Local youth launch their own Summer Companies

For the 10th consecutive year, Halton Region’s Small Business Centre has given Halton students an opportunity to be their own boss and earn cash rewards. Summer Company, a Ministry of Economic Development and Trade program coordinated locally through the Halton Region Small Business Centre, provides hands-on business training and mentoring to help students start and run their own summer businesses. Successful applicants receive up to $1,500 in the spring to help with business start-up costs, and up to $1,500 in the fall upon successful completion of their Summer Company experience.

“The Summer Company program provides young entrepreneurs with a tremendous opportunity to bring their business ideas to life,” says Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. “It gives enterprising students a chance to learn key skills, such as business planning, time management, and sales and marketing techniques. Just as important, the experience helps build self-confidence. This winning combination of skills and confidence provides an unbeatable advantage in today’s competitive marketplace.”
Students in the Summer Company program are between the ages of 15 and 29 and must provide proof that they will be returning to school in the fall.

This year’s Summer Companies include a variety of enterprises:

• Patrick Hartford of Oakville has started a dryer vent cleaning company;
• Tanya Markova of Burlington is offering a grocery delivery service;
• Erik Smith of Georgetown is running a start-up company focused on technical support and computing solutions.

For profiles of all 16 companies, visit www.halton.ca/summercompany.

Summer company participants receive support from volunteer business mentors in the Halton community who meet regularly with the students to provide encouragement and advice. Current mentors are Paul de Burger and Margaret Gaskell, Halton Region Small Business Centre; Liz Kush and Sherril Wright, RBC Royal Bank; Sunjay Nath, Spetha Inc. and Enette Pauze, Speaker, Author and Coach.

Access to mentors and program support, along with the opportunity to actually run a real business, provides an invaluable experience. “I have learned more in the past couple of weeks, running my own company, than in all of my years at school,” said Patrick Hartford, GTA Dryer Vent Cleaning.

To learn more about the program, dial 311 or 905-825-6000, toll free 1-866-4HALTON, TTY 905-825-9833 or go to www.halton.ca/business.

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