Contents 3 What’s going on at the Branson Centre 4 Meet the team 5 Where are they now?
Welcome to the first edition of B: Inspired eZine! It’s been almost a year since the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship was launched
7 Mentorship 8 Up and comers
been up to.
10 Life at the Branson Centre 12 Partnership Opportunities
-
13 Sociable 14 Finance 15 What’s new at the Branson Centre
we in turn support and guide the new entrepreneurs. We are indebted to those of
-
Branson Centre and its support to other entrepreneurs in the Caribbean.
Maisie Allen, Partnership Manager
What’s
going on
THE BRANSON CENTRE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP – CARIBBEAN
T
he Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship was
-
-
1. Access to knowledge
tunities and growth. used as a force for good.
2. Access to network -
regional and international entrepreneurs
3. Access to market
4. Access to resources and scale a small business
3
Meet the Branson Centre team LISA LAKE | CHIEF ENTREPRENEURSHIP OFFICER Centre’s support for aspiring Caribbean entrepreneurs. -
ke Lisa La
MAISIE ALLEN | PARTNERSHIP MANAGER ing the centre’s mentorship programme and fundraising efforts. She
Maisie Allen
Maisie is also a business coach and mentor and a board member of
ONIEL JONES | ENTREPRENEUR DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
-
Oniel Jones
board of three community-based institutions in St Ann and St Mary.
SHARON JARRETT | CENTRE MANAGER
Sharon
4
McLea
n Jarr ett
Where
are they noW
?
EDWARD-MARSHALL CASE: A MAN WITH A PLAN -
the interaction with members of his cohort and Sir Richard
tions.�
business partnership and became the sole owner of my business
Case and his cohort are on the second leg of their Branson -
5
Where
are they noW?
SIMONE BELL: THE PROMO QUEEN the concept of the programme and found it was in line with the lenges’ is committed to helping businesses both large and small
other young entrepreneurs made me realise that we all share
rience.” a more sustainable model.” -
6
-
Mentorship
INSPIRING TO BE INSPIRED
M
-
-
relationships. -
our business and helping our clients grown their businesses that we
remember where we started and inspiring to continue to build our helps me remember why we all do what we do.”
them accountable.”
7
Up and Comers the necessary steps to get this done.
-
Lacey-Ann Bartley CARVING DREAMS FROM
sign.”
JAMAICAN WOOD
I
T’S NOT OFTEN THAT YOU MEET A WOMAN INVOLVED IN WOODWORK, BUT
LACEY-ANN BARTLEY IS SLOW-
willing to share ideas and tips for your business.”
LY CARVING HER NAME IN THE LOCAL INDUSTRY AS
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BARTLEY’S, WHICH PRODUCES TOP-OF-THE-LINE FURNITURE, CRAFT AND JEWELLERY PIECES.
-
THE
father and uncle are carpenters and her brother
yourself. The Branson Centre helped me to step out she said.
own craft business after completing her degree in Management Studies and Operations at the ment of the family business. Bartley’s is already pieces on sale at both international airports. entrepreneur has been merging the two entities
8
strategies.
on those things that would help to grow our
lead our business and that it doesn’t lead me.”
league of mine mentioned that she was going to
Neil Rhule
THE SERIAL TECH
ENTREPRENEUR
N
EIL
RHULE’S
NEY BEGAN IN
ENTREPRENEURIAL
2002
to submit my application and submit myself to a process that would allow me to grow as an
JOUR-
AS A PARTNER IN
A MULTIMEDIA COMPANY THAT DESIGNED WEBSITES, INTERACTIVE
TELEVISION CONTENT FOR CLIENTS
CDS, DVDS AND SUCH AS ADVERTIS-
ING AGENCIES, TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES AND BANKS. IN
2005, HE
CREATED
FIRESTREAM©, AN
-
EDU-
CATIONAL DIGITAL SOLUTION INCORPORATING TELEVISION BROADCASTING, INTERNET AND MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES.
conscientious facilitators for guiding the cohort clients with internet solutions such as website ered what made each entrepreneur in my co-
helping businesses build their internet footcellent” in getting him on the road to increased success.
9
Life at th e Branson Centre
Partnership opportunities
THE BRANSON CENTRE BUILDING STRONG PARTNERSHIPS You can help by: We want to bring on board successful business leaders who can inspire the preneurs. Below are some of the main areas where we can partner. This is
tion with the Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship and your support.
You can:
issues
If you’re interested and want to know more about any area of partnership, please contact
Maisie Allen, Partnership Manager during recruitment
12
maisie.allen@bransoncentre.org Tel: 1-876-427-3965
Sociable
BENEFITS OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BUSINESS
attention to what you do and don’t do.
incorporating social media into your business practices.
CONNECTION
LOW COST -
ed when companies and their clients could be in -
you a free platform to promote your business
You are also able to communicate directly with
part is that your message doesn’t stop with one
of a traditional ad. You can use your social media platforms to not only plug your products and ser-
sands of people.
MEASURABLILITY Social media platforms allow you to immediately measure your impact on your com-
SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMISATION
and others who interact with your pages. Not only can you gauge reaction through metrics
ical location of your fan base. Other applications show whether your messages are being change for better results. your website.
13
The Branson Centre is working to create
an innovative fund to support early-stage
entrepreneurs. Get in touch to learn more!
Finance David Mullings
FUNDING SOURCES FOR MSMES & STARTUPS
A
the factors affecting entrepreneurship and the growth of businesses. The common re-
in. -
and that it is hard to get a loan to start a business. While the complaints about interest rates are
don’t lend to you unless you do not actually need the -
-
-
It is critical that entrepreneurs understand the differences among these sources of capital so that they are better positioned to approach them when the time is right. differences are and how to pitch them. David Mullings is the Chairman and CEO of Keystone Au-
contract in writing. -
14
Leaders Representative for the USA on the Jamaican Diaspora Advisory Board.
What’s‘ New BRANSON CENTRE ENTREPRENEURS AT LONDON
2012
pepper sauces. WELCOME TO THE
3RD COHORT OF ENTREPRENEURS -
15
Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship P.O. Box 43 Fairview Shopping Centre Montego Bay, Jamaica 1-876-632-5134 enquiries.caribbean@bransoncentre.org www.bransoncentre.org
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