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Students can be the boss and make money this summer

March 17, 2016   ·   0 Comments

The popular Summer Company program is returning to Dufferin County this year. Summer Company is offered through the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre in partnership with the Province of Ontario. It is designed for students between the ages of 15 and 29 who want to try running their own businesses.

Through Summer Company, participants can get start-up money to kick-off a new summer venture, business-related training, and advice and mentorship from local business leaders.

The local Summer Company Program has helped launch a variety of successful student enterprises.  From lawn and property maintenance, swimming and fitness classes, market gardens and farm services, and IT services, to a wide variety of retail businesses, a large number of students have successfully launched and operated summer businesses with the support of the program. Summer Company entrepreneurs learn the ins and outs of running their own ventures, and in most cases, earn as much or more than they would have earned at a conventional summer job. The program is a win-win for youth who have good business ideas and are ready to put their entrepreneurial skills to work.

Eligible students who want to take advantage of the opportunity to explore self-employment while developing transferable business skills must:

• have a viable business idea;

• be between the ages of 15 and 29;

• be returning to high school or a post-secondary institution in the fall;

• be willing to work on the business full-time (35 hours per week, for at least eight weeks);

• not work at another job for more than 12 hours per week;

• be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant.

Interested students are required to complete an online application as well as a business plan outlining the idea, fill in an online start-up budget and cash flow, and attend an interview with the Orangeville & Area SBEC.

If accepted to the Summer Company program, students receive up to $1,500 to help cover the costs associated with start-up, such as equipment, supplies, insurance, and marketing expenses.  Over the summer, students build their businesses and receive guidance, advice and support from a group of business mentors.  In addition to the profits generated by their businesses, students who have successfully completed all aspects of the program can receive an additional $1500 when they return to school.

Wade Striebel, owner of Insta-Computers, a new business launched last summer, was one of six Summer Company participants in 2015. “The Summer Company program gave me the support and the resources I needed to launch my business and run it efficiently,”

Wade said.  “The experience helped me to hone my business planning and marketing skills and confirmed for me that entrepreneurship is the direction I want to head in the future.”

Wade is one of dozens of young entrepreneurs who have explored the business world and experienced the thrill of being ‘the boss’ while being supported and guided by the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre.  “The Orangeville & Area SBEC has offered the Summer Company program for several years and we’re very proud of the participants and their achievements,” said Ruth Phillips, Manager of Economic Development/SBEC for the Town of Orangeville.  “Self-employment provides an opportunity to develop important workplace skills and many of our students have continued to operate their businesses after leaving the program.”

Interested students from Dufferin County and its surrounding communities who would like to apply for the program can visit www.ontario.ca/summercompany or contact the Orangeville & Area SBEC at 519-941-0440 Ext. 2270 for more information and assistance.

Ellen Sinclair is the Co-ordinator of the Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre. She can be reached at esinclair@orangeville.ca or 519-941-0440 Ext 2270.

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