From diving into the “spark tank” to brainstorm new ideas to learning how to safeguard intellectual property, Peterborough-area entrepreneurs can access new resources this fall aimed at helping their small businesses flourish.
The Business Advisory Centre (BAC) at Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) is kicking off the return of the “Entrepreneurship 101” (E101) series in Peterborough, with the addition of three new free workshops.
The seven-part program is designed to give business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs the skills, tools, and confidence to transform their ideas into thriving business ventures.
CFP executive director Devon Girard said the new additions are designed to offer participants even more of what they’re looking for to succeed in their endeavours.
“All of the workshops have been developed in direct response to what we are hearing from the clients we serve in the BAC,” Girard told kawarthaNOW.
The new workshops were added after delivering the original E101 series with four workshops during the past 12 months.
“We started to notice trends in a few areas that led to us developing three additional workshops this year,” Girard noted.
The three new workshops are “Spark Tank – Brainstorm and Validate Business Ideas,” “Protect It – Intellectual Property for Small Businesses,” and “Staff Smart – Hiring Your First Employee.”
Girard described each of the new workshops and explained why they were added to the roster.
“Spark Tank – Brainstorm and Validate Business Ideas was developed after recognizing some people attending the previous first workshop on business planning weren’t quite ready for a business plan yet. They had an idea, and they wanted to talk more about how to develop that idea.”
“Protect It – Intellectual Property (IP) for Small Businesses has been added to connect businesses in our community with a leading expert we have right here in Peterborough, Marcelo Sarkis, about the importance of protecting business IP and really understanding all of the elements that constitute intellectual property.”
“And finally, our third new workshop, Staff Smart – Hiring Your First Employee, comes from us attracting a new team member, Abigail Keenan, who brings with her experience in human resources. She has been advising many clients who have been looking for support on all of the elements of hiring your first employee — from language in a job posting to filing payroll forms,” Girard noted.
According to a media release, the E101 series is designed for anyone with an interest in starting or growing a business. Each workshop combines expert-led instruction with hands-on learning, ensuring participants leave with practical strategies and valuable insights they can apply immediately, whether they’re still exploring ideas, refining an early concept, or already running a business.
The series will guide participants through the essentials of starting and growing a business, from developing and validating ideas to building strong brands, securing funding, managing finances, protecting intellectual property, and making smart hiring decisions.
“We are so fortunate to have CFP and the BAC supporting entrepreneurship in our community,” Peterborough MP Emma Harrison said in a statement. “Small businesses are crucial to our local economy and getting them off the ground isn’t easy. The E101 series is an excellent way for entrepreneurs to gain the experience they need to be successful.”
The workshops also showcase entrepreneurship as an exciting and realistic career path. Business services delivered by CFP show a growing and strong demand for advisory services and lending options to start or grow a business locally, the release noted. In the past four months, staff at the BAC have already held more than 200 one-on-one, in-depth business consultations with entrepreneurs or those exploring entrepreneurship in our region.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and play a vital role in driving innovation and creating jobs all over Peterborough-Kawartha,” said Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith in a statement. “Every small business is backed by an entrepreneur who embodies vision, passion, and purpose, showcasing the best of the Ontario spirit. It’s fantastic to see CFP providing the essential tools and support to help these entrepreneurs succeed.”
Initiatives like the E101 series support the work of CFP by providing front-line, tailored advisory services and practical workshops for every stage of the business journey, the release noted.
The E101 sessions will run on the following dates at the Venture North building, located at 270 George Street North in downtown Peterborough.
- Spark Tank – Brainstorm and Validate Business Ideas – Wednesday, September 24
- Launch Pad – Business Planning with Rose Terry – Wednesday, October 8
- Funding Fuel – Explore Funding and Financing with Braden Clark – Wednesday, October 22
- Protect It – Intellectual Property for Small Businesses – Wednesday, October 29
- Brand Lab – Marketing and Branding with Rose Terry – Wednesday, November 5
- Money Map – Cash Flow Forecasting with Braden Clark – Wednesday, November 19
- Staff Smart – Hiring Your First Employee – Wednesday, December 3
As space is limited, people are encouraged to register as soon as possible at communityfuturespeterborough.ca.
