Creating innovative thinkers in business launched

Pinelands Creative Workshop continued their Multi-Dimensional Approach to Resilience and Adaptability (M.A.R.A) Project with the launch of Creating Innovative Thinkers in Business which was held in conjunction with The Small Business Association of Barbados.

The Maria Holder Memorial Trust funded program which trained approximately 35 young persons, focused on creativity, adaptability, innovation, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit and was conducted by the former Chief Executive Officer of Pinelands Creative Workshop, Rodney Grant.

At the opening ceremony which was held last Monday at the Centre of Hybrid Studies, Spirit Bond, Wharf Road, St Michael Chief Executive Officer of Pinelands Creative Workshop Sophia Greaves-Broome explained to the participants some of whom are business owners to understand the various threats that could affect their business and be able to pivot and adapt to meet the changing demand.

“Over the next four days, we intend to take those joining us, through a re-thinking experience. We have entrepreneurs representing various areas such as; clothing, aesthetics, renewable energy, cosmetology, jewellery, cosmetics, body care products, fish farming, swimwear, fabric design and more. Understanding the current economic frailty as well as the varied social challenges and threats on the horizon, we need every business to be a success and to contribute to economic growth. For that to happen requires a change in how businesses function by having alternative thinking. Therefore, the examination of new models, systems and approaches has to be prioritized especially when we plan to engage and challenge young minds. We can no longer just say, the youth is the hope of tomorrow, but we have to include and engage those who have the expertise, willingness and passion- those bright minds that are under-utilized and slipping right through our fingers into innovation planning and development teams, to help us fix those issues to secure a livable future,” she said.

Her sentiments were echoed by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Business, Sandra Husbands, who said that Government is seeking to ensure that there are relevant measures in place to assist persons in doing business.

“One of the bugbears for small business people are the number of hoops they have to jump through just to get anything done, they do not have the time, they do not have the resources and so many small business persons have been discouraged from continuing the journey in entrepreneurship because the landscape has become too complicated. We want to curb this, thus we have pursued a course of digitization to take the ordinary things that you have to do when you have to interact with government agencies, to try to take the time, difficulty, complexity and confusion out of it to create a simple easy process for you to engage,” she told participants at the opening ceremony.

Also sharing similar sentiments was the Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Association of Barbados Dr. Lynette Holder who told the participants that they have a critical role to play in the economic development of Barbados.

“It is because we must appreciate that our communities and our country by extension need us to be innovative, need us to take those skills, ideas and talents and turn them into income generating profits not only for communities. This whole project and the objective of it is to be able to help us all who have those dreams and aspirations to be able to turn them into successful business projects that we can realize our dreams,” she said.

Eighteen-year-old Danae Greaves who is the owner of Teen Joy and coordinator of New Minds New Business encouraged the students to take full advantage of the training opportunity that was being provided as it would open their minds to innovative ways of developing their businesses.

(Write Right PR Services)