Entrepreneur Centre sets business owners up for success

By Christine Foshaug Times Contributor

Starting a business can be a daunting task and growing a business can be even more challenging. Strathmore’s Entrepreneur Centre, located at the Bow Valley College campus downtown, has a wealth of resources for local business owners, no matter where they are in their business journey.
Open since the summer of 2018, the Entrepreneur Centre offers a variety of training programs for people who are just in the idea phase, people who are ready to launch a new business enterprise and people who want to take their businesses to the next level. To this end, the centre provides entrepreneur education through events, workshops and courses as part of a full cycle entrepreneur training program.
“We are planning to become the entrepreneur hub for this region, the place where anyone in business feels welcome to participate in an open and supportive community,” said project officer Jennifer Neufeld. “We value respect, inclusion, creativity, teamwork and resilience.”
Different levels of membership are available to suit any budget and range from $149 per month to $699 per month. Collaborate memberships, for online/virtual members who don’t need space but want to be part of the community support system, include discounts on entrepreneur workshops and space rentals.
Space-based membership provides entrepreneurs with a professional part-time or full-time space where they can work and meet with clients. The membership level they choose – Cowork, Drive, Propel or Elevate – gives them access to high speed internet, basic copy/print/scan services, free coffee/tea/water, and use of boardrooms and technology on a certain number of days per month, in either a shared space or a private office.
Membership, however, is not required to participate in training events or workshops.
“Our programs and services are geared toward small to medium regional entrepreneurs in any stage of business who want to plug into an inclusive and supportive community where they can access the resources they need, when they need them,” explained Neufeld. “Our space memberships are ideal for those who work from home, work remotely or need occasional professional space for meeting clients.”
Many of the workshops are free to attend, like a double feature on niching and side hustles that was held in May, or a session on social entrepreneurship that was held in June.
Other training sessions have a registration fee, such as the customer service programs for both employers and employees, and the Entrepreneur Roadmap Program.
“Our Roadmap Bootcamp program has had positive feedback and our participants are also helping us identify ways we can support them,” added Neufeld.
One of the Entrepreneur Centre’s recent successes is a new Canadian who has started a business over the past year. He already has several clients and is on his way to being able to replace his income from the multiple jobs he’s been working in order to support his family back home. “We’re thrilled to assist him in getting things set up and off the ground,” Neufeld said.
Anyone interested is welcome to call 587-393-3139 or email sec@bowvalleycollege.ca to set up a tour of the Entrepreneur Centre at 320 2nd St. Information is also available at bowvalleycollege.ca/strathmore.