Home Saskatchewan Alberta Technology

Student Login to the Self Employment Program

  Phase 1 |   Phase 2  |  Responsibilities of the Learner  |  Instructional Support   
Participant Support Services  |  Technology Component

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Phase 1: Business Plan Development:

During this phase you will be taken through the 12 main instructional units of the Program. These modules include work on the business idea and work on yourself as a business owner.  There are also tasks to be completed at the end of each module which can take up to 3-4 weeks to complete (e.g. market survey collection).  These tasks result in components of your business plan being completed or information being collected to make decisions needed in your business plan.  As you develop sections of the plan, you will be asked to submit them to the facilitators for their feedback so that you can make changes as you progress rather than waiting until the end of phase one. 

You will also engage in a private weekly meeting with the facilitators where the focus will be on your idea, developing strategies, highlighting areas that need attention and developing a checklist of tasks to complete for the next meeting. 

At the end of this phase, you will present your plan to a panel of business advisors.   The panel will provide a written assessment with one of 3 outcomes:  recommendation for entry into phase 2, recommendation into phase 2 with conditions if there are specific concerns about the business model, or recommendation to pursue other career/training options should the business model not be considered to be viable at the time.

Time allotted to complete this phase:  10 weeks

(top of page)

Phase 2: Business Start-Up:

During this phase, you will implement your business plan activities according to the schedule you developed in Phase 1.  This will include activities such as locating financing; developing brochures, a website, news releases, business cards & other promotional material; purchasing equipment; purchasing insurance; developing your space; hiring employees if required; setting up and completing your books and joining relevant associations.

Weekly meetings will continue where progress will be noted, changes made where necessary, discussions held regarding challenges, and brainstorming done to generate continued new possibilities.  Checklists will continue to be developed, recorded and used as tools to help you attain your goal of start-up.

Three to four additional workshops will be held during this phase relevant to getting your venture off the ground.

At the end of this phase, you will present a status report to the same panel of advisors on your activities to start your business, highlighting challenges and accomplishments and setting out goals for the next 12 weeks.  They will in turn provide a written recommendation regarding entry into phase 3 of the Program based upon your progress.  These are again one of 3 recommendations:  recommendation for entry into phase 3, recommendation into phase 3 with conditions if there are specific concerns about the business model, or recommendation to pursue other career/training options should the business model not be considered to be viable at the time.

Time allotted to complete this phase: 16 weeks.

(top of page)

 Responsibilities of the Learner:

If you were selected for this Program you will already have been assessed as being suitable to run the type of business you have identified.  The idea behind this Program is to provide you with the knowledge, tools and access to resources necessary to actually start and/or operate your enterprise.

Being an entrepreneur is nothing to be taken lightly, it is a lot of work and requires a deep commitment from all participants.  In order for the end result to be a functional business that will live up to YOUR expectations and provide you with a full time income, it is expected that you will: 

There may also be additional expectations specific to the Program stream you are in.  These will be explained upon entry into the Program.

(top of page)

 Instructional Support:

There are 3 main facilitators, however, a wide variety of resource people including business advisors, entrepreneurs, financers, and government agency representatives will provide information and respond to your questions directly.  The facilitators are educators and entrepreneurs skilled in both business operation and training.  Academic credentials and practical experience combine to provide you with comprehensive support.  As you can see from their profiles, the resource people are specialists in their individual areas.  During the Program you will have access to individual time with each resource person.  You may also enter into working relationships with them upon completion of the Program.

Support is provided during all phases of the Program through email, face to face meetings, or by phone if necessary.

(top of page)

Participant Support Services:

One of the most beneficial support systems in the program is the participants themselves.  As individuals who have come from a variety of backgrounds, there are people with different areas of strength and experience that can assist others in their start up efforts.  Often participants form alliances and referral networks during the course of the Program.

During the Program, you will be provided with access to all required software and communication technology.  These include such software as MS Office and Simply Accounting.  As a result of being in this Program, you are also able to acquire most software at educational prices.

We also have contacts with organizations that provide financing to start up ventures.  We encourage you to contact them as you are preparing your plan so that you can be sure you have addressed the issues that they have identified as being critical for their individual purposes.

(top of page)

Technology Component:

This Program utilizes an Application Service Provider (ASP).  It's built on Citrix® Metaframe software which you can also access from home, office, or any other computer connected to the internet by downloading a free ICA client. When activated, you are provided access to a complete business software suite including MS Office 2003 Professional, FrontPage, Visio, Publisher and Simply Accounting. This system has been designed to operate as a typical office computer network, and in fact is the system used regularly by a high percentage of Fortune 500 offices.  

By default, in utilizing this approach, you will be exposed to different ways in which your own information management system might be configured upon completion of the Program.

Like every office, central to this course is communication. Every effort has been made to replicate a functioning business with computers, networks, shared files, and inter-office communication. Its delivery mimics the very process it is trying to instil.  

Certain milestones must be accomplished and as these milestones are met, you will be generating files from our supplied templates. Like an office with shared files, facilitators have access to your files to gauge your progress and help when necessary.

(top of page)

 Information on this page was updated 07/10/2008 and is subject to change without notice

Ph: (877) 664-0500  Fax: (306) 664-0505
email: elainem@globalinfobrokers.ca