Start & Improve Your Business!

Transcription

1 SIYB - A FLASH BACK Start & Improve Your Business! 01 Volume 2014/15 Vision To create a competitive market for Business Development Services Launching of Foundation to SIYB has developed a new training package called Foundation to SIYB to enhance the business management knowledge of self-employees, home-based/ Micro entrepreneurs after analyzing the local context and Mission To facilitate the establishment of a dynamic network of BDS suppliers that provide a wide range of high quality SIYB and other products and services to MSMEs of different levels conducting research on the needs, issues and characteristics of above target communities for several years. This training package was launched by the Hon. Minister of Technology Research & Atomic Energy Mr. Patali Champika Ranawaka on 11th September 2014 in Colombo.

2 New Training Programmes that were added to the list of SIYB Trainings SIYB introduced a number of new business training programmes needed by the business world which is ever progressive with time. These training programmes consist of special characteristics and are appropriate for trainers training organizations, government departments such as Department of Divineguma, implementing training programmes for small scale entrepreneurs. It is true that it is a challenging task for the small scale business community to get away from their businesses to devote time to acquire knowledge. Therefore, this series of training programmes prepared to suit their convenience, will bring in novelty as well as fulfill their needs. The new trainings that you can receive include: Way to Business (WTB) Foundation to GYB ( FGB) Foundation to SYB (FSB) Foundation to IYB (FIB) There are several characteristics specific to these new types of training. These are quality training programmes conducted with training manuals. Can be followed within a very short time period. Consist of new participatory methodologies and active participation. These are presented in a simple and easy to understand manner. Cost is affordable to the business community. Training is prepared in a manner depicting that follow up is owned by the person himself and is done by himself. Business counseling service is a valuable outcome for those participating in these train ing programmes. Annual General Meeting of held its Annual General Meeting on 11th September 2014 at Hotel Global Towers with the participation of nearly 90 Members. One of the key activities of this AGM was to elect the new Executive Council of the SIYB Association of Sri Lanka for the year 2014/15. The Council Members elected for the new year are; Hon. President - Mr. Gemunu Wijesena, Hon. General Secretary - Mr. S.K. Xavier, Hon. Treasurer Dr. Premasiri Gamage, First Vice President Mr. K.M.S.G. Bandara, Second Vice President Mr. Chopadithya Edirisinghe, Editor Mr. Chandana Ranasinghe, Joint Secretary- Mr. Jayantha Gunasekera, Hon. Member Mr. Chamil Samaradeera and Hon. Member- Mr. A.Sudarshan.

3 Detailed Profile of SIYB Sri Lanka Entrepreneurship Participation MSME is a major sector in the country s economy. During the past several decades entrepreneurs did not pay attention to entrepreneurship skills development as there were no opportunities to get necessary training and guidance. With the recent educational trend in the society, avenues were open for education in entrepreneurship and SIYB Sri Lanka Association has been able to become a leader in entrepreneurship training. You can view below the detailed profile of SIYB Sri Lanka Association s Entrepreneurship Participation during the period from April to September As such there are 461 in the age group of years, 564 in the age group of years and 523 in the age group of years in the Entrepreneurship age composition linked to SIYB Association of Sri Lanka and its training programmes revealed a good trend in youth entrepreneurship between Jan - Jun Training Program Details Training GYB SYB IYB Total No. of Programmes No. of Participants Men Women Total The above table shows an increase in women entrepreneurship. The tendency to Start Businesses is seen to be more than the tendency to improve businesses.

4 Type of Business A comparative observation of the total sample shows that around half the number of those who attend SIYB training programmes are entrepreneurs engaged in production activities. Almost another half is engaged in services provision and trading while entrepreneurs who opted for both production and services are very few as seen in the above Figure. SYB Training that led to putting his hands on a business After completing school education Michael entered the fisheries industry as a business putting an end to the period of expecting a job. Michael who lives in Kithulwewa village in Karadiyanaru in Batticaloa district spoke with great satisfaction about the beginning of a new page in his life s journey. Even though he entered the fisheries industry with the advice of friends, he was always burdened with matters such as how to do a business? How to calculate profit? How to manage workers and improve the business? Though there were two or three workers in the business, the income was never in keeping with the effort put in. It was at this time that Y-Gro organization intervened to guide him and others how to make their business successful. He and his friends were members of the Fisheries Society.

