TWENTY-ONE entrepreneurs have received Small Business Operations Certificates after successfully completing a comprehensive business development training programme conducted by the Small Business Bureau (SBB).
The certificates were presented on September 18, following training designed to equip small business owners with practical knowledge to improve the management and growth of their enterprises.
The programme covered several key areas of entrepreneurship, including business management, marketing, financial management, record-keeping and business proposal writing. Participants were also trained in conducting business assessments and developing effective business plans.
Among the recipients was entrepreneur Devon Douglas, who has operated a general procurement and event management business since 2023.
Douglas said the training helped him identify areas where his business could be strengthened and provided him with practical guidance from experienced professionals.
He noted that the programme allowed him to refine his company profile, improve his marketing strategies and develop a stronger understanding of financial management.
“When you go to the training, and you have experts who have been doing this for years, then you realise that there are gaps within your thinking,” Douglas said, adding that such training can provide significant benefits to entrepreneurs.
Drawing on his background in information technology, Douglas said he was able to apply the lessons from the programme to several aspects of his business.
He encouraged other entrepreneurs seeking to establish and expand businesses in Guyana to take advantage of similar training opportunities.
Baker and entrepreneur Kasme Seemangal was another recipient of the certification.
Seemangal’s business began by providing baked goods for birthdays, receptions and small events before expanding to supply products to supermarkets.
She described the SBB programme as her first formal business training and said it provided valuable knowledge on managing and developing her enterprise.
According to Seemangal, the training improved her understanding of financial management, marketing and the organisational structures needed to operate a growing business.
“It opened up a whole new world to me. These teachings that they gave me, it really helped me to manage myself, manage my finances, improve my marketing and how to put things in place,” she said.
Seemangal said she intends to apply the knowledge gained through the programme to expand her customer base, enter new markets and further develop her products.
She is also interested in pursuing additional training in areas such as packaging and labelling as she works to increase the reach and competitiveness of her business.
At the certificate presentation ceremony, SBB Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Shazim Ibrahim congratulated the 21 entrepreneurs and urged them to put their newly acquired knowledge and skills into practice.
The programme forms part of the SBB’s efforts to provide practical support and capacity-building opportunities for small and emerging businesses.
Through initiatives such as the training programme, entrepreneurs are being provided with tools and knowledge to strengthen their operations, improve business practices and pursue opportunities for sustainable growth.