Tsuts’weye Womens Entrepreneur Network
Business Recovery and Expansion Program

Tsuts’weye a program managed by Community Futures Shuswap, is pleased to announce that they have received funding from Western Economic Development to launch a business retention and expansion program to assist mature businesses that are led by women.  The Business Recovery and Expansion Program is specifically for established businesses, two years or greater, led by a woman or for women who play a key role in a family owned business.

It is preferred the businesses will have revenue of $250k to $10 million and need assistance to position their business for growth and a healthy future with a planned exit strategy.

The two Entrepreneurs in Residence working within the Shuswap Business Hub have assisted over 70 local businesses in the past eight months. Ranging from business concepts to exit strategies. It has become apparent that many mature companies would welcome a longer term, customized and supportive approach. These businesses need to change direction due to market conditions, change in business leadership and to react to new business opportunities.

The Shuswap Hub offers a solid, rapid response program for women business owners who may have smaller enterprises and start-up situations is in place. We also assist male entrepreneurs in conjunction with community economic development partners. This program includes personalized business strategy development through our Entrepreneur in Residence and a team of specialized consultants. All at no cost to the client.

BRE Program Details

The Business Recovery and Expansion Program will offer 6 months of group and private coaching that is preceded by an in-depth, on line assessment of each participant’s business. The assessment tool when complete indicates the issues, strengths and opportunity for growth and improvement in a report format that provides the basis for the business strategy changes.

The Business Recovery and Expansion Program has four key areas designed to support 10 clients simultaneously. There will be two groups of ten businesses, ideally in non-competing fields of similar size, in terms of number of employees and revenues.

• Assessment of the client situation is done through an on-line tool that when completed lays the basis for the business pivoting required.
• Group coaching: in addition to the five structured presentations there will be group discussions to foster sharing of issues and solutions; Presentations topics:
  • Rebulding your business
  • Reinvent your business in a crisis
  • Turning your service into a product
  • Financial management and planning for growth
  • Human Resources: building the team you need
• Individual Coaching: each company leader will receive individual support to assist with the issues identified in the Assessment process.  The Coach and local consultants, experts on specifics like HR, Marketing, Financial management, new market development, LEAN processes, Food Service Operations, Tourism marketing, Succession Planning and more will work with the client throughout the 3 months.
• On-going support: during the initial 3 months of group and individual work the clients receive a cycle of nurturing, learning emails.  For 3 months following, this group will meet and be facilitated in a Peer Mentor environment.

When & Where

The group presentations will be held at the Salmon Arm Innovation Centre in person.   Group presentations begin Monday, September 14th, 1pm to 4pm and continue every Monday until October 19th. (skipping Thanksgiving October 12th) Group Coaching commences Monday Nov 2nd, 9 to 11 and runs for 3 months.
The second group starts November 2nd through to November 30th. 1 to 4pm and the Group Coaching starts Dec 7th for 3 months.

Application and Questions?

Download and fill out the BRE application form indicating which group you would prefer. Please note, this form is a fillable PDF and may or may not work on your smart phone or tablet. If you have questions, contact Tsuts’weye Entrepreneur in Residence, Caroline Grover at 250-300-4757 during business hours.

Summary

The regular cost of this type of program would be $6,000 per participant. The cost for 20 select Shuswap firms is zero. This six months of one on one support for 20 high value companies will mean retaining jobs, providing tools to expand business and investment in the community. Thanks to the financial support of Western Economic Development and the generous support of James Grieve, Senior Advisor with ValueDriver, Tsuts’weye Women’s Entrepreneur Network is able to offer this outstanding opportunity for established women led business.