MEMBERS’ MEETING TUESDAY JANUARY 29.

BCCI MEETING WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30

DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR TRAINING COURSES

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 30

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR FREE WEBSITE

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 1

You Are ReadingVol. 01 Issue. 01 January Edition

Strategic Training for Entrepreneurs

Member SpotlightC&G International Inc is a Caribbean manufaCturing ConsultanCy based in barbados, providing professional expertise to manufaCturers throughout the Caribbean region. C&G specialises in improving the operations of manufacturers and assists them to meet international export requirements.

C&G International, Inc has vast manufacturing experience garnered from working around the globe and within the Caribbean and they understand the many challenges that are specific to companies in the

region

New SBA President Meet Dalton Medford, managing director of S.M Printing Services, a business administrator and printer with over 30 years experience in the print industry.

His skills include human resources, financial management and training in leadership. Currently the Deputy Chairman of the St. Michael’s School Board , Mr. Medford has held Board positions on the Barbados Workers’ Union, the Barbados Manufacturers’ Association and was President of the BWU’s Co-Op Credit Union Ltd.

In Focus

Safety Health & Workers (SHaW) Act, 2005

IMPORTANT DATES

» Meet the rest of the Board , PG 2»

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

» Read more, PG. 2

TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT• ALLIANCE FINANCIAL Services

(ACCountinG & tAx FilinG)

• CHOICE CHICKS Inc (Poultry Rearing)

• JUST LOOKING 246(Online Advertsing)

• PRO SPIRIT (Web Development)

QUICKBOOK FOR Small Business -

FEBRUARY 4, 2013

QUICKBOOKS (INTERMEDIATE) -

FEBRUARY 6, 2013

INTRODUCTION TO computers -

FEBRUARY 5, 2013

STRATEGIC PLANNING For Small Businesses -

FEBRUARY 7, 2013

REACH THE SBAHEAD OFFICE

1 Pelican Industrial Park,

Bridgetown, Barbados

Phone: (246) 228-0162

Fax: (246) 228-0613

Email: theoffice@sba.org.bbWebsite: www.sba.org.bb

Micro, small and medium enterprises will gain from

Strategic Planning training when the Small Business Association (SBA) launches its training course in February 2013. The course is being sponsored by the TVET Council in collaboration with the Productivity Council. The SBA has a mandate to provide education and training opportunities to its members in critical and often overlooked areas; areas that can significantly enhance how Small and Medium

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Enterprises (SMEs) respond in rapidly changing competitive business environments. The SBA sees a crucial need to enhance the abilities of small entrepreneurs towards achieving some level of competitive advantage in the exigent economic environment that currently exists not only at the local level but globally as well. At the end of the training, entrepreneurs will have a better understanding of the fundamentals and guidelines necessary for effective strategic planning and will also be able to develop and

present a strategic plan. The Strategic Planning for Small Business course will run in conjunction with other courses being offered, including Introduction to Computers and Computer Awareness, QuickBooks (Basic and Intermediate). The courses run from February 04 to March 15, 2013 and will not only be available to members of the SBA but the general public is also being invited to register for these courses. Registration closes Wednesday January 30, 2013

ACCREDITATIONThe Small Business

Association(SBA) has been approved as the only training centre in the Caribbean for the City & Guilds International qualifications in food safety. This will enable students to study for a level 2 award in food safety or a level 3 award in food safety supervision. This move, which will benefit local and regional food companies is in partnership with C&G International Inc. of Barbados. Director of C&G International Dr. Glyn Williams, commented; ‘City & Guilds qualifications are respected around the world, and there is a growing demand for employees with knowledge and competence in safe food handling. By offering these specific City & Guilds courses in the Caribbean, employers will

have confidence in the training and capability of qualified food handlers. Becoming a City and Guilds training C&G International is recognised as one of the leading Caribbean food safety consultancies and has worked with over 130 companies across the Caribbean including Barbados, Trinidad, Guyana and the Eastern Caribbean. Their range of food safety services include training in food hygiene practices, ServeSafe, undertaking quality audits and the implementation of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and ISO 2200. The first of the City & Guild courses in food safety is scheduled to begin in Barbados on February 13, 2013

