Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Cleviston Haynes, as he delivered the featured address.
More males are being encouraged to join and participate in programmes being offered by the Small Business Association (SBA).
President of the SBA, Wayne Willock urged more men to participate in training as he delivered opening remarks for the graduation ceremony for the 2018-2019 Entrepreneurial and National Vocational Qualification Training Programme, that took place recently.
“Once more the females were the majority participants in the training, they had a 75 per cent showing to the males 25 per cent, so I am encouraging the males – as a male myself – to step up to the plate and eat out of it, get involved and lets see these numbers coming up,” he said.
Senator Dr. Lynette Holder, CEO of the SBA, stated that while the aforementioned was true, there was a slight improvement in the males’ standing this year, when compared to last year.
“Our president shared that the distribution this year was 75 per cent female and 25 per cent male, but last year, it was 82 per cent female and 18 per cent male, so at least that suggests a seven per cent increase of our men,” she said.
“That means therefore that if we continue on this trajectory we will in short order, even out the number.”
She went on to reveal that this year, during the 2018-2019 training period, 212 persons were enrolled in the programme and undertaking courses in various management and computer related disciplines, including QuickBooks Basic and Intermediate, How to Develop and Market a Small Business, Managing your Small Business and Business State-Up.
Of this number, over 190 students were awarded for their completion of these courses, representing a completion of 90 per cent for the association.
Additionally, the SBA awarded those who completed the NVQ in Accounting for Small Business level 3, which is offered by the Association and currently administered by the Technical and Vocational Educational Training Council.
The CEO noted that the association was committed to further building the capacity of business owners, employees of small firms and budding entrepreneurs in the years to come.