Start & Improve Your Business

The Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) ILO programme was successfully conducted with all Diploma in Business Management and Administration Year 3 learners as well as participants from other Professional Centres in 2023.

Four SBSA staff members, Mrs Rasika Basnayake, Mr Peter Too, Mr Nicholas Oduor and Mrs Maria Solin,underwent training with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conducted between 2019 and 2020. This was funded through the support of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the aim of which was for the four staff members to become "Start and Improve Your Business" (SIYB) trainers.

The Start and Improve your Business Programme (SIYB), is a 5 modules package which was developed by the International Labour Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland. The module is the largest Business skills development programme in the world, as it is widely recognised, having presence in over 100 countries.

At SBSA, the trainers are using 3 of these modules under this programme, namely (GYB) Generate your business, (SYB) Start Your Business and (IYB) Improve Your Business. As ILO Licensed Trainers, they conduct business skills development training for learners, private individuals and businesses.

The team of four conducted minilectures for GYB during the Global Entrepreneurship week of 2020 at the launching of the week, which was held at SBSA on 21 October 2020, wherepast SBSA learners who are now fully fledged entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to share their experiences alongside other, more experienced entrepreneurs.

Over the years SBSA has offered different specialised entrepreneurship training under the SIYB modules and in 2023 the academy started engagement with other Professional Centres, whereby learners from STA, SMA, SIT and SIAH joined SBSA learners for the 5 days’ workshop and they received their certificates for the Start Your Business (SYB) module.

The way forward is to implement the training on a larger scale as part of the incubation process being hosted by Division of Science, Technology & Innovation (DSTI) in which participants could gain knowledge and skills in several modules such as Marketing, Costing but most importantly designing their business and financial plans. In doing so, this will help participants to prepare to pitch for grants or loans.

The SIYB team is looking forward to being able to train other potential entrepreneurs who want to start a business and who already have a concrete business idea through the Start Your Business (SYB) modules. The programme is a combination of five days training, field work and after-training support, which will help participants assess their readiness to start a business and to prepare a business plan and evaluate its viability.

The Improve Your Business (IYB) training will benefit existing entrepreneurs who have the need to improve their business andthe academy is reaching out to train those who need such support through collaborations with DSTI, SENPA, SNYC and other agencies. The team remains ever committed to ensuring that SBSA always lives its motto: “Gateway to Opportunities” and they aim to make these opportunities available to the people of Seychelles.