RG Group unveils package to encourage ‘new entrepreneurship’ among school-leavers

 

 

 

 

Castries, St. Lucia, September 3, 2009:--  Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RG Group of Companies, Rayneau Gajadhar, has come up with another innovative idea: directly encouraging development of a brand new crop of entrepreneurs for St. Lucia, specifically targeting school-leavers. And, to make it happen, he is dedicating an initial minimum sum of $50,000.00 to promote, develop and execute an annual national entrepreneurial programme to select the best innovative ideas and help get them up and running.

 

Mr Gajadhar’s Group recently pioneered the Construction Industry Stimulus Package that offers significant savings on building materials and services from local companies. That package has also been embraced by the Government of Saint Lucia and, to date, the Group reports it has been very successful.

 

The new initiative is called Discovering Entrepreneurs – Generation Next. The CEO explained what it’s about. “It is to identify, encourage and assist primarily young school-leavers, who will be invited to produce innovative ideas that can get them to become self-employed."

 

He continued, “Persons of any age, who have left school at any time in the last school year, will be invited to register and submit ideas to us between now and the end of October 2009. Their ideas will be reviewed by a special panel of judges and the Top Ten will be selected for cash grants to get the selected best ideas off the ground by January 2010.”

 

Mr Gajadhar said he was launching this new initiative, “because of the increasing effects of the current global economic crisis on individuals, families and communities across the island.”

 

He continued, “In these new times, there is a great need for new approaches and innovative ideas to build national economic success. But while recent changes in world business and technology have repainted the international entrepreneurial landscape, this has not been sufficiently reflected in how we do business in Saint Lucia.”

 

“As a result,” he said, “local business is losing out on opportunities presented by these global financial and economic crises to effect meaningful change today and tomorrow.”

 

“We need to create the new economy for the next generation. If we continue to try to create employees alone and not employers, we will not get very far in these times. We need to create new entrepreneurs, who will create more employment,” the Chief Executive said explained.

 

Participation in the programme is open to persons who have attended any school across the island. “That way,” he explained, “a way would be created to identify, nurture, promote, encourage, and integrate the beginning of a new class of entrepreneurs that’s ready to do business today’s way, with today’s and tomorrow’s business tools.”

 

He further explained, “The Chosen Ten entries will be selected based on innovation, applicability, effectiveness and other identified criteria. And each will be given, by the RG Group, an award by way of a grant representing a substantial starting capital contribution towards implementation of the chosen ideas.”

 

Mr Gajadhar reiterated that, “Applicants will only have had to have left school, at any level, during the last school year. Absolutely no qualifications will be required. And so-called school ‘drop-outs’ will also be able to make use of this opportunity. They simply need to have a good, workable idea for business -- and the drive to make it work.

 

“And, of course, the idea must be sustainable -- at least for those proposing to implement it.”

 

The RG Group CEO continued to explain what’s behind his new idea: “The aim is to seek, find, expose, support and develop the entrepreneurship skills of persons who have just left school, by encouraging them to think outside the box and come up with innovative business plans that can create employment.

 

“We also want to create the climate to encourage entrepreneurship among students about to leave or who have just left school, because the more new entrepreneurs we would have in the country, the more new ideas we’d have on how to get out of the recession – and, of course, a greater scope for continuing employment generation.”

 

“In addition,” he said, “the more young people are attracted to the new ways of doing business, the better for the future of the economy and business in Saint Lucia.”

 

Why now? According to Mr Gajadhar, “This is the best time, because this slowdown in the economy will force many to do new things they would not normally have done.

 

“By taking chances, many can win. Most will be willing to take a chance now. And, the brutal reality is that a lot more persons do not have a choice but to take that chance that this opportunity offers.

 

“For many, it simply can’t get worse and it won’t get any better than that right now.”

 

So, when does the programme begin? “We’re ready as of now,” Mr Gajadhar replied.

 

He said interested persons are invited to register with CIE (Construction and Industrial Equipment Ltd) by telephone, fax, text, e-mail, or on the Group’s website at cie-rgltd.com where Registration Forms are posted. (ends)