5 He was lucky enough to receive the training programme in Start Your Business (SYB) of the SIYB Association. During the training he was able to receive valuable knowledge for his business on how to control fish stocks? How to calculate expenditure accurately? How to cost? etc. Today he is master of 8 workers and expresses that his business has reached a profitable stage. His neighbors and business associates listen to this with great curiosity. He is of the opinion that it is advantageous to enter a business with business knowledge. He says that this SYB training was important for all areas of the business and as he received the training through games and activities his memory has remained good. In his opinion, as the training was highly practical, he has been able to obtain the necessary guidance within a very short period. The business built up through SYB training is today a valuable treasure which gives him great results. Training of Trainers Seminar on Foundation to SIYB conducted a Training of Trainers Seminar on Foundation to SIYB from 4th to 6th September 2014 at the Sri Lanka Telecom Training Centre in Welisara. The candidates were selected for this TOT among the active SIYB Trainers during last two years. Nineteen trainers participated in the TOT and successfully completed. Now SIYB Association of Sri Lanka is ready to deliver the Training of Entrepreneurs programmes on Foundation to SIYB. The theme of this training package is From a Livelihood to a Business

6 Truly a SIYB trainer needs creativity Sisira went on to do his higher education in keeping with everyone s hope in educational life when passing childhood. Though Agriculture was the subject he studied, he did not have the desire to go too far in this field as his inclination was towards his talents in training characteristics. Later on while stepping higher in his educational activities having done a post graduate degree in Business Studies, parallel to it he also improved his skills in the subject of training. Representing World Vision Lanka and other international organizations, presently he steps into his job career with great confidence. Mr. Sisira Fernando becomes the hero of this story because his journey became colourful as a SIYB trainer. in a commercial bank became a turning point in his life as he was selected for a job in a project of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. He made use of this employment opportunity to search for professional skills as a district training coordinator. He improved his skills receiving international training in business as well as technical subjects. Sisira became a SIYB training admirer over a number of years. Working as an Economic and Agriculture Development Specialist at World Vision, through business training programmes he was able to assist the entrepreneurs affected by the tsunami to uplift their economy. He was able to commence his employment in a private company. The time he spent as a manager

7 International Training Programme for SIYB Training of Master Trainers Within the SIYB training package, he saw the GYB training programme as a training that can be similarly matched with their organizational training methodologies. Due to this reason, he selects the GYB as a highly practical and simple training programme for their entrepreneurs. He truly increased his liking for SIYB training programmes. He became mature with experience gained as a SIYB trainer in the year He was so active that he was selected to attend to Training of Master Trainer seminar in During the period from April to September 2014 he organized 22 SIYB training programmes and became the trainer who conducted the highest number of training programmes. While being crowned as a key organization providing business services development, SIYB Association of Sri Lankahas also started a journey to train international trainers as a resualt of its success. While was started with technical and financial sponsorship of the ILO, it is an organization affiliated to the ILO and which promotes Start and Improve Your Business programme. With the intervention of the business promotion division of the ILO Geneva Office, SIYB association of Sri Lanka organized an international training programme on SIYB Training of Master Trainers which was held in Colombo from 19 to 30 May His invitation is to see the world not as one who is active but as an actor in professional training. His view is that it is possible for a trainer in business to become successful as a trainer if he possesses practical business experience. He believes that to teach people to see a change, and the desire he himself has to see a favorable change in people, is the jewels needed to become a proficient trainer. Looking back at the journey he traversed as a trainer, he confirms that a creative and critical philosophy makes the trainer a skillful creator. A key objective of this training was to obtain the skills of these trainers, to provide effective service for small and medium scale entrepreneurship development in developping countries. There were 9 participant trainees representing Vietnam, Senegal, Pakistan, India and Myanmar, while there were 6 participant trainees from Sri Lanka and all of them completed the training programme very successfully.

8 IYB business training that led to succeed in the business world C.M.A.B.C. Panadare Can we speak of your business background? I am engaged in a business as a producer of coir based products in Panadare area in Kurunegala. Though this is my major business, I am also engaged in producing wood based tiles and running a rice mil. If we recall your entry into the business world? I had my school education up to Advance Level and though I hoped for a job, I was not successful and I started a business. I stepped into my business with one worker having Rs.35, 000 in hand, and started a paddy milling industry. But there was uncertainty in my young mind due to lack of experience and not knowing the correct way. What did you think of challenges in your youth? Though I started the business with youthful energy, I cannot say that I did not waver. Purchasing paddy was unsuccessful due to control of prices by the government. But I did not think of abandoning my business. Without having much knowledge on business management, I did the business practically as I felt. What have you got to say about the organizations that helped you? As a member of the Chamber of Industries and Commerce I received assistance from it. I received technical training. I was also able to obtain training and counseling from the Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board. If you recall your history of receiving awards and the way forward? The Industrial Development Board of ceylon gave an opportunity for numbe of entrepreneurs in our business association to participate in the training programme on Improve Your Business (IYB) in the SIYB training programme. Truly the experience received that day influenced me to do business innovatively. Today I support the country s economy as an employer of 12 workers. How did the training programme Improve Your Business (IYB) cause this favorable change you speak of? I am a person who had no education in management. This training programme has been prepared in a very simple manner to learn about management. I got very good knowledge on personnel management, keeping accounts, costing and proper marketing. I was able to develop good patience through the business game. It is a training very close to the practical environment. After this training I was inspired to present several new products. As a result, I was fortunate to become a Presidential Award winner for a number of years. Contact Details Mohan Thilakasiri, Chief Executive Officer, 21/22 A, Polhengoda Gardens, Polhengoda Road, Colombo 05. T: , F: , E: ceo@siybsrilanka.org,