EDUCATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP | International Women’s Day 2025

Programmes that educate and empower us to become small business owners are not many in this nation. One notable course commenced when The MIC Institute of Technology (MIC-IT) signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the National Entrepreneurship Development Company Limited (NEDCO), This Programme is a 12-month programme that equips young entrepreneurs with effective tools to compete in the market through access to entrepreneurial development training including Small Business Financing; Entrepreneurial Training; Mentorship; Product Development; Research Analytics and Prototyping Services. As a partnering institution, to support the implementation of the BA Programme, MIC-IT selects protégés/participants from its Training programmes, mentor and assist them in developing and improving their business or business idea.

Joanne Timothy, became the Coordinator, of Entrepreneurship inclusive of the BizStart Unit in 2023. Here is how she tells it:

Q1.          How did you get involved in this programme?

I entered MIC-IT as an Administrative Assistant to the Office of the General Manager, Training Division. However, my background studies are in the field of Entrepreneurship, in which I hold a MBA in Entrepreneurial Management from the Australian Institute of Business.

To meet the commitment of the partnership, I was assigned by the then General Manager, Training – Dr Brian James to develop and implement the MIC-IT BizStart Programme. Subsequently, approval was granted for the establishment of an Entrepreneurship Unit, not only to execute the BizStart programme but to promote Entrepreneurship throughout the all MIC-IT full time programmes.

Q2.          Tell us about the programme

The MIC-IT BizStart Programme was officially launched on April 4, 2022. The BizStart Programme typically provides aspiring entrepreneurs from the MIC-IT student body with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to successfully start and manage their own business.

The BizStart Programme is a FREE programme exclusive to the MIC-IT Trainees with a keen interest in business. The programme is designed to inspire MIC-IT trainees to take the skills and knowledge acquired from their Technical Vocational Training to develop their own enterprise and become their own boss. However, the entrepreneurial skills training has also benefited participants with other business interest external to MIC-IT’s Technical Vocational Training offerings. The programme has attracted over 100 trainees across all training Centres both Trinidad and Tobago. Cohort 1 concluded July 2023, two trainees further advanced into the NEDCO Business Accelerator Programme in which one successfully completed and graduated April 30, 2024. Cohort 2 and cohort 3 are currently in progress and is expected to conclude April 2024.

The programme is conducted simultaneous to the trainees’ full time programme. It is comprised of two phases; phase 1 consist of a six-month online entrepreneurial skills training which cover’s 10 major modules.  Phase 2 is conducted over a three-month period where our young entrepreneurs will be engaged in mentorship and commercialization of their business. Throughout the programme participants are exposed to webinars from financial institutions, networking activities where they can socialize with like-minded peers, mentors and successful entrepreneurs. At the end of the programme, participants will be equipped with a sound business plan for their business and a certificate of achievement.

Following completion of the MIC-IT BizStart Programme participants are nominated to the NEDCO BAP which provides advance entrepreneurial training such as business advisory, financing, commercialisation and networking.

Q3.          Who qualifies for the programme?

MIC-IT enrolled trainees with a keen interest in business qualifies to participate in the MIC-IT Bizstart Programme.

Q4.          How many students are in the programme? How many are female students?

There are sixty-one (61) participants enrolled in both cohort 2 & 3, of which twenty-three (23) participants are females

Q5.          Has this programme changed lives? Yes it has. A number of BizStart trainees have expressed great improvement after participating in the programme. We have had students go on to create and operate their own small businesses in the areas of, construction and maintenance, fashion, cosmetology, graphic design, electrical and mechanical engineering among others. Students who already

Cohort 1 successfully produced twelve enthusiastic, confident and motivated young entrepreneurs. This entire cohort graduated from the Programme full of eagerness to pursue their business dreams. Two of the graduates excelled and were selected by NEDCO’s to completed the Business Accelerator Programme.

AN ENTREPRENEUR’S TESTIMONY

My name is Makesha Toppin-Joseph and I am a daughter, sister, mother and wife.  I love making people smile and feel good about themselves and pride myself on leading by example.  Outside of that I am an entrepreneur, mentor, and community activist (for lack of a better word). I am a hardworking individual that isn’t afraid of facing challenges and very passionate about anything I put my mind to. I’m known within my community for the children’s events that I have hosted and mentoring young adults, especially young women.  I don’t believe in misleading people and I try to be fair in everything I do.  I believe in sharing knowledge as knowledge is power.

I am a small business owner which focuses on Catering, decorating and events coordination both small and medium.  My entrepreneurial skills also extend to cleaning and assisting the elderly.  This one woman show has been an ongoing process for over 10 years.  Starting a business proved to be quite the challenge but I wouldn’t have it any other way.  Since starting I have gained a considerable amount of knowledge and I’m still learning because I don’t have it all figured out, so it’s an ongoing learning process for me.

I have always loved the food industry and remember wanting to do some courses to elevate my cooking skills.  MUST at the time was offering the food preparation course and providing a stipend which came in handy.  Learning and being paid to do so…sign me up. Barataria Community Centre is where I began my MUST training in 2016 before the cohort was moved to Laventille.  My instructor Ms. Hogan at the time, encouraged us to take each opportunity to learn something new.  After all, the programme is for skill development and gaining first-hand experience which is required in the world of work now.

I have been blessed to have maintained contact with Ms. Hogan whom is now the coordinator for the programme in Laventille, where I am able to assist with orientation, graduation, trainee cooking competitions and sponsor tokens for special awardees.  This is my way of giving back, as well as showing the trainees how I would have benefitted, and they can too. The opportunities are there for those that want to become an entrepreneur or otherwise but you have to love/want it and be able to work hard at it.