Small businesses to benefit from courses

All individuals and entrepreneurs in Barbados and other Caribbean countries will, in another week, have a new avenue through which they could get critical support in the battle against COVID-19.

The Guardian Group and Ross Advertising Rethink in collaboration with the University for Peace Established by the General Assembly of the United Nations are introducing a three-week programme – Pandemic of Performance – aimed at helping individuals and business owners turn their adversity into personal and professional advancement.

Lead Innovator of Intangience Branding Ernie Ross said it was about time that small businesses and entrepreneurs be given exposure to various tools and techniques used by large corporations that make them successful.

“I think it is high time we level the playing field and make the techniques and devices that have been used, available to small businesses and emerging brands, especially now,” he said.

“We will find a lot of the big corporations and brands are not actually surviving at this time, they are thriving. It is the smaller organisations and individuals who have suffered most and Guardian Group, I honour their commitment to making this possible,” said Ross.

The free online initiative, which will run from April 21 to May 12, will see individuals signing up for, and taking part in a number of courses.

Ross said case studies will be done and individuals who want one-on-one coaching for some of the areas covered will have that access.

He promised that the free development initiative will be conducted by highly qualified individuals. “We have carefully spared no expense in bringing some of the world’s best experts,” he said.

Announcing the initiative on Thursday during an online media briefing, Ayesha Boucaud-Claxton, Head of Group Branding and Communication at Guardian Group, said the Pandemic of Performance will look at three broad areas – mental health and inspiration; innovation and creativity; and entrepreneurship, branding and positivity.

Stating that those were the areas of “urgent need” among many Caribbean nationals at this time, Coucaud-Claxton said the research has found that people really want some level of hope.

“People really want support and don’t know where to turn at times. We felt as a proponent of leadership and innovation, there was no better time than now to do this,” she said.

“The three areas were carefully selected . . . we wanted to address key areas that we saw globally and more importantly, regionally,” she added.

Meanwhile, Julia Delafield, Director for the Centre for Executive Education at the University for Peace, said she was excited that the institution could assist “this important initiative”.

“We believe that the Pandemic of Performance will have a real impact on the Caribbean region in these very difficult times,” said Delafield.
(marlonmadden@barbadostoday.bb)