Hamilton, Bermuda 13 AUGUST 2021 – The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) is launching its accelerator programme – the Enterprise Bermuda Accelerator – a six-to-seven-month intensive programme to provide support to small and medium sized business owners to help them scale their businesses. Utilizing the award-winning StreetWise ‘MBA’™ curriculum and a facilitated peer-learning method, entrepreneurs will receive hands-on training, networking and industry support to help them scale their businesses.
Small and medium businesses are a necessary part of the economic landscape in Bermuda and are key to ensuring that the Country rebuilds a strong economy. However, these companies have suffered as a result of Covid-19 and as a result growth has slowed.
The Enterprise Bermuda Accelerator will support business owners who have been in business for over three years, have at least one full-time employee besides the owner and earn a gross annual revenue between $100 thousand and $5 million. During the seven-month period participants will receive tools to help advance their business acumen, financial management, marketing and sales strategies, human resource tactics, business strategy development and strategies to access capital and develop contracts.
“The Enterprise Bermuda Accelerator programme is great for business owners who are interested in taking their businesses to the next level” states Jamillah Lodge, BEDC’s Director of Communications and Development. She continues, “Supporting businesses that are ready to scale is going to be key in helping to boost economic recovery in Bermuda. We know that we are investing into the local business infrastructure by providing this much needed support to the local business community so they can meet their full business potential.”
The BEDC has partnered with the private sector to provide successful applicants with access to top industry experts to help deliver the curriculum and establish broader networking opportunities.
“For the past three years, we have been proud to partner with The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) to bring the networks, knowledge, and know-how of our programming to the business community,” said Interise CEO Darrell Byers. “But this year is different. Like the rest of the world, small businesses have disproportionately suffered throughout the pandemic. So now more than ever, it is imperative to support small businesses in their recovery. Small business recovery directly affects local job and wealth creation and therefore, affects the overall economic recovery.”
The Enterprise Bermuda Accelerator starts on Monday, November 8th, 2021, and will run bi-weekly on Monday for 13 sessions over seven months. This innovative award-winning programme is designed specifically for established small and medium business owners, as well as non-profit managers. It is a great way to focus your goals, maximize your time, and make a big leap forward.
Interested business owners can apply online by clicking https://programs.interise.org/bedc/#lp-pom-box-134. On, Thursday, September 16th, interested entrepreneurs will be invited to an information session to learn more about the program, meet the facilitator, Program Manager and network with previous graduates and business owners that have successfully completed the StreetWise ‘MBA’™.
“This course is perfect for business owners who have already reached moderate growth, who are thinking of how they can take their operations to the next level,” explained Tee Ogunyemi, Streetwise Facilitator. “This is the ideal course for them, not only because of the calibre of the course materials, but due to the peer-to-peer learning model, which allows them to liaise with other CEOs in local business.”
Interested participants have until Thursday, September 30th to apply for the upcoming programme. There are limited spaces available, so please register your interest early. For more information or to apply, visit our website – www.bedc.bm or e-mail (info@bedc.bm).
About BEDC
Bermuda Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) is Bermuda’s premier source of free confidential business advice for entrepreneurs. The mission is to serve Bermuda’s local business community with the highest degree of professionalism by providing, authoritative business advice; counsel and loan guarantee support. Bermuda Business Starts Here! For more information visit www.bedc.bm.
About Interise
Since 2004, Interise has taken an innovative approach to economic development in low- and moderate-income communities by helping existing small business owners plan, achieve and manage long-term growth of their business. More than 6,000 business owners have completed the StreetWise ‘MBA’™ curriculum with extraordinary results. On average, Interise graduates create jobs at 5X the rate of the private sector as a whole.
More information can be found at www.interise.org, on Twitter @Streetwise_MBA, on Facebook www.facebook.com/Interise, or on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/interise .
