AWE programme launched

LAST night marked the official launch of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) programme in Barbados.

For this programme, which is in its second year, 26 women, who were selected from 300 applicants, will have the opportunity to grow their businesses over the next 23 weeks. These participants consist of entrepreneurs who are at the ideation stage or have been in business for two years or less.

Cardell Fergusson, General Manager of the Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT), stated this programme, which was funded by the US State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the US Embassy, partnered with the Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) as well as the BYBT to implement this project.

She explained that it is a programme that seeks to close the gender gap in entrepreneurship and increase women’s participation in the global economy. It is also part of the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) initiative, which outlines three areas of focus: 1. Increasing women’s participation and professional advancement in the workforce; 2. Supporting women entrepreneurs’ access to capital, markets, and training; and 3. Promoting an enabling environment, increasing women’s economic participation by reducing barriers and enhancing protections in policies, laws, regulations, and practices.

“The programme is scheduled to run for 23 weeks and our first class starts next week Tuesday. We will be having classes every Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m.,” she said.

“It includes information about marketing, information about how to improve and do a business plan. It uses an online platform to help them [the participants] create a business plan step by step and it also gives them the opportunity to interact with alumni within the US Embassy programme as well as other guest speakers who will come in to speak to them about areas of business development.”

Sheena Thorne, Business Development Officer at BIDC, proudly stated that the programme would be “very well-rounded and supportive” as they have created a competent team who will bring a wealth of information from different backgrounds to

the participants.