The self-employment program will launch on October 15th.
Please check this page regularly for updates, or contact Teresa Pippus.
Self-Employment Project
The Self-Employment Project, supported by the Government of Canada, helps participants make well-thought-out, lasting transitions from unemployment or under-employment to self-employment.
All the SEP staff are experienced business advisors and trainers who have been successful entrepreneurs. They will offer participants assistance with:
- Assessing their suitability to becoming an entrepreneur
- Conducting thorough market research to determine the viability of the business idea
- Assistance writing a business plan
- Income benefits (for up to one year) to assist new entrepreneurs with their personal living expenses while they are establishing their businesses. Income earned by the business can then be reinvested back into the business allowing it to become self-sufficient once the funding ends.
- Business skill training that is respectful, motivating, and relevant, resulting in practical management skill development.
- Access to our mentoring program which provides skilled business mentors from the community
- Access to a Financial Management advisor to ensure their understanding of bookkeeping and financial management
- One on one counseling for business planning, marketing advice, motivation, or at any time it is needed.
To be eligible for the Self-Employment program you must:
- be currently on Employment Insurance (EI) or have had an EI claim in the past three years or a parental claim in the past five years
- be unemployed or underemployed
- reside within the Fraser Valley region
- want to start a "new to you" business
- have a controlling interest in the business
- be legally entitled to work in Canada
- propose a business concept that would be suitable for public funding - the business concept must be legal and not exploiting sex, politics or religion
- have completed the Orientation and the Market Research Workshop and plan to work full-time (minimum of 35 hrs/wk) in your business
