in partnership with
Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Potential
Take your business to a higher level of profitability, accountability, and sustainability with the Entrepreneurs Business Builder Programme.
Republic Bank is willing to invest in your success.
See how the EBB Programme can propel you forward!
The EBB Programme will focus on
Building strong, sustainable businesses.
Using systematic tools, strategies and tactics that generate long-lasting results.
Showcasing the importance of sound financial literacy.
Mentoring and guidance that assists you in moving to the next level of business.
Highlighting the progress of the selected women entrepreneurs as they develop themselves and their businesses.
Access to the 12-week online entrepreneurs development course created by BPD.
Collaborating with Republic Bank as a facilitator and SME partner with helpful solutions.
Is This YOU?
The candidate we’re looking for isn’t just a sharp business woman who’s already tackled challenges head on and won. We’re looking for women who are actively seeking ways to improve themselves as much as they want to improve their businesses.
Are you willing to invest the time and resources required to take your business to the next level?
You have been in business for at least two years.
You are fully committed to grow your business and move on to the next level of success.
You welcome the learning opportunities to streamline your business processes and systems.
You see the need to restructure your current business model to gain more clients.
You are willing and open to receiving constructive guidance to help you achieve your goals.
You are open to sharing and supporting others in the EBB community.
I’m ready to invest in my business!
Our Plan For Your Success
Participants of the EBB Programme will be supported as they work towards understanding how to create profitable future-proof businesses. Your investment in the EBB Programme will offer you greater clarity on your business direction and provide the tools necessary to chart your own course successfully.
Ready to apply?
This is your opportunity to ensure you stay relevant and continue to grow consciously in a rapidly changing business environment. Here are the next steps:
You Have To Apply Online
The EBB Programme application must be fully completed online. Candidates who do not adhere to the submission process may not be considered. Review the FAQs for the eligibility criteria.
Our Plan For Your Success
Phase 1
Here’s what you can expect for the first three months of the EBB Programme:
- Financial guidance from Republic Bank and access to banking products and services.
- Access to BPD’s official Woman Entrepreneur Business Directory, a repository women-owned businesses for finding collaborative partners.
- Professional group mentorship and peer support via BPD’s bi-monthly WE Get Together virtual series featuring industry gurus and like-minded entrepreneurs.
- Accountability buddies chosen from within the Programme to
support your growth progress. - Implementation of tools and processes to enhance your business operations.
Self-Paced Training Begins
For the first 150 applicants who meet the criteria, you’ll jump into the Learning Management System (LMS) designed by BPD to complete according to your schedules and preferences. Courses span three months with various activities included and require 20+hours minimum. The original cost is USD$1,997, but we’re offering 80% partial scholarships, which means your discounted cost is USD$370!
The Top 20
Be a part of a select group by maintaining stellar attendance, participation, and submission of the completed business strategy map. An independent, five-member panel will conduct a screening and decide on the top 20 performers coming out of the self-paced training sessions. This portion of the programme lasts nine months. The cost: FREE!
This Is It. The Selection
Once the panel chooses the final 20 applicants with the top aggregate scores, you’ll receive an e-mail* with the relevant information. These select candidates will receive scholarships for the remainder of the Programme! Candidates not selected will also be advised formally.
Phase 2
Here’s what you can expect if you make it into the final nine months of the EBB Programme:
- An assigned Branch Account Manager from RBL who will support the creation of your operational plan with business goals linked to business selected diagnosis gaps.
- Online interactive sessions to receive additional customised support, coaching and nine additional training sessions.
- Six 1-2-1 mentoring sessions with a mentor.
- Access to six “board meetings” to present to the RBL and BPD panel, their performance against identified results, progress against operational plan milestones and receive guidance to address identified challenges.
- You’ll have your business re-evaluated using a Business Diagnostic Tool.
- Networking with a cohort of 20 successful women entrepreneurs from across the region.
*Applicants should be aware as part of the EBB Programme, they automatically agree to opt in to marketing communications from RBL and BPD. However, they may choose to opt out from receiving e-mails at any time.
Application Rules and Eligibility
- Participants must have an existing business operating for a minimum of two years.
- Only Caribbean nationals are eligible to apply.
- Participants in phase one must be able to commit to the full three months, and the final 20 candidates selected for phase two must commit to the nine months required to complete the course.
- Participants must commit to an investment of TTD$2,500.00 or USD$370.00, payable upon selection and agreement to participate in the Programme. Republic Bank will provide financial assistance for each of the 20 final participants in phase two.
- Selected candidates who are not able to fulfil the requirements of the Programme, are asked to inform the panel via a formal e-mail.
What Happens After You’ve Applied
All applications will receive an e-mail confirming their online application form submission. If you’ve been successful, you’ll have to formally accept or decline the enrolment offer. If you’ve accepted, great! You’ll get another e-mail with the following information:
- Payment guidelines.
- The date, time, instructions and/or system requirements.
Candidates not selected will also be advised formally, but will be given links to the BPD Associates and RBL SME Toolkit websites which hosts myriad entrepreneurship resources.
FAQ
About The Programme
BPD’s EBB Programme turns theory into practical steps to assist established women entrepreneurs to create a technology-enabled and future-proof profitable business. Incorporating the framework and tools from Georgina Terry’s best-selling book “The Amazing Race To Entrepreneurial Freedom”, this one-year Programme will assist the participants with their personal and business development by supporting them as they create a sustainable 21st Century business.
