The National Initiative for Service Excellence (NISE) Inc. Entrepreneurship Challenge has been heralded a success by participants who recently completed the second component of the initiative. The prorgamme’s success was further strengthened with one of the businesses created for this module invited to be a part of this year’s Barbados Manufacture’s Exhibition (BMEX).

Held in partnership with the Youth Entrepreneurship Scheme (YES) and Future Centre Trust, the recently concluded Recycling Business Labs Workshop was a hands-on training session which saw the budding entrepreneurs create and manage a business enterprise within the eleven day period under the guidance of Selma Green and Andy White. Participants also had the opportunity to showcase their business to members of the public during the official ‘Sales Day‘ on Saturday 24th May 2014.

NISE CEO, Kim Tudor expressed her satisfaction with the NISE Entrepreneurship Challenge, noting that the initiative was one which NISE was delighted to introduce. “As part of the 2014 NISE 100 Improvements in 100 Days programme we decided to add a number of challenges in addition to our flagship Organisational Challenge. Entrepreneurship is an important component to many economies around the world and Barbados is no exception. With that in mind we felt that adding a challenge which would guide and prepare budding entrepreneurs was a way for us to assist in Barbados’ continued development.”

Speaking at the conclusion of the Business Labs Workshop Closing Ceremony Ms. Tudor noted that the quality and innovativeness of the products produced by the businesses was of an exceptional level. “What these young entrepreneurs have been able to produce is a testament to the training they received as part of our Entrepreneurship Challenge as well as the level of skill and talent we have right here in Barbados.”

Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Patrick Todd was also pleased with the presentations and displays showcased during the evening’s proceedings, expressing delight to see participants looking towards entrepreneurship as a viable option.

B.A.N.G (Barbados Artistic Natural Greeners), Coconut Culture and Palette Creations were the three enterprises which were created as part of the Business Labs, offering a range of products with a focus on recycling including hand-crafted bags, infused coconut water and palette furniture. While these organisations were created as part of the workshop, some of the businesses will be looking to continue after the workshop’s completion.

Faith Greaves, Chief Innovative Officer of Palette Creations explained that being part of the NISE Entrepreneurship Challenge was a wonderful experience and was excited about the prospect of the business getting into BMEX this year.

Bryan Branch, Graphic Designer at Coconut Culture also viewed the NISE Entrepreneurship Challenge as a good initiative, noting that the business labs module provided participants with an opportunity to apply the classroom training in a real-world environment. Shontelle Greenidge, Marketing Officer of B.A.N.G (Barbados Artistic Natural Greeners) was also grateful to NISE for facilitating its Entrepreneurship Challenge. Ms. Greenidge noted that the business labs facilitated by YES provided an opportunity to put into practice what was learnt during the Entrepreneurship Challenge’s training component.

Ms. Tudor noted that NISE Entrepreneurship participants benefited from training sessions facilitated by the Cave Hill School of Business, NISE and YES. She explained that these sessions provided them with the tools which will prepare them for the perseverance, attitude and rigour required to be successful in the world of business, especially in the current economic climate.

Entrepreneurship Challenge participants will now move onto the next stage of the challenge which includes participants registering and operating their own individual business enterprise and a judging process, led by NISE to determine the Entrepreneurship Challenge prize winners. The NISE 100 Improvements prize ceremony will be held in September this year and will see the culmination of the NISE 100 Improvements initiative.