innovation and determination and we wish you the best of luck next month as you continue your journey back at school, pursuing your businesses, or within full time employment.”

Through SSEP, each of the ten students were eligible to receive a working capital advance from the BEDC to help towards start-up costs and the launch of their business idea. The first week of the scheme was devoted to workshops and educational training to teach them the fundamental principles of entrepreneurship including customer service, marketing and basic financing. In subsequent weeks, the students were out executing their business ideas in locations such as Dockyard, Hamilton and St. George’s, and were required to attend a weekly progress meeting at the BEDC to report on their growth.

The success of the programme was made possible thanks to support from various Government departments including the Department of Health, which provided students with six week temporary health certificates and licenses at no cost; the Department of Parks, which helped several students set up their enterprises at Horseshoe Bay Beach and the Bermuda Chamber of Commerce, who provided all ten students with a space at Harbour Nights. Additional support was provided by the West End Development Company (WEDCO), which granted five students permission to sell their products and services in Dockyard, the Corporation of Hamilton, which granted two students space in Hamilton, and the Corporation of St. George’s, which granted one student space in the Town, all gratis.

Other students recognized at the award ceremony included: Paige Martin, Kalir Stevens, Asah Robinson, Tyler Trott, Christian Chin-Gurret, Asia Atienza and Yndia Raynor.

For more details on the programme, visit Facebook: Bermuda Economic Development Corporation; email info@bedc.bm or call 292-5570.

• Press release from Bermuda Economic Development Corporation