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easy – the SHaW Act explained for SMEs”; Mr Harold Oxley, an Occupational Hygiene Specialist with REA Envirohealth International will speak on “Introducing Safety & Health Programmes in the Workplace” and Ms Beverley Rouse, Occupational Safety Specialist with Pinnacle Safety Solutions will offer “A practical view of SHaW”. Lynette Holder, the SBA’s Chief Executive Officer, while lauding the passage of the Act said that SMEs “need to be aware of the potential impact the SHaW Act will have on their day to day operations”. She noted that the Act, which replaces the Factories Act, would now apply to more small businesses than previously covered under the old Act and there would be implications for labeling, purchasing and procurement, risk management and employee safety, all of which could increase the operational costs of some organisations as they worked to comply with the new legislation. Of particular concern would be how companies complied with

The proclamation of the Safety & Health at Work Act (SHaW) with its potential

to impact the business operations of some members of the SME sector as they move to meet compliance, will be the subject of the next SBA members’ meeting on Tuesday January 29, 2013. The Small Business Association (SBA) has engaged a panel of experts on Occupational Health and Safety to address members’ concerns and answer their questions under the theme “What you need to know about SHaW. The panel will include Mr Victor Felix, Labour Administrator of the Labour Department, who will present on “Legislation made

requirements to safeguard the environment, which will result in some employers having to retrofit their places of business. The new legislation gave greater powers to the Safety and Health Officers with powers of prohibition. She stated that some businesses would therefore incur additional costs as they sought to address any concerns raised by these officers pursuant to the Act. She said that the SBA would continue to ensure that all of its members are fully aware of the issues that could affect their businesses and where necessary, the SBA would move with determination to inform, educate and protect its members. The upcoming members’ meeting will take place on Tuesday January 29, 2013 at 6:00 pm at Bagnall’s Point Gallery, Pelican Village. Members of the public are invited to attend.

I am pleased to announce the collaboration between the Central

Bank of Barbados(CBB) and the Small Business Association (SBA) which will see at least fifty (50) small, medium and micro businesses expanding their operations onto the worldwide web by the end of the first quarter. As you are no doubt aware, the SBA is keenly aware of the challenges that affect its membership. That is why we are moving to enhance the strategic and competitive advantages of our members. This project is therefore being implemented to provide new levels of promotion and marketing opportunities. This project, which is being funded by the CBB, will in the first phase provide dynamic content websites featuring an average of five (5) pages

initially, with the option to increase pages as businesses see necessary.

It is our goal to make the SBA website a portal for consumers both in Barbados and internationally, to find well made Barbadian products and world class services. It is my desire therefore to eventually link all the SMEs’ websites through the SBA’s. Some of you may also recall that during

Small Business Week 2012 we paid attention to the use of ICT as a means to enhance what we

do as members. Tech Smart will be that initiative which we will use to harness the collective power of ICT to provide members with greater technological solutions and strategies. One important step in the process will be the availability of e-commerce facilities which would enable businesses to take advantage of sales opportunities locally and globally.These facilities could be quickly set up once the requisite regulatory

SHaW Act and SMEs

50 to get WEBSITES

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LAST WORD FROM THE CEO

infrastructure is in place. No doubt many of you are aware of the regulatory challenges now associated with establishing e-commerce facilities through local banks. I am certain that viable solutions will be found to enable us to go forward with this critical aspect of our website project. We will also be providing training in web content and development as part of the package as well as annual maintenance. At this time the project will be offered to members on a first come first serve basis but we hope to be able to provide the same resources to all of our members by 2015. To be considered for this offer please contact the secretariat today.

Dalton Medford PRESIDENT

Meet The BoardThe Board of Directors of the

Small Business Association (SBA) comprises business persons with a wealth of experience and skills. Individuals are drawn from across the SME sector and all represent successful business enterprises. The Board’s focus will be on galvanising greater commitment to creativity and innovation among small businesses in order to ensure that they are able to survive the global economic crisis and assist the local economy in returning to economic growth

Hugh McClean

Assistant Secretary/Treasurer

Margaret Hoyte Director

Michael Homer Treasurer

Paul Clarke Secretary

Charles Carter Director

Richard Gittens Director

From Stabilization to Growth

Prime Minister the Honourable Freundel

Stuart, QC, MP has accepted the invitation by the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) to address the business community at its upcoming luncheon on the topic “Barbados: From Stabilization to Growth. Join the BCCI’s first business luncheon for the year on Wednesday, 30th January, 2013 for this timely and enlightening session. Lunch will be at 12 noon at Hilton Barbados. The charge is $100.00 for members and $120.00 for non-members

PRIME MINISTER

THE HONOURABLE FREUNDEL STUART, QC, MP