An Alberta accounting firm is hoping its expertise will pay dividends for Aboriginal entrepreneurs.
After a successful 2006 pilot program, Calgary-based Meyers Norris Penny (MNP) is expanding its Aboriginal self-employment training program, a course designed to assist Aboriginals, First Nations or Metis with the launch of a new business venture.
Offered free of charge, a second round of classes is getting under way this month in Edmonton, Calgary and at the Siksika Nation, located about one hour east of Calgary.
The program comes at time when Aboriginal people are starting new businesses at a rate that outpaces that of other entrepreneurs. During the past 25 years, the number of self-employed Aboriginals has jumped from 7,000 to more than 30,000, a figure that is four times the national average, according to MNP.
"Our goal is to offset the hurdles faced by new entrepreneurs and provide Aboriginals with the tools to help their businesses succeed," says Clayton Norris, MNP's director of Aboriginal services in Alberta. "Getting solid training to help their businesses get off the ground can be a major challenge, and that's where this program will be an enormous asset."
MNP partnered with Alberta Economic Development last year - the department has since been merged into the new ministry of Employment, Immigration and Industry created by Premier Ed Stelmach in December 2006 and no longer goes under its old name - believing that its 20-year background of working with Aboriginals, First Nations and Metis on accounting and business advisory services could assist in creating a program uniquely tailored to their needs.
"We'd rather put in our time to donate some of our experience back to the community," says Norris. "We looked at if we could put that into a workshop and said: 'What is the best method of doing this work on or off reserves?' " The result was the pilot project held in Calgary early last year.
While followups with the original 10 participants are not yet fully completed - that will take place early this year - initial results were good enough that the province decided to help MNP take the program to the next level.
Designed to assist Aboriginals, First Nations or Metis with the launch of a new business venture and provide them with the tools to help them succeed, the nine-week program includes management training, business plan assistance, networking support and five hours of individual business coaching with MNP's experienced consultants.
The only other qualification is that participants must have just started their own business or are working full-time and looking to start their own operation.
Training workshops cover 15 topics spanning five core areas of business: Business and strategic planning; marketing and market research; financial management; operations and risk management; and human resource management.
After the first session, MNP can tailor the program to address issues relevant to the participants. For example, if certain members of the course are interested in opening a business in a specific sector, MNP is likely able to draw upon its experience to find related data, says Norris.
Training Aboriginals to help their businesses get off the ground is important, agrees Clay Buchanan, director of Aboriginal Economic Development for the new Ministry of Employment, Immigration and Industry.
"I think any sort of training combined with some after-care support - they really train in the key areas any business needs to improve upon for success - that model is pretty sound. From last year's experience we thought it was worthwhile to pursue," says Buchanan, adding participants in the pilot program expressed a high degree of satisfaction.
Robert Breaker, whose Siksika Nation-based Breaker Consulting company works with First Nations and government organizations, said the pilot course was extremely worthwhile.
"I formed my own company about 15 years ago. I did some consulting work and then eventually came back to doing it again," says Breaker. "A lot of the information was a refresher for me - there was also some new information I could use in the work I was doing.
"Overall, I gave it (the program) a five out of five. I think it lays down some fundamental basis for people just getting into or considering their own business."
Breaker also says the way the program is set up in the evenings - over a reasonably short period of time - made it feasible for him to take part. He wouldn't have had the time for a full-fledged series of courses given at a typical educational institution.
Quintina Bearchief Adolpho, another participant in the original program, also recommends the course.
She and her husband Robert Adolpho are setting up a company, Bison Stone Designs, which will specialize in concrete countertops. Initially, they'll be based in Okotoks, but they plan to move manufacturing to the Siksika Nation.
"All the different classes that were offered were very informative," says Quintina Adolpho.
The course has saved them money by preventing them from making mistakes they likely would have made, she adds. "I would recommend it to anyone starting a business. A lot of the time you think you know what you're doing but when you hear the information, you find that you don't really know it."
Norris says he admires the determination of the individuals in the pilot program. Despite working during the day and inclement winter weather, the participants made the extra effort to take part.
"What surprised me last year was that the weather was terrible and all of our participants found their way in (to the classes). The dedication from the first round of participants was overwhelming," he says.
While it's too early to say if there will be additional courses after the current three are completed, MNP has already received requests to offer the program in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and the Yukon.
The company says it's considering the possibilities of continuing and/or extending the program to other locations.
Web Watch: www.mnp.ca (Laura Severs can be reached at laura@businessedge.ca)
