Republic Bank supports programme for female business owners to develop profitable enterprises

Republic Bank is empowering a new wave of successful female entrepreneurs with its Entrepreneurs Business Builder Programme (EBB), which helps them to create thriving businesses capable of attracting both major investments and employment opportunities. 

The programme, created in partnership with BPD Associates Ltd, has received a stamp of approval from its first cohort of regional participants and graduates, including the four small business owners from Barbados.

Shanna Newton-Williams of TyDy Clean Services Inc, Cara Cumberbatch of Auna’s Body Care, Shurland Griffin of Egregius B2B Solutions & Advisory Services Inc., and Shanelle Dodson of Highlighted Beauty by Shan, praised the programme which is designed to help regional female entrepreneurs attain the skills required to develop tech-enabled, sustainable, profitable enterprises. 

The bank provided a partial scholarship of 80 per cent of the cost for each participant. The first phase was open to 100 female business owners and lasted three months. Cumberbatch, Griffin and Newton-Williams were then among the top 20 performers who went on to participate in phase two which lasted for nine months and featured one-on-one mentorship. Participants were offered the opportunity to access credit facilities and dedicated account managers to assist with banking needs. 

Dodson was “thrilled” to be chosen for the programme.

“It allowed me to move from having a fixed mindset where I believed or perceived that I didn’t have the full ability to get certain things done, to having a growth mindset which has allowed me to continue to develop and strive for improvements through greater effort. Some of the benefits were the Live Sessions via Zoom which allowed participants to gain information on important topics such as finance and marketing. Additionally, you did not feel alone in your entrepreneurial journey and development. Throughout the programme, each topic assisted you in completing your ‘strategy map’,” Dodson said.

Thanks to the programme, Newton-Williams said, “I was able to formalise my recruitment process, basically keeping on track with budgeting and reporting, keeping my financial information up to date.”

Cumberbatch said her mentor gave her a “fresh perspective” and the programme’s community of diverse female entrepreneurs helped to prove to her that she could be successful with her business at any stage of her life. Meanwhile, Griffin urged more women to apply for the programme. She stressed that by the end of the course, “you’re going to have your strategic plan that will have your SWOT analysis, your finances, your goals… everything!”

The programme covered a number of critical subjects including: Personal Development; Business Development; New Tools and Technologies and Networking Investment Readiness.

Republic Bank’s Manager, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Mischa Knight, said, “I am especially proud of the four Barbadian women who participated and wish them success as they continue to develop their brands locally and then, hopefully, regionally.  I encourage other local female entrepreneurs to sign up. The EBB programme was designed to create real opportunities for growth and development for female-owned businesses.

“It combines best practices with real-world insights from successful Caribbean business owners. It equips female entrepreneurs with the skills and strategic tools that will help them secure the right investors and realise exponential growth for their enterprises. It is absolutely possible for Caribbean women to build and sustain successful businesses and with this programme, Republic Bank is helping more women to achieve success.”

The EBB programme is open to women with micro, small or medium-sized businesses in Anguilla, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Sint Maarten, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Applicants must have been in business for a minimum of two years, and want to grow and scale their operations. (PR) ]]>