The Town of Cobourg is offering a series of workshops, sessions, and seminars this fall that aim to address a variety of challenges in the current workforce, including the need for skilled tradespeople.
“Aspiring entrepreneurs, seasoned business professionals, and anyone seeking to elevate their business will benefit from the following series, curated to equip participants with the tools they need to succeed in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape,” according to a media release.
Hosted by industry professionals and thought leaders, sessions will take place at the Venture13 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre (V13) at 739 D’Arcy St. in Cobourg. A careers fair as well as a manufacturing conference, both supported by the Town of Cobourg, will also happen this fall at Cobourg Community Centre, located at 750 D’Arcy St. in Cobourg.
“The economic development team has heard from local businesses owners and managers and have delivered a fall program that addresses the demand for skilled tradespeople and the pathways for entry, solutions for business successions, and business linkages to our post-secondary institutions,” Daniel Van Kampen, economic development manager, shared with kawarthaNOW.
“The Town of Cobourg’s (V13) innovation and entrepreneurship centre provides co-working and accelerator space for technology start-ups and local entrepreneurs. Inside our doors you will find a network of advisors, mentors, and leaders. Through programs, training, and events offered at (V13), the Town of Cobourg and its partners hope to provide an arena to spark news ideas and develop new partnerships and collaborations to support the industries of the future.”
“V13 partners and members of the community can actively engage and find solutions to address key technical, professional, and development challenges faced by entrepreneurs, startups, and local businesses,” he added.
First up is the revenue growth series with Arnaud Raymond of Belden Canada from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11 in the lecture hall of V13.
“The economic development team wants to hear directly from the business owners and managers how they have grown their business in Cobourg,” Van Kampen noted. “Belden Canada’s engineering manager, (Raymond) will start off this series sharing their business growth success in Cobourg.”
Raymond is a long-term member of the Cobourg business community. In 2016 he started with Belden Inc. in Cobourg where he has held several positions including interim plant manager, operations manager and engineering manager.
Next up is the skilled trades career day on Thursday, September 12 at Cobourg Community Centre. In collaboration with the Ontario government, Level Up! Ontario, and Skilled Trades Ontario, the economic development team is hosting the 2024 Level Up! Careers Fair, a series of dynamic, multi-day career fairs touring the province that bring together the best in skilled trades professionals across industry organizations, post-secondary institutions, businesses, associations and more.
Students in grades 7 through 12 can learn about Ontario’s 140-plus trades through interactive exhibitions and hands-on activities, while hearing directly from tradespeople and local employers about career opportunities.
In collaboration with RBC Financial Group, organizers then present an economic update and business owner succession planning seminar from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 26 at V13. Cobourg is the first stop in a three-community event (with sessions later in the day in Peterborough and Lindsay) that will provide an informative event for business owners, which includes an economic update that can help you navigate the near-term economic environment.
A member of RBC Financial Group’s mid-market mergers and acquisitions team will then discuss preparing for the sale of a business, followed by a conversation about tax considerations. Guest speakers include Carrie Freestone (economist with Royal Bank of Canada), Brandon Beadow (director of RBC Mid-Market Mergers and Acquisitions), and Sarah Netley (partner with Baker Tilly KDN).
In September, Cobourg presents an instalment of the post-secondary spotlight series, which features post-secondary programs and resources that are available for local companies to leverage industry research and/or hiring.
On Friday, September 27, the series will feature Ontario Tech University’s Brilliant Catalyst program. Brilliant Catalyst’s mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of change makers by building a community of experts, entrepreneurs, advisors, and influencers to fuel innovative change.
The presenter is Connor Loughlean, program manager of the Brilliant Catalyst program. The event runs in the NSSL seminar room of V13. Attendees can expect to learn more about this program and how their company can tap into this program service offering.
Van Kampen also highlighted the upcoming growth and development symposium for business professionals, which is on Thursday October 3 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. in the lecture hall at V13.
“The Cobourg growth and development symposium builds on the previous year’s real estate and development industry event,” he said. “New this year, a real estate and developer panel will discuss their projects, challenges they face in the industry, and their predictions for the industry in the years ahead.”
This symposium is anticipated to be a resourceful experience for anyone who is interested in Cobourg’s development trends and projects and learning about leading urban development trends among industry professionals, the release noted.
Up next is the second instalment in the revenue growth series from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, October 9 at the lecture hall of V13. This seminar features Dominique Sayers of B&D Liquidation and Auction Services.
Sayers, a part owner of B&D Liquidation, grew up in Cobourg, where her parents opened the business in 1999. In late 2019, B&D Liquidation moved into a new location, expanding its product offerings. Sayers has also contributed to the growth of B&D’s social media accounts. In July, she opened a sister store called B&D Bins, which is expected to be a popular way of selling liquidation merchandise, the release noted.
On Thursday, October 24, the Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association is presenting The Manufacturing Conference. Running from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Cobourg Community Centre, the conference features keynote speakers Ryan Smith of Peterborough-based Unearth Coaching Inc. and U.S. author and workplace strategist Jeff Butler, a panel discussion on workforce strategies with representatives from two Ontario manufacturers and two municipal economic development departments, four workshops, and a trade show.
The third instalment in the revenue growth series is from 8:30 to 10 a.m. on Monday, November 11 at V13 with Rino Ferreri of Ferreri Menswear in Cobourg. The Peterborough native saw an opportunity to grow at the age of 21 and now, 33 years later, he has three retail businesses, commercial properties, and real estate investments.
“He continues to build his brand and the community around him. He loves managing his business, creating a great experience for clients through his love of fashion, and even tailoring garments when needed,” the release noted.
In December, another instalment of the post-secondary spotlight series takes place where entrepreneurs and business professionals can learn more about how Loyalist College’s Port Hope campus can benefit their business and community. Laurie Caouette, the college’s industry partnership officer, will showcase what this campus can offer in specialized programs designed to meet local workforce demands, and providing hands-on training.
This session runs on Wednesday, December 4 from 9 to 10 a.m. in the NSSL seminar room of V13.
For more information about the fall program of business events including how to register, visit venture13.ca.
