Barbados Community College (BCC) students continue to find island-wide support through the Small Business Management Final Exam Presentations.

Attended by accomplished regional entrepreneurs, students are given the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to potential investors and receive valuable feedback.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship tutor, Judy Layne explained that students have been working on their presentations throughout the semester, calculating expenses, start-up capital, designing websites, and even creating sample products.

Impressed by the work her students had put in, she applauded their efforts and hoped that some might even transition into successful businesses.

“It’s not just a course; this is real life.”

Ms Layne noted that last year a group of students who developed an educational app had the opportunity to pitch their idea to the Prime Minister and received valuable support from the Ministry of Education that showed real interest in the young entrepreneurs’ ideas. The same BCC students would later take their business idea to the Marcus Garvey Competition, winning a $20,000 prize.

She explained that the course, which is also taught by Richard Knight, focuses on developing practical skills and takes students from the Accounting and Management, and Marketing programmes, supplementing their theoretical studies with a hands-on approach that will serve them well in years to come.

The course has evolved throughout its lifetime, with tutors noticing a trend of students shifting away from physical businesses, favouring the digital landscape instead, developing apps, websites, and online brands.

Ms.Layne added that she hopes the college can continue to aid students’ transition into the working world, assisting even after graduation.

“Some of them already have side businesses and have always said this is an eye-opener. Going through this process will help them to look at their small business and develop it”.