As Small Business Month is celebrated in October throughout the province, businesswomen in Northern B.C. are urged to take advantage of opportunities for economic growth while attending the E-Series North program.

The E-Series North, Empowering Entrepreneurship in Northern B.C is being held on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2014, at the Ramada Hotel in Prince George. The forum is in partnership with the Province of British Columbia, LNG-Buy BC program and CN Rail. It features entrepreneurs and business leaders such as CEO, Luvo Inc. and former CEO, lululemon athletica, Christine Day as well as co-founder, Blo Blow Dry Bar, Judy Brooks plus CEO, Northern Development Trust, Janine North among other participants.

The full day session covers topics such as marketing, sales, understanding financial statements, capital raising among other subjects. Women make up almost 38% of self-employed people in B.C. The forum provides an opportunity for women interested in entrepreneurship to gain valuable information to make their business a success. For business owners, it’s a chance to learn something new allowing for further growth.

While attending the forum, business leaders will also be urged to take advantage of future liquefied natural gas opportunities by pre-registering for the LNG-Buy BC online tool at: www.LNGBuyBC.ca
The LNG-Buy BC program and it online registry tool is designed to help raise awareness and promote B.C. companies, and to connect B.C. companies to LNG opportunities.

In addition to the E-Series North forum, other LNG-Buy BC supplier-contractor boot camps have also been held throughout the province. On Oct. 8, 2014, one was featured at the Vancouver Board of Trade Energy Forum 2014. It highlighted how businesses can navigate the procurement process to secure LNG contracts.

Quotes:

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour -

“Prince George and the north are home to an amazing group of women who are entrepreneurs and business owners. E-Series North will provide the opportunity for networking, dialogue and sharing best practices with some of our provinces most successful female business leaders. As our economy continues to grow, we want to ensure that women have the tools and information they need to expand and further develop their businesses.”

Mike Morris, MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie -

“This program is a way for our government to help business women in our region take advantage of and benefit from entrepreneurial opportunities offered through LNG, one of our government’s key economic sectors.”

Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business -

“Women entrepreneurs and professionals play a key part in the strength of our province’s overall economy and are inspirations to their peers. Women in business bring diverse perspectives, new ideas and experience to the workforce.”

Lisa Niemetscheck, general manager, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) -

“FWE is thrilled to bring its reputed E-Series program to women in Northern B.C. This thriving economic region offers unprecedented opportunities to entrepreneurs and we are excited to support the development of women-owned businesses.”

Quick Facts:

• October is Small Business Month. 98% of businesses in B.C. are small businesses.
• Small business is a cross sector priority of the three-year Jobs Plan Progress Update.
• Women account for almost 38% of self-employed people in B.C., compared to the national average of 36.3%.
• Between 2008 and 2013, the number of women who were self-employed rose 6.6%.
• LNG export operations in B.C. could create more than 100,000 jobs and new revenues for government to support a debt-free future.
• If five LNG facilities move forward, the cumulative gross domestic product benefit to British Columbia could total $1 trillion.
• Premier’s Women’s Economic Council has been developed to expand on business opportunities in key sectors.

Learn More:

E-Series North: http://www.fwe.ca/programs/e-series-north/

LNG Buy BC Program: http://LNGBuyBC.ca/

Premier’s Women’s Economic Council: http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2014/02/premiers-womens-economic-council-established-to-tap-into-new-opportunities.html

BC Jobs Plan: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799