If you are a woman entrepreneur who has owned and operated a micro, small or medium business in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, Grenada, Suriname, British Virgin Islands, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Dominica, Anguilla, St. Kitts & Nevis for a minimum of two years, and you want to grow and scale your operations, then this is for you! The formal eligibility criteria to participate are:
- Be a woman entrepreneur.
- Own and operate a SME business for minimum of two years.
- Be located in one of the 12 regional islands nations listed above.
- Own at least 50% of the business.
- Submit a complete application form by the given deadline.
At the end of the Programme participants will have:
- The knowledge to grow a future-proof, technology-enabled business for the 21st Century.
- Understood and applied the fundamentals of business.
- Tangible business results and growth.
- A deeper understanding of how business works.
- More confidence in themselves and what they are capable of achieving as entrepreneurs.
- New and enhanced soft-skills.
- A wider and more integrated network and community.
- The chance to win a cash prize to invest in their business.
The Programme lasts one year. The first phase is for three months and nine months for the second phase. The start date is set for September 2021.
- In the first three months participants will:
- Have access to 20+ hours of self-paced content.
- Attend four live online Group Sessions.
- Develop participants’ Strategy Map and implementation plan.
- Work with their Accountability Buddy.
- Access and interact with the community.
Starting in month four, 20 women will be selected to participate to phase two of the Programme, with a 100% scholarship. They will be required to:
- Attend six monthly face-to-face business performance review meetings with RFHL/BPD.
- Engage in 1-1 work with mentors.
- Implement tools and processes.
- Attend six online sessions on personal development, and other subjects.
- Present a final business pitch.
- Attend an end-of-year graduation event.
Yes, all the participants will receive a certificate upon successful attendance and completion of the Programme.
Participants will:
- Learn new skills, including, financial management, process improvement, marketing and presentation skills.
- Have new tools and techniques to implement in their business.
- Business planning.
- Know how to operate a successful business.
By the end of the Programme, participants will have experienced tangible results in their businesses, such as an increased profit, a larger customer base, new established and seamless technology-enabled processes and a wider network of like-minded entrepreneurs, businesses and professionals.
The EBB Programme key benefits are:
Personal Development
- Participants will transition from employee mindset to an entrepreneur mindset.
- Participants will have increased confidence.
- Participants will develop their strengths.
- Participants will develop their leadership skills.
Business Development
- Participants will learn strategies and tactics ready to be implemented in their business right away.
- Participants will experience financial growth in their business.
- Participants will have an increased customer base.
- Participants will have key technology-enabled processes
- implemented in their business.
- Participants’ businesses will know how to become “investment-ready.”
New Tools And Technologies
- Participants will develop a strategy map and implementation plan.
- Participants will learn how to leverage technology in all the aspects of their business.
- Participants will discover new software, platforms and tool to adopt and implement in their business.
- Participants will learn the basics of digital marketing, technology-enabled operations, cyber-security
Accountability System (Phase 2)
- Participants will have six one-to-one sessions with a mentor.
- Participants will have access to a monthly online group support call to receive additional support, coaching and additional training.
- Participants will have access to a monthly meeting with the “Entrepreneurs Business Builder Board” to report on business performance and receive tailored advice and feedback.
- Participants will have a buddy system, to receive and offer peer-to-peer support.
Expanded Network
- Participants will have the chance to interact with professionals, facilitators and subject matter experts from BPD Associates, Republic Bank and other successful businesses.
Republic Bank Perks
- TBD
The Programme is set to commence in September 2021. Further details will be communicated to the selected participants.
No. Women of all ages are welcome to apply.
No. Selected applicants will obtain a Republic Bank Commercial Chequing Account with direct access to a dedicated Accounts Manager.
About The Selection Process
Each application will be scored against the following criteria:
- Ownership of business
- Works in business full time/part-time
- Years in business
- Level of decision making
- Revenue
- Profit
- Number of employees
- Number products or services in your portfolio
- Geographical reach
- Use of Technology
- Use of business records e.g. financial records
- Implementation of strategic plan
- Evidence of innovation for competitiveness
- Motivation and perceived benefit(s) from being part of the EBB Programme
The selection process for phase one of the Programme consists of three stages:
- Application
- Shortlisting
- Selection
Based on the application submission, shortlisted applicants will be invited to join the Programme. All applicants will be informed of the outcome of the selection process by the TBD. To access phase two, participants will be invited to an interview. After the interview, 20 women will be selected to participate in phase two.
We estimate that the whole selection process will be approximately six weeks.
All applicants will be informed of the outcome of the selection process by the XXX.
No, the application process does not have any cost.
You must complete the Application Form by XX. Late submissions will not be considered.
No. the application process is online only.
150 applicants will be chosen for Phase One of the Programme.
Financial Questions
The original cost of the programme is USD$1,997, but we’re offering 80% partial scholarships, which means your discounted cost is USD$370!
The available payment options are:
- US$370 lump sum payment
- Initial investment of $xx, with the balance to be paid by the end of the third month post commencement of the Programme.
The available payment methods are:
- Standing Order
- TTD$ Managers Cheque (lump sum only)
- TTD$ Cash (lump sum only)
Through the support of Republic Bank a partial scholarship of 80% will be awarded to each selected participant towards the cost of participating in the EBB Programme. The Participant is required to invest US$370 (10%) herself towards the Programme. Phase two selected participants will be offered a full-scholarship.